Enough to start
A route discussion can start with four things: what the product is, a photo or description of the finished pack, the target fill per pack and the output you need. The checklist below covers what is needed to turn that discussion into a configuration and quotation. Send what you have and mark what is still undecided.
1. Product and packaging overview
Describe the product and provide representative samples when requested. Share the intended finished pack, dimensions and packaging material.
- Material state, flow behavior, viscosity or particle size as relevant
- Target dose and the range of pack sizes
- Film or container details and opening features
2. Product behavior and dosing
The dosing method is chosen from how the product behaves, so describe it as precisely as you can. If you run several products on one line, describe the most difficult one as well as the most common one.
- Form: fine powder, granule, flake, whole pieces, paste, liquid, gel or finished packs
- Flow: free-flowing, sticky, dusty, prone to bridging or caking, fragile
- Bulk density or the weight of a known volume, if measured
- Particle or piece size range, and the largest piece
- For liquids and pastes: viscosity, fill temperature, foaming and particulates
- Sensitivity to moisture, oxygen, heat or freezing, and the storage temperature
- Hygiene, cleaning and allergen changeover requirements for product-contact parts
3. Finished pack specification
Give the dimensions of the finished pack, not the flat film or blank, and say which features are required and which are optional.
- Pack type: pillow, gusseted or quad-seal bag, stick pack, sachet, premade pouch, flow wrap, cup, carton, overwrap or labeled container
- Finished width, length and gusset or depth
- Seal style, such as back seal, three-side or four-side seal
- Features such as tear notch, hang hole, zipper, spout, degassing valve or tear tape
- Target fill by weight or volume, and the tolerance you accept
- Nitrogen flushing or vacuum requirement
- Every format and size the line must run
4. Packaging materials
Sealing and forming settings depend on the material, so the supplier specification or a sample is more useful than a general description.
- Roll film: laminate structure, thickness, roll width, core diameter, maximum roll diameter and print registration marks
- Premade pouches: supplier drawing or samples, including zipper or spout details
- Cartons: board type, flat blank drawing, closing method and leaflet or insert
- Labels: material, size, roll direction and the application position on the container
- Overwrap film and tear tape specification
5. Production requirements
State the required good output, operating pattern and changeovers. Distinguish your target from an output already measured on an existing process.
- Target packs or containers per minute
- Operating hours and expected format changes
- Available floor space, power and compressed air
6. Site, utilities and destination
Machines are configured for the electrical supply and conditions where they will run, so include these details even at an early stage.
- Destination country and installation site
- Supply voltage, phase and frequency
- Compressed air availability and capacity
- Floor space, ceiling height and access route for moving the machine in
- A layout drawing showing where the machine will stand
- How product arrives: manual loading, hopper, bulk bag or conveyor
- Where finished packs go next: table, conveyor, cartoner or case packing
- Room conditions such as temperature, humidity, dust or washdown
7. Equipment and responsibilities
List the main packaging task and any upstream or downstream units needed. Include coding, inspection, feeding and discharge handling where relevant.
- Included units versus options
- Installation and training expectations
- Target timing and destination
- Acceptance criteria and evidence needed for approval
8. Standards and documents to confirm
List the requirements your market, customer or site applies to the equipment, so the proposal can state how each one is addressed. Do not assume a certificate, declaration or document is included unless the quotation names it.
- Electrical and machine safety requirements at the destination
- Material requirements for product-contact parts
- Hygiene or regulated-production requirements, for example for food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic products
- Manuals, electrical drawings and spare parts lists, and the language required
- Checks and records you need before shipment
- Export packing, shipping terms and import documents
9. Choose the next discussion
Request a recommendation if you are still comparing routes, a quotation if the scope is sufficiently defined, or sample testing if material behavior needs verification. Do not send confidential formulations in a public website query.