| Machine Type and Process Fit | 15% | Compatibility with extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding, stretch blow molding, or a combined production requirement. | The machine should support the required material, container geometry, cavity count, neck finish, and production volume without major process compromises. | Technical proposal, sample parts, process-flow documentation, and a witnessed production trial using the buyer’s resin and tooling. |
| Output and Cycle-Time Capability | 14% | Stable production speed under actual operating conditions rather than only the maximum speed stated in a catalogue. | Compare accepted parts per hour, cycle time, cavity utilization, and planned operating hours. Require performance data at the intended product weight and specification. | Factory acceptance test results, cycle-time records, scrap reports, and production samples from a comparable application. |
| Product Quality and Process Stability | 14% | Control of wall thickness, weight, dimensions, flash, leakage, transparency, and repeatability during continuous production. | Define measurable tolerances before purchase. A suitable machine should maintain the agreed specification over a sustained production run, not only during short sampling. | Statistical process-control data, dimensional inspection records, leak-test results, and samples collected at the beginning, middle, and end of a run. |
| Energy Efficiency and Operating Cost | 12% | Electrical consumption, compressed-air demand, cooling-water requirements, heating efficiency, and maintenance-related operating costs. | Request energy consumption per 1,000 acceptable containers under the intended production conditions. Compare total cost of ownership rather than motor power alone. | Measured utility-consumption data, energy-monitoring records, utility specifications, and a five-year operating-cost estimate. |
| Automation and Control System | 10% | Controller usability, recipe management, alarm handling, data logging, remote diagnostics, safety interlocks, and integration with auxiliary equipment. | The control system should allow repeatable recipe storage, controlled access levels, clear alarms, production-data export, and communication with relevant plant systems where required. | Control-system demonstration, input/output list, communication protocol documentation, software backup procedure, and operator-training plan. |
| Tooling and Mold Compatibility | 9% | Support for the required mold dimensions, parison or preform handling, quick mold changes, cooling channels, and future product variations. | Confirm maximum mold size, mold weight, clamping or locking method, neck and bottom tooling requirements, and changeover time for the intended product family. | Machine layout, mold-interface drawings, changeover demonstration, tooling quotation, and compatibility confirmation from the technical team. |
| Service, Spare Parts, and Response Time | 10% | Availability of trained technicians, preventive-maintenance support, critical spare parts, troubleshooting capability, and after-sales response procedures. | A credible service plan should specify response targets, spare-parts lead times, escalation contacts, warranty coverage, and scheduled maintenance intervals. | Service-level agreement, spare-parts list, technician coverage map, maintenance schedule, warranty terms, and references from comparable installations. |
| Safety, Compliance, and Documentation | 6% | Guarding, emergency stops, electrical safety, pneumatic safety, risk assessment, user documentation, and compliance with the destination market’s regulations. | The machine should be supplied with complete manuals, electrical and pneumatic schematics, safety documentation, conformity information, and clearly labeled safety devices. | Risk-assessment file, conformity documentation, safety-circuit test results, manuals, drawings, and pre-shipment inspection checklist. |
| Installation and Commissioning Capability | 5% | Site preparation requirements, installation supervision, commissioning, operator training, process validation, and ramp-up support. | The supplier should provide a documented installation plan covering utilities, foundations, access, commissioning milestones, training hours, and production handover criteria. | Site-requirement document, installation schedule, commissioning protocol, training records, and signed performance-acceptance criteria. |
| Financial Strength and Commercial Transparency | 5% | Quotation clarity, payment terms, warranty conditions, cost exclusions, delivery commitments, and the supplier’s ability to support the equipment over its expected life. | The quotation should separate machine cost, molds, auxiliaries, freight, installation, training, taxes, spare parts, and optional features. Avoid evaluating on purchase price alone. | Itemized quotation, contractual delivery schedule, warranty statement, ownership-cost model, audited business information where available, and clearly defined acceptance terms. |