FAQ

There is no quick, easy answer to this question. Packaging machinery is specific to the customer,  so arriving at 'standard pricing' isn't usually practical. But we can provide a range: from thouands to millions.  Pricing largely depends upon your unique needs: The products you want to package, the speeds  you would like to achieve, your bag styles and sizes, the complexity of your process, and how quick you need the machine delivered.  Generally, the more complex, customized, or high-speed the packaging process is, the more you  can expect to pay.

A fully automated packaging system is optimized for high speeds and minimal human involvement.  These solutions are best for companies that run a high number of products with relatively low variation.  A fully automated line could include things like equipment to feed the product to the system, a scale to weigh the product, and a machine to place the product into bags. Automated systems provide a high level  of accuracy and consistency, but require a larger upfront investment.  A semi-automatic packaging system still requires a substantial level of human labor. For example, a company  could use an automated scale to weigh the product, but require a human to dispense the product into bags  and seal them. Semi-automatic packaging lines are a great place to start if you're not quite ready for full automation.  In many cases, individual pieces of a semi-automatic line can be integrated at a later date with other equipment to create  a fully automated system. Overall, semi-automatic packaging lines have a much lower cost of entry, but are slower and less  accurate than fully automated systems.

The short answer is "Usually, yes." Adjusting a machine to accommodate different bags is called changeover,  and it can take from minutes to hours depending upon many variables. The longer answer: Sometimes a one-size-fits-all machine isn't the best choice. The more varied your needs are,  the more it may make sense to invest in multiple systems or automate only certain parts of the process. Reason  being, packaging machines are optimized to run within certain parameters. If your needs are varied, accommodating  those variations within machine parameters can be complex, costly, and inefficient. It can sometimes be better to have  a machine that does one thing really well than a machine that does many things 'just okay'.

Knowing the packaging material format you require informs which machinery the equipment manufacturer recommends. Here are descriptions of two major flexible packaging formats: Rollstock film is a long, flat sheet of (usually plastic) packaging material that is wound around a hollow core. It is usually  pre-printed with graphics. This large roll of film is loaded onto the back of a form fill seal machine which then forms it into  bag shapes, fills the bags with product, and seals them shut. Rollstock film is generally economical in cost per bag and can run  at high speeds. Premade bags arrive at the packaging facility already formed into their end bag shape. They are loaded into a pouch fill and seal machine that fills them with product and seals them shut. Premade bags have a premium look that can't be beat, but usually cost more per impression than bags created from rollstock film.

Packaging equipment speeds are usually represented by bags per minute (BPM), which is how many finished bags can be completed  per minute. Machines will usually be rated for a maximum number of bags per minute. Generally, automated flexible packaging machines  can be rated for anywhere from 30 - 300 bags per minute. Actual production speeds, however, depend on many factors. Your product properties, bag sizes and styles, plant environment, and technical  skill of operators will all factor in to actual speeds. The best way to estimate actual production speeds is to send in film/bag and product samples to the packaging machine manufacturer for testing.