Induction sealer FAT and SAT acceptance test plan
Define what the induction sealer must prove before delivery and after installation without inventing unsupported performance claims.
What should an induction sealer FAT prove?
A factory acceptance test should prove the agreed machine scope against representative samples before the equipment is released for delivery. It is not a general guarantee for every future pack; it is evidence that the specified cap, liner, container and setup can meet the agreed checks under stated conditions.
The FAT should be planned before the test day so the right samples, utilities, safety assumptions and acceptance checks are available. For a simple standalone machine this may be a concise record; for an integrated line it may include conveyor, detection, reject and stop/restart behaviour.
| FAT area | What to prove | Record to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Machine condition | Correct sealer, head, stand, conveyor interface and visible controls. | Photographs, checklist and agreed machine scope. |
| Pack trial | Representative samples seal at the agreed settings. | Cap, liner, container, product state and trial setting. |
| Boundary conditions | The difficult packs in the range have been considered. | Smallest/largest cap, speed range and accepted/rejected samples. |
| Fault response | Relevant stops, alarms, reject or inspection actions match the agreed scope. | Test notes for each fault or line condition. |
| Documentation | Operators receive useful setup information. | Setup sheet, maintenance notes and handover record. |
What should a site acceptance test add?
A site acceptance test should confirm that the installed sealer works with the real production conveyor, capper, operator access and utilities. It checks the installation context, not only the machine. If a pack passed a supplier FAT but fails on site, the cause may be conveyor transfer, cap application, bottle stability, product residue or a difference in samples.
Include the site team that will operate and maintain the machine. Use the same acceptance language as the FAT where possible, then add site-specific checks such as line stop, restart, guarding interface, collection of rejected packs and access for cleaning or changeover.
Which acceptance checks are normally useful?
- Visual seal around the full circumference after cooling.
- Peel behaviour appropriate to the pack and buyer's quality process.
- Leak or handling check selected by product and container type.
- Repeat run after a normal stop and restart.
- Changeover record for each accepted cap and liner group.
- Operator confirmation that setup settings can be found and repeated.
When should acceptance be paused?
Pause acceptance if the test samples do not match production packs or if an unexpected packaging problem appears. Examples include missing liners, a different cap batch, product contamination on the neck, unstable bottles or a line-speed condition that was not in the quotation scope. Record the issue rather than forcing a pass/fail decision from unrepresentative evidence.