“Please send me your best price.”

We receive inquiries like this often.

The problem is that for printing and packaging machinery, a price without a clear application usually does not mean much.

A folder gluer, die cutter, foil stamping machine or corrugated machine can have several working widths, automation levels and optional configurations. Two machines with the same general name may be built for completely different jobs.

A good quotation starts with a clear production requirement.

Tell us what you make

The finished product is more useful than the machine name.

For example:

folding cartons
cosmetic boxes
pharmaceutical boxes
corrugated cartons
gift boxes
paper bags
books
labels

If you already know the machine type, that helps. But if you do not, simply tell the supplier what you are trying to produce.

In many cases, that leads to a better recommendation.

Material information is essential

“Paper” is too broad.

Try to provide the actual material:

157 gsm coated paper

350 gsm ivory board

E-flute corrugated board

B-flute laminated board

The material affects feeding, pressure, folding, gluing and running speed.

This is particularly important for unusual jobs such as thin-paper die cutting or hot foil stamping on lightweight coated paper.

Give the open size, not only the finished size

A buyer may tell us the finished carton size, but the machine often processes the flat sheet before folding.

For this reason, send:

maximum sheet size
minimum sheet size
finished box dimensions
dieline if available

A PDF drawing is usually ideal.

Explain the process you need

A packaging product normally passes through several machines.

For example:

printing → foil stamping → die cutting → stripping → folding and gluing → packing

If you tell the supplier the complete process, they can understand where the new machine fits into your factory.

This is particularly useful when you want to connect equipment into a more automated line.

Tell us the production problem you are trying to solve

This is often more useful than simply saying you want a faster machine.

Maybe the real issue is:

too many operators
unstable feeding
slow manual stripping
long changeover time
inconsistent folding
limited carton size
poor registration
too much manual handling

A good equipment recommendation should solve one or more of these problems.

Required output should be realistic

Instead of saying “I want the fastest machine,” tell the supplier what you need to produce.

For example:

40,000 cartons per shift

or:

stable production around 5,000 sheets per hour

This helps determine whether you need a standard machine or a higher-level automated solution.

Do not forget electrical requirements

For export machinery, provide:

destination country
voltage
frequency
phase

For example:

380V / 50Hz / 3 Phase

Electrical requirements should be confirmed before production, not after the machine arrives.

Samples can save a lot of discussion

If the job is special, photos and videos help.

For jobs involving:

foil stamping
embossing
large-format die cutting
very thin paper
unusually shaped cartons
AB-piece cartons

an actual sample or detailed drawing can prevent misunderstandings.

For some projects, testing the real material before shipment is worth arranging.

A simple RFQ can still be professional

You do not need to prepare a 20-page technical document.

A useful first inquiry can be as simple as:

We produce 350 gsm folding cartons. Maximum sheet size is 1050 × 750 mm. We need die cutting with automatic stripping. Current production is approximately 30,000 sheets per day. Machine will be installed in India, 415V / 50Hz / 3 Phase. Please recommend a suitable model.

This already gives a supplier enough information to start a meaningful discussion.