Packaging & Labelling Lines — cost, specification & RFQ guide
Vacuum, MAP, thermoforming, weighing, metal detection and traceability labelling.
Request matched quotesShort answer
How much does a packaging & labelling lines cost?
- MAP shelf-life gain:
- 3–8 days over air-packed chilled seafood
- Film cost:
- Often 3–8% of finished product cost — compare consumables, not just machines
- Changeover:
- 5–30 min per format; a major hidden capacity cost with wide SKU ranges
Throughput and indicative CAPEX bands
Indicative equipment supply only (EXW/FOB). Building, civil works, duties and local installation are additional.
| Scale | Throughput | Indicative CAPEX | Typical scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | up to 1 t/day | USD 8k–25k | Chamber vacuum, hand-wrap, manual labelling. |
| Commercial | 1–5 t/day | USD 20k–80k | Double-chamber vacuum, tray sealer, checkweigher, metal detector. |
| Retail line | 5–20 t/day | USD 250k–800k | MAP tray sealing, auto weighing, labelling, case packing. |
| Full automation | 20 t/day+ | USD 800k–1.5M+ | Thermoforming, robotic loading, X-ray, end-of-line palletising. |
What a complete scope must cover
Primary packing
Vacuum, skin-pack, MAP or thermoform depending on shelf-life and retailer spec.
Weighing & control
Checkweigher, metal detection and X-ray where required by the buyer or market.
Labelling & traceability
Lot, catch/harvest data, establishment number, GS1 barcodes and country-of-origin rules.
End of line
Case erecting, case packing, palletising and pallet labelling.
Machine, line, turnkey plant or EPC scope?
Compare offers at the same responsibility level. A low machine price is not comparable with a line that includes controls, utilities, installation and performance acceptance.
| Scope | Typically includes | Buyer retains | Use when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single machine | One defined operation and controls | Interfaces, utilities, installation and line balance | The factory and upstream/downstream process already exist |
| Complete line | Connected process equipment, controls and throughput duty | Building, major utilities, cold store and permits unless stated | One product flow needs a measurable output guarantee |
| Turnkey plant | Line, utilities, installation, commissioning and training as contracted | Land, approvals, raw material and items expressly excluded | The buyer wants fewer package interfaces |
| EPC scope | Engineering, procurement and construction coordination under an agreed contract | Owner decisions, financing, permits and operational inputs | Civil works and multiple technical packages must be integrated |
Selection criteria
- •Retailer or importer pack specification — obtain it before machine selection
- •Film and consumable availability and price in your country
- •Changeover time across your real SKU mix
- •Traceability data output compatible with your export documentation
Costly mistakes
- •Choosing a machine that locks you to one film supplier at an uncompetitive price
- •Overlooking labelling rules for the destination market
- •Ignoring changeover losses when SKU count is high
Put this in your RFQ
- •Attach the buyer's pack specification and SKU list to the RFQ
- •Ask for film consumption per pack and a list of qualified film suppliers
- •Require changeover time as a measured acceptance criterion
Size it before you tender
Packaging & Labelling Lines FAQ
Request packaging & labelling lines quotes
Send the species, product format, peak throughput, labour plan, automation target, hygiene standard, utilities, installation boundary and cold-chain interface. FishMatch reviews the brief and seeks matched responses; timing depends on scope and supplier interest, and identities stay confidential until you approve contact.
Other processing buyer guides
Before you request quotes
Equipment scope
What equipment does a commercial aquaculture project actually need?
A grow-out project typically needs holding infrastructure (tanks, ponds or cages), water movement (pumps, piping, valves), aeration or oxygenation, water treatment appropriate to the system, feeding equipment, grading and handling gear, monitoring and alarms, and backup power. RAS adds mechanical filtration, biofiltration, degassing, disinfection and tighter process control. Hatchery and processing scopes are specified separately.
Which equipment should be specified before requesting quotes?
Specify the items whose sizing changes everything downstream: design biomass and stocking density, water exchange or recirculation rate, oxygen demand at peak temperature, and installed pumping head. With those four fixed, suppliers can quote aeration, filtration, pumps and power on the same basis. FishMatch calculators produce these figures and attach them to the RFQ.
Can equipment be sourced in stages?
Yes, and phased procurement is common. The usual sequence is water supply and holding infrastructure, then aeration and treatment, then automation and monitoring, then processing and cold chain. Staging works when interfaces and capacity headroom are defined at the start; otherwise later phases force replacement rather than addition.