Define the water supplied to the machine
Confirm source, temperature, available flow, static head or pressure, connection size, filtration, storage and hygienic handling. Record any treatment applied upstream and the monitoring or release method used by the packer. Changes in inlet condition can affect filling stability, so the approved trial case should represent routine production.
The product owner remains responsible for the suitability and safety of the water, the process environment and the finished product.
Freeze the sachet and film specification
Provide the nominal fill volumes, permitted tolerances, finished width and length, back-seal position, transverse-seal widths, cut, code area and any tear or notch requirement. The film schedule should identify PE grade, gauge, reel width, core, print repeat, registration mark, sealability and food-contact evidence.
Use production-intent reels for testing. A hand-made sample or artwork PDF alone does not prove that the web will track, form, seal and cut consistently.
Build the quality plan before the trial
Agree how fill quantity will be checked, how many packs will be sampled, how seal defects will be identified and which leak or integrity method will be used. Also define code legibility, cut position, pack appearance, retained samples and response to a failed check.
For UK packaged goods, quantity-control and labelling responsibilities belong to the packer or importer. The machinery trial should use the business’s approved method rather than inventing a release rule at the machine.
Design finished-sachet collection and secondary packing
Water sachets may leave the cutter warm, flexible and wet from handling or testing. Define the drop height, collection bin or conveyor, drainage, drying where required, counting, collation and case-packing method. The downstream process must accept the machine output without crushing packs or allowing uncontrolled accumulation.
Where several machines feed a shared downstream process, use the combined accepted output—not the sum of isolated headline speeds—to size conveyors, labour, counting and secondary packing.
Representative trial and acceptance sequence
- Approve the water and film information before testing.
- Run every critical fill volume and finished sachet format.
- Check start-up, steady running, replenishment, planned stop and restart.
- Sample fill quantity, seal condition, leakage, code and cut position using the agreed methods.
- Record rejected packs, interventions and the operating condition behind each result.
- Retain labelled samples and video evidence where agreed.
- Use the same declared case for final quotation, FAT and site acceptance.
Water-sachet project brief
| Project area | Information to provide |
|---|
| Product | Potable-water source, temperature, flow/head or pressure, connection and upstream treatment |
| Pack | Every fill volume, tolerance, sachet drawing, code, cut, tear/notch and appearance requirement |
| Film | PE grade, gauge, roll/core dimensions, print repeat, registration mark and representative reels |
| Output | Saleable packs required over a defined period, shift pattern and normal replenishment |
| Quality | Quantity method, sampling, seal/leak test, coding and retained-sample requirements |
| Site and line | Power, drainage, access, collection, conveying, counting, secondary packing and destination |
For UK food and drink projects, packaging must be suitable for food use and relevant labelling requirements apply. Consult current official guidance and obtain project-specific food-safety and legal advice.
