Guide

What should be checked during weigh filler commissioning and SAT?

Site acceptance testing should prove that the installed weigh filler works with the real product, packs, operators, utilities and upstream or downstream line equipment.

Commissioning evidence

Prove the installed system, not only the machine standing alone.

A factory trial checks the proposed route before delivery. SAT confirms that the same route remains practical when the weigh filler is installed on the customer’s site.

What is the purpose of site acceptance testing for a weigh filler?

Site acceptance testing confirms that the installed weigh filler can run the agreed product and pack under site conditions. It checks product feed, weighing, discharge, operator access, utilities, controls, downstream equipment and the evidence needed before production handover.

SAT should not be used to invent new requirements after delivery. It should compare the installed system with the agreed specification, product-trial evidence and responsibilities. Where site conditions differ from the trial, those differences should be recorded and reviewed rather than hidden.

Which site conditions can change weigh filler results?

Results can change because of hopper refill method, product temperature or moisture, floor vibration, air movement, pack presentation, operator technique, compressed-air stability, electrical noise, downstream pauses and the way rejected packs are handled.

A line that runs well in isolation may behave differently when an elevator starves the hopper, a sealer pauses, or a bag clamp is not presented consistently. SAT should therefore include normal line stops, restarts and refill points.

Commissioning checks to agree before handover.

Area	Check	Acceptance evidence
Product feed	Hopper refill, low-level behaviour, bridging, dust and safe loading route.	Observed stable feeding over consecutive cycles.
Weighing	Reference scale check, tare practice, mean fill weight, spread and outliers.	Recorded consecutive weight data for the agreed product and pack.
Pack handling	Bag clamp, pouch mouth, jar/tub support or VFFS interface.	Finished packs captured without avoidable spillage or damage.
Controls	Start, stop, pause, fault, interlock and downstream-ready signals.	Interface tests signed off by the agreed responsible parties.
Training	Routine operation, changeover, cleaning, checks and escalation route.	Operator training record and first-off procedure.

Who should attend the SAT?

The buyer should include the production owner, operator representative, quality or technical contact, maintenance or engineering contact and the person responsible for accepting line performance. This reduces late changes caused by missing decision-makers.

What samples are needed for commissioning?

Use production-quality product and the actual packs, including rejects or difficult variants where they are part of normal production. Site utilities, labels, film, bag clamps or downstream equipment should be ready before testing starts.

What if SAT finds a limitation?

Record whether the limitation is product, pack, operator, site or machine related. Then agree whether it needs adjustment, additional testing, a change in operating method or a project-scope change.

Review installation requirements Review controls interfaces Discuss commissioning scope

Send the product and pack details for a practical weigh filling route.

Include the product, target weight, pack format, target output, sample availability and any existing line equipment. Lancing can then advise which weighing route is worth testing.

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