A thermo-forming packaging machine having a transport device that is configured to convey a lower film in a film transport surface along a transport direction from a forming station for forming troughs in the lower film through an inserting track for filling the troughs with products to a sealing station for sealing the troughs with an upper film and further to a cutting station for separating the closed troughs. In one embodiment, the film transport surface comprises a first ascending area and a first descending area that is arranged downstream of the ascending area between the forming station and the sealing station. Alternatively or in addition, the film transport surface comprises between the sealing station and the cutting station a second ascending area and after the cutting station a second descending area.