Project checklist

Capping machine FAT checklist before delivery

Use this checklist to make machine acceptance more objective before a capping line is delivered and installed.

Define the FAT scope

A factory acceptance test should reflect the actual project scope. For capping machinery, that can mean the capper only, the capper with conveyor, the cap feed route, bottle handling, change parts and any integration assumptions.

Define the acceptance criteria before the test. Useful criteria include output range, cap application consistency, torque range, cap damage, bottle damage, cross-threading, line stops and operator access.

Use production samples

The most useful FAT uses real bottles, real caps and filled or weighted samples where fill weight changes stability. Empty bottles can behave very differently from production packs.

If the project has several pack formats, test the most difficult cases: tallest bottle, smallest cap, largest cap, lightest bottle, most flexible bottle and any closure that needs orientation.

Checks to include

Include checks for bottle infeed, guide stability, cap placement, cap feed recovery, torque consistency, guarding, controls, emergency stops, cleaning access and changeover steps. Record both pass/fail results and practical observations.

Video of the test can be useful when operators and maintenance teams were not present. It also helps confirm whether any site preparation or operator training points need attention before delivery.

Handover records

Record tested settings, sample details, agreed changes, spare parts, utilities, drawings, documentation and installation assumptions. A clear FAT record reduces confusion during commissioning.

Lancing UK can help turn the machine shortlist into a clearer FAT and handover plan when the capping stage is part of a wider packaging-line project.

Quick answers

Is an FAT always required?

It is strongly useful for automatic capping systems, integrated cap feeders and projects with multiple pack formats.

Should bottles be filled for the FAT?

Where fill weight affects stability, weighted or filled samples are much more representative.

What is the most common FAT mistake?

Testing perfect samples only, rather than the difficult bottle and cap combinations that affect real production.

Useful next pages

Use these pages to connect the guide with capping machine specifications, cap feeding and quote preparation.

Automatic Bottle Capping Machines UKAutomatic bottle capping machines for inline production lines, screw caps, pumps, trigger sprayers, side-belt handling, cap feeding and.

Cap Feeding Systems UKCap feeding systems for screw capping lines, including cap elevators, vibratory bowls, chutes and assisted feed routes for pumps and tr.

Capping Machine FAT & Acceptance Test ChecklistAcceptance test checklist for capping machines covering samples, output, torque, rejects, changeover, safety and operator handover.

Spindle Capper QuoteAsk Lancing UK for a spindle capper, screw capping machine, trigger sprayer capper, pump capper or cap feeding system quote.

Ready to shortlist?

Send the bottle, cap and target output.

Lancing UK will help identify the most suitable capping route for your product, closure and production target.

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Acceptance evidence

Turn the FAT into a repeatable evidence record.

A factory acceptance test should show that the agreed bottle, closure, cap-feed and handling scope works under defined conditions. The record must distinguish verified results from observations, open actions and items that can only be completed after installation.

FAT phase	Test condition	Evidence to retain
Setup and first-off approval	Machine configured for the agreed starting format using identified bottle and cap samples.	Format settings, sample batch, cap position, thread engagement, appearance and the agreed torque or integrity result.
Representative sustained run	Normal bottle flow, cap replenishment and operator duties included for the agreed test period.	Run duration, accepted output method, cause-coded stops, rejects and any upstream or downstream assumptions.
Cap-feed interruption	Low-cap, empty-track or controlled starvation condition introduced where safe and within the supplied scope.	Warning or stop response, bottle handling, restart sequence and the first packs after cap supply returns.
Bottle backup and line stop	Downstream hold or line stop represented without bypassing guarding or control logic.	Queue response, condition of bottles in the capping zone, restart checks and any uncertain packs removed.
Format change	Change between the smallest and largest or otherwise most different agreed pack formats.	Change parts, adjustment record, elapsed activity sequence, first-off correction and repeatability of approved settings.
Fault recovery	Realistic cap mis-presentation, bottle instability or sensor event reviewed where this can be demonstrated safely.	Fault indication, access and isolation method, root cause, clearing sequence and confirmation before restart.
Handover review	Open actions, documentation, spares, utilities, site interfaces and training scope checked at the end of the test.	Signed action list, ownership, completion point and clear separation between FAT evidence and site acceptance work.

Agree the measurement rules before the test

Define how output will be timed, what counts as an accepted pack, how stops are classified and how removal torque or another closure-integrity measure will be taken. Identify the instrument, sample timing, pack restraint and sample size before results are collected.

Do not average away cross-threaded, leaking or visibly damaged packs. Record them as failure modes and investigate the stage that created them. Where a formal numerical target is unavailable, compare the trial with approved reference packs and closure-supplier guidance where supplied.

Record the boundaries of the result

A successful FAT applies to the tested pack, settings and conditions. It does not automatically validate an untested cap supplier, fill weight, bottle shape, label material or future SKU. State which formats were physically run and which were reviewed only from dimensions or drawings.

Use the sample-preparation guide before testing, the torque method for finished-pack evidence, and the installation-readiness guide for site-only checks.

Discuss the proposed FAT scope

From FAT to site handover

Carry tested materials, settings and open actions into commissioning.

Record the exact bottle and cap samples, line state, settings, quality method, stops and any condition not reproduced before delivery. The site team can then distinguish installation or interface changes from the accepted FAT condition.

Commissioning checklistPrepare installation and training.

Quality planKeep the same acceptance method.

Line balancingTest site interfaces.