A carton forming machine can only be commissioned as fast as the site is ready for it. Most installation delays do not come from the machine — they come from power, air, floor or access conditions that were never confirmed in writing. This checklist covers the installation conditions to agree with your supplier before delivery.
Installation starts before the machine ships
The cheapest time to fix a site problem is before the machine leaves the factory. Once a box forming machine is on your floor, every day spent waiting for an electrician or a larger air compressor is a day of lost production and a longer commissioning window.
Ask your supplier for two documents at order confirmation, not at shipping: the machine utility requirements sheet and the dimensional/layout drawings. Check each item against your site, record what you find, and resolve the gaps while the machine is still being built. A supplier who knows your floor plan can also flag access issues you may not have considered.
If you are still comparing machine types and are unsure whether you need a case erector or a paperboard carton forming machine, settle that first — the two have different footprints and utility needs.
Utilities to confirm: power and compressed air
Do not estimate utilities from past machines or from memory. Ask for the requirements sheet, then confirm every value in writing with the supplier — and on delivery day, check the nameplate on the machine itself before energising it.
If any figure is unclear, ask the supplier to state it in writing rather than assuming. When in doubt, the nameplate and the specification sheet, confirmed by the supplier, are the reference — not a figure quoted verbally. Record the confirmed values on your installation checklist and keep them with the order file; they are also what your site electrician will need.
| Utility | What to check and record |
|---|---|
| Power | Voltage, phase and frequency, as stated on the machine specification sheet and nameplate. |
| Supply circuit | Capacity of the supply circuit the machine will be connected to. |
| Cable and isolator | Who supplies and installs the supply cable, isolator and any transformer — buyer or supplier. |
| Compressed air | Required pressure and flow, per the machine specification sheet. |
| Air quality | Drying and filtration expectations, and whether the machine includes its own regulator. |
| Fittings | Fitting sizes and connection points on the machine layout drawing. |
Space, floor and access
Machines are quoted with a footprint, but installation needs more than a footprint. Check the layout drawing for maintenance clearance — folding arms, glue systems and blank magazines all need access for adjustment and cleaning on at least the sides shown on the drawing. Check and record:
Photograph the route and measure the tightest points. A single narrow corner between the dock and the hall can decide whether the machine arrives as planned or waits for a rigging crew.
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Footprint plus clearance | The installed envelope, per the layout drawing, not the bare machine dimensions. |
| Floor condition | Levelness and load capacity, per the machine documentation; note any slope, joint or pit in the installation area. |
| Access route | Door widths, corridor corners, stair angles and lift dimensions from the unloading point to the final position, compared against the machine shipping dimensions. |
| Material flow | Space for blank stacks at the infeed and formed boxes at the discharge, plus operator position and, for hot-melt machines, the glue station. |
Who prepares what: buyer and supplier responsibilities
Installation fails quietly when both sides assume the other is handling something. Before delivery, list every task and assign it — in writing, as part of the order file:
Before the machine leaves the factory, ask how the supplier handles pre-shipment checks. After installation, the machine is verified on your site against your conditions, and it is worth verifying output and changeover again once the machine is running on your floor.
| Task | Responsibility to assign |
|---|---|
| Unloading and rigging | Who moves the machine from the container to the floor. |
| Positioning and levelling | Who sets the machine and anchors it, if required. |
| Utility connections | Who runs the power cable and the air line to the machine. |
| Commissioning and setting | Who adjusts the machine to your approved box sample and board. |
| Operator training | Who is trained, on which topics, and where the training record is kept. |
| Acceptance sign-off | What is checked and signed when installation is complete. |
See how Xunding handles quality checks
FAQ: what should you send the supplier before delivery?
What should I send the supplier before delivery?
Four things, as early as possible: a floor plan of the installation area, photographs of the access route and doorways, samples of the board and adhesive you will run, and the name of your site electrician or utilities contact.
Why send them before the machine ships rather than at delivery?
So the supplier can check the layout drawings against your actual site and flag conflicts before they cost time. Use the checklist above, confirm each open point in writing, and send the completed list so the installation conditions are agreed before the machine ships — not negotiated on delivery day.