A factory acceptance test (FAT) for tissue converting equipment should verify that the machine matches the agreed specifications, processes representative tissue materials, produces acceptable finished products, and operates with the required safety functions before shipment. Buyers evaluating a tissue paper production and packaging solution should define acceptance criteria before manufacturing is completed, rather than relying only on a demonstration video or a supplier's maximum-speed specification.
For equipment supplied by SOONTRUE, the FAT process can be used as a practical checkpoint between equipment manufacturing and delivery. The exact tests should depend on the machine type, including facial tissue interfolders, paper roll packing machines, facial tissue packing machines, and automatic carton packing systems.
Why Is a Factory Acceptance Test Important?
A machine can appear mechanically complete without being ready for the buyer's actual production requirements. It may run with the supplier's sample material but struggle with the buyer's tissue grade, sheet dimensions, packaging format, or required operating speed.
An FAT helps identify these differences before the equipment leaves the manufacturer's facility. Correcting a mechanical adjustment or control issue before shipment is generally easier than arranging troubleshooting after installation at the buyer's factory.
The test also gives both parties a shared record of what has been verified. Without a written protocol, a supplier may interpret acceptance as the machine running normally, while the buyer expects it to achieve a particular output and quality level under defined production conditions.
A useful FAT should answer four questions:
Does the supplied equipment match the purchase agreement?
Can it process the agreed products and materials?
Does it achieve the agreed production and quality requirements?
Are the safety functions, documentation, and outstanding issues properly recorded?
What Should Buyers Check Before the FAT?
The most important preparation is agreeing on the test scope before the machine is ready for inspection.
1. Confirm the Machine Configuration
Compare the machine being tested with the purchase order and approved technical proposal. Verify the model, included modules, control system, accessories, tooling, conveyors, and optional functions.
For an integrated line, define whether the FAT covers an individual machine or multiple connected machines. Testing a packing machine independently does not prove that the complete line can maintain stable product transfer, synchronized operation, and the required output.
The test document should identify any excluded equipment or functions so that neither party assumes they have been tested when they have not.
2. Define the Products and Materials
The FAT should use materials that represent the buyer's intended production whenever practical.
For tissue converting equipment, relevant information may include:
Tissue grade and ply configuration
Jumbo roll width and other relevant roll specifications
Sheet dimensions and folding format
Required sheet count or finished-product dimensions
Packaging film or carton specifications
Product variants that require different machine settings
If actual production materials cannot be supplied, document the substitute material and its differences. A test performed with a convenient sample should not automatically be treated as proof that every production material will perform identically.
3. Agree on Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance criteria should be written in measurable terms before the test begins.
| Test area | What to verify | Evidence to record |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | Agreed machine model and supplied components | Equipment checklist |
| Product compatibility | Required product and material formats | Test material identification |
| Production speed | Output under defined conditions | Recorded operating data |
| Product quality | Dimensions, folding, counting, cutting, or packaging requirements | Inspection results |
| Stability | Repeated operation and abnormal stoppages | Run log and fault record |
| Safety | Guards, emergency stops, and relevant safety functions | Safety inspection record |
| Documentation | Manuals, drawings, electrical information, and agreed documents | Document checklist |
Do not insert arbitrary acceptance thresholds into a generic checklist. The required speed, acceptable defect rate, test duration, and product tolerances should come from the contract, approved specification, or agreed test protocol.
How Should Production Speed Be Tested?
A machine's advertised maximum speed is not the same as guaranteed production output.
Before testing, clarify whether the quoted figure refers to theoretical machine speed, a specific operating mode, or the expected output for a defined product. Different sheet counts, package dimensions, materials, and downstream equipment can affect actual results.
During the FAT, record the machine settings, product format, material used, and operating conditions. Measure output over an agreed interval instead of recording only the highest speed briefly displayed on the control panel.
It is also important to distinguish total output from acceptable output.
Good-product output = Total products produced − Rejected products
For example, a machine may produce a high number of packs but also generate frequent rejects caused by folding errors, incorrect counting, damaged packaging, or poor sealing. Such a result should not be treated as equivalent to producing the same quantity of acceptable products.
For a multi-machine line, verify that upstream and downstream equipment can work together. A fast folding machine does not guarantee the same output from the complete line if cutting, conveying, packing, or carton handling becomes the bottleneck.
Which Product Quality Checks Should Be Included?
The inspection criteria should reflect the function of the equipment.
For a facial tissue converting line, checks may include sheet dimensions, folding consistency, stack alignment, sheet count, cutting quality, and product damage.
