Two quotes for the same pouch can sit far apart. Usually one covers dosing, inspection and installation, and the other covers a bare frame. We don't publish prices here. This guide shows what drives a quote and how to line proposals up so you compare like with like.
Compare Like-for-Like Scope
Compare scope before you compare totals. The cheaper quote often leaves out something you'll pay for later. Put every proposal in one table. Fill each row from the document, and write "not stated" where the quote is silent.
| Scope item | What to check | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine | Model, version, pouch size range | ||
| Dosing | Weigher, auger, pump or piston | ||
| Feeding | Hopper, elevator, tank, pump | ||
| Pouch handling | Pick-up, opening, change parts | ||
| Sealing / capping | Heat seal, zipper, cap feeder | ||
| Inspection | Checkweigher, metal detector | ||
| Coding | Printer, and who supplies it | ||
| Conveying | Output belt, transfer to cartoning | ||
| Export packing | Crating, documents | ||
| Installation / training | On site or remote, days | ||
| Delivery terms | Incoterm, destination, customs |
If a row is blank on one quote and filled on another, ask if the item is included, optional or excluded. That one question explains most gaps.
Dosing and Automation
Dosing is usually the biggest variable. Solid pieces and granules go through a multihead or linear weigher. Liquids and pastes use pumps or pistons. Powders use augers. See liquid and paste pouch filling and powder pouch filling for how the product changes the choice. A sticky sauce, a foaming liquid or a dusty powder may need a different feeder, nozzle or enclosure, and the configuration shows it.
Decide which steps the machine does without an operator: picking and opening pouches, filling, closing, discharging. Every manual step you keep lowers the equipment scope. It also adds labor and variation.
Output changes scope too. A higher bags-per-minute target can mean more filling stations, more dosing hardware and more conveying. Ask which product and pouch the quoted speed refers to. Speed from an empty cycle says little about output with product.
Sealing Versus Capping
The closure sets a big part of the scope.
| Closure | What the machine does | Scope to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Heat seal, open top | Seals the top edge after filling | Seal bar width, film seal area |
| Zipper pouch | Opens the zipper, fills, seals | Is zipper handling in the configuration? |
| Spout pouch | Fills through the spout, feeds and tightens a cap | Spout diameter, cap type, cap feeder |
A cap feeder and a tightening unit make a spout-pouch line a different job from a sealing line. Compare quotes that name the same closure. The stand-up pouch and pouch specifications pages help you define the pouch. In our LV-210 listing, pouch retrieval, opening and sealing are included. Zipper handling and the weighing and filling scheme are marked for review. Look for that kind of marking in any proposal.
Options and Utilities
Options are where quotes diverge most. Typical ones are extra change parts for more pouch sizes, a second dosing head, inspection, a coder, a dust or splash guard and spare-parts kits. Ask for each as its own line so you can add or drop it.
Utilities cost money even when they're not on the quote. Confirm voltage and frequency, power, compressed air and floor space. The LV-210 listing gives power, voltage and external dimensions, and the quoted configuration is what counts. Also ask what you must supply on site, such as air lines, platforms and the electrical connection.
Quote Inclusions and Exclusions
A good quotation says what it leaves out. Look for these in writing:
- the model and configuration version, with each item marked included, optional or to be verified;
- the product, pouch and conditions behind any performance statement;
- utilities needed at your site;
- factory checks before shipment;
- the language of the manual;
- packing, shipping and delivery terms;
- installation and training, and whether they cost extra;
- spare and wear parts;
- price, payment terms and the contracting entity.
Be wary of "standard accessories" and "as required". Ask for a list. If the result depends on your product, ask whether a sample test comes before the order and what it measures. The service and support page describes how we handle commissioning and training.
Information Needed for Pricing
A clear brief means fewer assumptions, and assumptions are what move prices between rounds. Send us:
| Item | Detail to include |
|---|---|
| Product | Name, form, viscosity or particle size, temperature, foaming or stickiness |
| Pouch | Type, width, length, material, zipper or spout, drawing or photo |
| Fill target | Weight or volume, and how you check it |
| Output | Bags per minute or shift, shifts per day |
| Closure | Heat seal, zipper, spout and cap type |
| Extras | Inspection, coding, conveying, cartoning |
| Site | Country, voltage, air supply, space |
| Services | Installation, training, spares, document language |
If you can send pouch and product samples, tell us. We'll confirm quantity and address before anything ships. If a point is hard to put in a form, start with how to choose a configuration and filling accuracy, then write to us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do two quotes for the same pouch differ so much?
Usually scope. One may include a checkweigher, a coder and installation. The other may list only the filling machine. Use the table above and ask each supplier to mark every row.
Can I get a price from a catalog listing alone?
No. A listing gives pouch size range, speed, power and dimensions. The price depends on the configuration you need.
What should I ask about spare parts?
Ask which parts wear first: seal bars, cutters, belts, suction cups, pump seals. Ask if a starter set is quoted. A new pouch size can need new grippers, so ask which change parts come with the quote.
Related pages
Request an Itemized Quote
Send your product, pouch photo and fill target on WhatsApp. We reply with a configuration to review before you decide.