How do I identify the right spare part?
Start with the machine serial or identification plate, the part's location and any number shown in the supplied documentation. Similar-looking parts may differ between machine revisions or configurations, so the reference matters more than the photograph.
Photograph the component together with its surrounding assembly, not the part alone, and describe what it does. A forming tube, sealing jaw or dosing part that looks the same on two machines may not be interchangeable.
If the part belongs to a change-parts set for a second pack size, say which pack size it serves, since that narrows down the configuration.
What should an initial spare-parts list include?
An initial list should separate wear items for routine maintenance from change parts for a different pack size. Discuss wear items and critical spares for your agreed operating pattern, and ask for part identification, quantity, replacement guidance and current availability on each line.
A second pack size may require its own forming, sealing or cutting components. List those change parts separately from routine spares in your quotation so they can be reviewed on their own.
Group the list by station, such as feeding, forming, sealing and cutting. A station-by-station list is easier to check against the machine documentation when a later request comes in.
When choosing critical spares, start with parts whose failure stops the line and which cannot be sourced locally, then add parts that touch the film or product on every cycle. Ask the team which items on your configuration fall into each group.
Which change parts does a multi-lane stick pack machine need for a new size?
Change parts are the components that set the pack format and the dose, so they change when the stick width, seal layout, cut style or dose range changes. On a multi-lane machine each lane has its own forming tube, so a width change means a matched forming set for every active lane, not a single part. The table lists the usual change parts and what each one sets.
The forming tube, also called the former or forming set, is the part each film strip is folded around to make the stick. Its size fixes the stick width: on the powder reference configuration, sticks are about 15–30 mm wide, each width fixed by its forming set. Whether a new length is a settings change or also needs other parts depends on the configuration, so ask for that answer for each size you plan.
There is no single best part for a stick pack machine. The right part is the one made for your machine revision, lane arrangement and approved pack drawing, which is why compatibility is checked against the machine reference rather than a catalogue photo. Forming sets and other change parts are quoted per project, together with the lanes and sizes they cover; no list price is published.
Related reading: Stick Pack Sizes & Dimensions Guide; How a Stick Pack Machine Works
Scroll horizontally to see all columns. Keyboard: focus the table and use the arrow keys.
| Change part | What it sets | When it usually changes |
|---|---|---|
| Forming set (one forming tube per lane) | Stick width and the formed tube | New stick width |
| Dosing parts: auger, pump and nozzle, or volumetric cups | Dose range for the product | A much larger or smaller dose, or a product that doses differently |
| Sealing parts | Longitudinal and end seal layout | New seal layout or pack width |
| Cutting parts | Cut style, tear notch and cut position | New cut style, opening feature or pack width |
How to order change parts for a new stick size
Order change parts from the pack drawing, not from a width alone. Send the items below together so the team can check which parts change, whether the film layout changes with them and whether the new size should be run in a trial before you rely on it.
Once the parts and quantities are confirmed in writing, add them to the machine's parts list under the new pack size. Run first-pack checks on every lane with the new parts fitted, and keep the pack drawing, tooling reference and artwork revision together so the next order refers to the same set.
Related reading: Stick Pack Machine Sample Testing
- Approved pack drawing: width, length, seal layout, cut style and opening feature
- Machine identification plate, lane count and current configuration
- Product and dose, if the dosing parts may also change
- Film specification and artwork, because roll width and print layout follow the lane and seal arrangement
- Whether the new size is needed at launch or later
Which equipment does spare-parts support cover?
Parts support covers packaging equipment that the team can identify and support. Send the machine reference so compatibility can be checked. Availability and lead time are confirmed for each request before ordering.
If you are unsure whether a machine falls within that scope, send the identification plate and photographs first and ask. Keep the machine reference and configuration with every request so the part can be matched to the right lane and station.
How is a spare-parts request handled?
After reviewing the machine reference and photos, the team can confirm the part, quantity and availability. Ask for the part identification, compatibility with your machine revision and quoted lead time in writing before placing the order.
Keep a log of which parts were replaced and when. It makes the next request faster and can show a part wearing sooner than expected. Raise that with the team.
If a part fails unexpectedly, send photographs of the failed part and describe what the machine was doing at the time. That helps the team judge whether a replacement alone is enough or a setting should also be checked.
Planning spares with the machine quotation
Ask for recommended wear items and change parts while agreeing the machine quotation. Keep their identifiers in the quotation or machine documentation so a later request can refer to the same parts.
Ask also which spare parts, wear items and tools are supplied with the machine, and have each one listed by name and quantity in the quotation instead of assuming a standard kit. Check that list against the crate contents at handover.
Records from the sample trial and the installation handover help as well: they show which film, dosing method and pack format the stick pack machine was set up for, and therefore which change parts apply.
Related reading: Stick Pack Machine Price: Budget & Quote Guide
Common Questions
What information speeds up a spare-parts request?
The machine serial or identification plate, the part's location, any number shown in the supplied documentation, and photographs of the component with its surrounding assembly. Add what the part does and which pack size it serves, so fit can be checked against the reference rather than judged by appearance.
Can I order parts for a machine you did not supply?
Send the machine identification plate and photos. The team first needs to confirm whether it can support that equipment and verify the component against its configuration. Similar appearance alone is not enough to establish a fit.
What is the difference between wear items and change parts?
Wear items are replaced during normal running as part of routine maintenance. Change parts, such as forming, sealing or cutting components for a second pack size, are needed only when you switch format. Keep the two on separate lines in the quotation and in your spares records.
Are stick pack machine spare parts kept in stock?
Ask the team to check availability and lead time for the identified part. Confirm both in writing before ordering. When buying the machine, also discuss which critical spares to keep at your site.
What does a stick pack former cost?
Forming sets are quoted per project rather than from a price list. The quotation depends on the lane count, since each active lane needs its own forming tube, on the stick width and on whether sealing, cutting or dosing parts change with it. Send the approved pack drawing and the machine reference to get a quotation.