For a tissue packing machine, relevant checks may include package dimensions, film positioning, seal appearance, print registration where applicable, and the condition of the finished pack.
For a carton packing system, verify carton formation, product placement, carton closure, and transfer to the next handling stage.
A visual inspection alone may not be sufficient. If a requirement concerns dimensions, count accuracy, or sealing performance, define the measurement method and sampling procedure before testing.
The test report should record defects rather than simply state that the product looks acceptable. Photographs, measurements, sample identification, and the corresponding machine settings make the findings easier to review.
How Long Should the FAT Run?
There is no single test duration suitable for every tissue machine.
A brief demonstration may confirm that the basic mechanisms move, but it may not reveal intermittent faults, unstable feeding, recurring jams, or performance changes during sustained operation.
The buyer and supplier should agree on a test duration that is appropriate for the equipment and the risks being evaluated. The protocol should also explain how setup time, material changes, adjustments, and stoppages are treated when calculating output.
For a complex line, consider separating the test into stages:
Initial functional checks
Product and format verification
Operating-speed verification
Sustained production run
Finished-product inspection
Review of faults and corrective actions
If a failure requires adjustment, document the issue and repeat the relevant test. A corrected setting should not be accepted solely because the supplier states that the problem has been resolved.
What Happens If the Machine Fails the FAT?
The FAT should produce a documented list of results and outstanding actions.
Each issue should identify the observed problem, the agreed requirement, the proposed corrective action, the responsible party, and the retest requirement.
For example, if the machine cannot maintain the agreed output for a specified product, the parties should determine whether the cause is a machine limitation, a material mismatch, an incorrect setting, or an upstream or downstream constraint.
Not every issue has the same significance. A missing document may require a different corrective action from a safety-function failure or a major performance shortfall. The contract should specify how these issues affect acceptance and shipment authorization.
Avoid treating a successful demonstration of one product format as automatic approval for all other formats covered by the purchase order.
FAT vs. SAT: What Is the Difference?
A factory acceptance test takes place at the supplier's facility before shipment. A site acceptance test (SAT) takes place after installation at the buyer's site.
| Item | FAT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Verify equipment before shipment | Verify operation in the actual installation |
| Location | Supplier's facility | Buyer's factory |
| Main focus | Configuration, functions, agreed performance, and quality | Installation, utilities, interfaces, commissioning, and site operation |
| Materials | Agreed test materials, preferably representative of production | Actual production materials and site conditions |
| Typical evidence | Test report and corrective-action list | Commissioning and site acceptance records |
An FAT cannot fully replace a SAT because the supplier's factory may have different electrical supplies, compressed-air conditions, layout constraints, and upstream or downstream equipment.
The contract should clearly define both checkpoints and identify which party is responsible for installation, commissioning, training, and final acceptance.
FAT Checklist Before Signing Off
Before approving shipment, confirm that:
The tested equipment matches the approved configuration.
The agreed products and materials have been tested or documented.
Production speed has been measured under defined conditions.
Finished products meet the agreed quality requirements.
Safety functions have been checked.
Abnormal stops and unresolved issues are recorded.
Required manuals, drawings, and other documents are identified.
Corrective actions have been completed or formally agreed.
Shipment authorization follows the contract's acceptance procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an FAT necessary for every tissue converting machine?
The need and scope depend on the contract, equipment complexity, and production risk. For customized equipment or integrated lines, a documented FAT can help verify important requirements before shipment.
Can a video replace an FAT?
A video can provide useful evidence of basic operation, but it may not prove sustained output, material compatibility, product quality, or the full operation of safety functions. Buyers should agree on the evidence required for formal acceptance.
Should buyers provide their own tissue materials?
Whenever practical, representative production materials provide stronger evidence than unrelated samples. If substitutes are used, document their specifications and limitations.
Does FAT guarantee the machine will run perfectly after installation?
No. Site utilities, installation conditions, operator training, and integration with other machines can affect performance. The SAT and commissioning process are needed to verify operation at the buyer's factory.
Final Recommendation
A well-defined FAT protects both the buyer and the supplier by converting broad expectations into testable requirements. Before ordering a SOONTRUE tissue converting or packaging machine, prepare a specification sheet covering product formats, target output, quality criteria, test materials, safety checks, documentation, and corrective-action procedures.
For a machine or complete-line proposal, contact SOONTRUE at tracy_soontrue@126.com. Provide your product specifications and required output so the equipment scope and acceptance plan can be discussed before shipment.
