UK Case Study: SW-L200 Powder Packing in Zipper Pouches
Quick Facts
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Product | Powder (product not disclosed) |
| Pouch | PP/CPP metallised premade zipper pouches; 80–200 mm plain, 120–200 mm with zipper |
| Fill range | About 50 g to 1 kg |
| Machine | SW-L200 eight-station premade pouch machine, 50 L vertical auger filler, Siemens PLC |
| Trial speed | 20 bags/min on the trial run (HMI reading) |
| Lead time | 25–30 working days after the deposit, as quoted for this order |
| Terms | 30% deposit, balance before shipment |
| Delivered | 9 April 2026 |
The Customer
The buyer is a UK-based company that packs powders. It is an end user. We do not name the company here. The chat records used for this article begin on 25 November 2025.
What They Needed to Pack
The product was a powder, packed in PP/CPP metallised premade zipper pouches. The machine itself was specified for a wider range: 80–200 mm for plain stand-up pouches and 120–200 mm for zipper pouches, with 120 mm as the minimum width for a zipper pouch. The required fill range was about 50 g up to 1 kg. The product is not disclosed in this case study.
Two special conditions shaped the build. Every product-contact surface is stainless steel 304. Vacuum dust cleaning was added, because powder fed into an open pouch throws dust at the filling and sealing stations.
What We Proposed and Why
We proposed the SW-L200, an 8-station premade pouch packing machine, with a 50 L vertical auger filler. The configuration on the proforma invoice was:
- Eight stations with a Siemens PLC and a zipper opener
- An auger conveyor feeding a 50 L vertical auger filler
- A dust collector and an inkjet holder
- Stainless steel 304 on product-contact parts
An auger filler doses powder by screw revolutions, so the auger screw diameter has to suit the fill weight. We supplied three auger screw sizes (51, 63 and 76 mm) so that one filler could cover the buyer's fill range. If you are still choosing between an auger and a weigher for your product, our multihead weigher vs auger filler guide covers that decision.
At one point the buyer considered adding a second filling station. We explained the risks of changing the machine's design and quoted the change as a paid modification. The buyer decided not to proceed.
How the SW-L200 Handles Powder in Zipper Pouches
An auger filler does not weigh the powder. It turns the screw a calibrated number of revolutions, and each revolution displaces a fixed volume set by the diameter and pitch of that screw. The screw is interchangeable, so the volume per turn can be matched to the powder and to the dose band instead of asking one screw to cover everything.
Volume becomes weight only through bulk density, and the density in the screw flights depends on how much powder sits above them. When the hopper level swings, head pressure swings with it and the fill weight drifts. The auger conveyor keeps the hopper at a steady level, and an agitator in the hopper stops the powder bridging over the screw.
All eight stations work at the same time on different pouches. One picks a pouch with suction cups, and the next opens it and separates the zipper profile so the mouth is fully clear. Any pouch that does not open is passed over without a dose. Filling, sealing, cooling, coding, checking and discharge follow round the table.
Dust is what threatens the seal on this line. Powder that settles on hot sealing jaws carbonises and leaves a weak, porous seal. The dust collector at the filling station captures airborne particles before the pouch moves on, and cooling plates set the seal before the pouch is released.
How the Project Ran
| 26 November 2025 | Final price and proforma invoice |
| 27 November 2025 | Deposit paid |
| 10 December 2025 to 26 December 2025 | Engineering rounds: station layout, movable inkjet frame, pouch track |
| 26 December 2025 | Buyer's representative tests the machine at our factory |
| 6 January 2026 | Full working video sent |
| 19 January 2026 | Balance paid by wire |
| 20 January 2026 | Additionally ordered spare parts paid |
| 22 January 2026 | Machine shipped |
At one point during the project the buyer wrote to us: "This machine will be an example that we will show other customers for more future orders."
The HMI displayed 20 bags/min during the factory trial. We report the 20 bags/min as a trial reading with that product and that pouch, not as a rated output.
Commercial Terms
| Payment | 30% deposit; balance paid by bank transfer before shipment |
| Lead time | 25–30 working days after the deposit, as quoted for this order |
| Warranty | Two years on manufacturing defects. In-warranty replacement parts sent free of charge (wear parts excluded). Lifetime remote support |
| Spare parts | An additionally ordered set of spare parts |
Delivery
The machine shipped on 22 January 2026 and was delivered on 9 April 2026, about a month later than planned because of port congestion.
What We Would Check First on a Similar Project
For a powder in zipper pouches, I would settle three things before the order. First, the pouch: its width, and whether it has a zipper, because the zipper opener and the pouch track are set from it. Second, the fill range against the auger screw sizes, because the auger screw has to be matched to the target dose at the light and heavy ends. Third, dust: where the powder escapes and what has to be cleaned or extracted at the sealing station.
In our experience, settling the station layout, the movable inkjet frame and the pouch track before the build is cheaper than adjusting after it. I would also arrange a factory test, as this buyer did. If you would like to know how we run that test, our factory acceptance test guide sets it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did it take from the final quotation to shipment?
It took 57 calendar days from the final quotation on 26 November 2025 to shipment on 22 January 2026. The quoted lead time for this order was 25–30 working days after the deposit.
What pouch sizes and fill weights was this machine configured for?
The pouches were PP/CPP metallised premade zipper pouches, and the machine was configured for fills of about 50 g to 1 kg. Width was 80–200 mm for plain stand-up pouches and 120–200 mm for zipper pouches. The machine’s minimum width for zipper pouches is 120 mm.
Did the buyer see the machine run before it shipped?
Yes. A representative of the buyer tested the machine at our factory on 26 December 2025, and we sent a full working video on 6 January 2026.
Send Us Your Powder, Pouch Size and Fill Weight
Tell us the product, the pouch material and width, the fill weight range and the output you need. We will come back with the machine that fits, the filler and screw sizes, the lead time and the payment terms for your order.
info@shengweimachine.com · or contact our engineering team directly
International Sales Manager · ShengWei Machine
Technical review: WeiHuang Wu, Chief Engineer
