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While “face-to-face” meetings have been the standard approach to performing a FAT, an increase in global legal travel restrictions as a result of the global COVID-19 crisis has made this important step in the buying process more difficult. Aside from these global travel restrictions, many companies in the packaging industry would need and prefer to cut down on expenditures such as personnel travel and the related costs, from the round trip through to accommodation and subsistence coverage. As packaging companies’ inclination to travel becomes more complicated and less immediate, there is an increasingly greater call for advanced technological solutions that can assure the same integrity and truthfulness as an in-person FAT.
The Next Generation: Volpak’s Live Remote FAT
In response to these needs, Volpak introduced the latest machine testing tool, known as the ‘live remote FAT’ or LFAT, which works as the FAT, except that it offers a unique opportunity for customers from any location in the world to witness the process directly from their physically remote distance. The way in which the virtual LFAT works is by setting up cameras around the machine that is being tested in the manufacturing area of the Volpak factory in Santa Perpetua, Barcelona. The live stream is managed by Volpak’s technical specialists through the control desk. It also provides access to a live chat which allows the manufacturer’s engineers to interact with the customer team in real time. Depending on the machine, the live recording system includes 4 to 7 cameras working simultaneously, as well as other remote tools monitoring electronic devices such as HMI, to allow the client to witness each and every step of the Live LFAT in real-time. The steps focus on checking machine characteristics such as dimensions, finishes, wiring and connections, security and alarms, machine performance with the product, packaging material, pouch style and size, and checking pouch quality, resistance, tightness, finishes, etc.
