Batch versus continuous
| Dimension | Batch | Continuous |
|---|---|---|
| Capex per unit capacity | Lower | Higher |
| Labour per unit | Higher | Lower |
| Product flexibility | High | Limited |
| Yield consistency | Variable | High |
| Cleaning downtime | Frequent | Scheduled CIP |
| Best volume range | Low to medium | Medium to high |
| Traceability | Natural by batch | Requires system design |
The honest test is product mix over ten years, not today. A continuous line optimised for one SKU is superb until the retailer asks for three formats — at which point the changeover penalty can erase the efficiency advantage entirely.
Hygienic design is a cost class, not a checkbox
- Dry hygiene — bakery, snacks, powders: 316L on contact surfaces, dry cleaning regimes, dust control
- Wet hygiene — meat, dairy, ready meals: full washdown, IP69K, sloped surfaces, drainable frames
- Aseptic — UHT dairy, beverages: sterile barriers, validated CIP/SIP, chart-recorded control
- EHEDG or 3-A certification adds roughly 8–20% to equipment cost and removes far more in audit and recall risk
- Specify surface finish in Ra values and weld standards explicitly; 'food grade' alone is not a specification
Line selection checklist
- Product portfolio for the next five years, with volumes per SKU
- Changeover time targets per format, written into the RFQ
- CIP strategy and cleaning window inside the shift plan
- Allergen segregation requirements and their layout consequences
- Retailer and certification requirements — BRCGS, IFS, FSSC 22000
- Yield and giveaway targets with measurement method
- Bottleneck balance across the whole line, not per machine
- Rework loop and by-product handling designed in from the start
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food processing line cost?
A small packaging-and-fill line starts near $300K; mid-size processing lines run $1.5M–$8M; integrated plants with utilities and CIP commonly reach $15M–$60M depending on hygiene class and automation.
Should the whole line come from one supplier?
Single-supplier lines simplify responsibility and controls integration. Best-of-breed machines can outperform on individual steps but require an integrator to own the line performance guarantee.
How is line capacity guaranteed?
Through a performance test on your product, at your raw material specification, over a defined period, measuring throughput, yield and giveaway simultaneously — not throughput alone.
Can you shortlist food equipment suppliers by hygiene class?
Yes. Hygiene class, certification and washdown rating are qualification criteria in our shortlisting process, alongside references from the same product category.
Industrial financing
Financing routes for sector guides
Financing is scoped alongside the RFQ, not after supplier selection — the funding route changes the optimal supplier, currency, incoterms and delivery schedule. Global B2B Group never lends, never takes a success fee from buyers and is not tied to any institution. Below are the nine routes we actively structure against.
Export Credit Agencies
State-backed cover (Euler Hermes, SACE, EKF, UKEF, Atradius, K-Sure) on equipment exported from the supplier's country, usually combined with a commercial bank loan.
- Tenor
- 5 – 12 years
- Ticket
- $2M – $250M
Best for: Imported production lines and turnkey plants from EU, UK, Korea or Japan
- Eligible country content
- Down payment 15%
- Bankable feasibility study
Development Banks & DFIs
IFC, EBRD, AfDB, ADB, IDB, FMO, Proparco and bilateral development windows funding industrial capex with concessional pricing and long grace periods.
- Tenor
- 7 – 15 years
- Ticket
- $5M – $200M
Best for: Food security, cold chain, energy efficiency and job-creating projects in emerging markets
- ESG / E&S compliance
- Audited financials
- Development impact case
Commercial Lending
Bank term debt and capex facilities secured against project cash flow, equipment and corporate balance sheet, in local or hard currency.
- Tenor
- 3 – 8 years
- Ticket
- $500K – $80M
Best for: Established operators expanding proven capacity
- DSCR ≥ 1.3x
- Security package
- Sponsor equity 25–35%
Equipment Leasing
Operating and finance leases that keep machinery off the balance sheet, preserve working capital and align payments with production ramp-up.
- Tenor
- 2 – 7 years
- Ticket
- $100K – $25M
Best for: Single machines, packaging lines, handling fleets and phased upgrades
- Asset resale value
- Insurance
- Deposit 10–20%
Vendor Financing
Supplier-supported deferred payment and instalment structures negotiated inside the RFQ, before supplier selection narrows your leverage.
- Tenor
- 1 – 5 years
- Ticket
- $250K – $30M
Best for: Buyers who want a single contractual counterparty for supply and payment terms
- Supplier credit appetite
- Bank guarantee or LC
- Milestone schedule
Project Finance
Limited-recourse SPV structures where the facility's own cash flow repays the debt, with independent technical and market due diligence.
- Tenor
- 8 – 18 years
- Ticket
- $20M – $500M
Best for: Greenfield plants, integrated processing complexes and utility-scale infrastructure
- Offtake agreements
- EPC contract
- Independent engineer report
Private Equity
Growth and buy-out capital from industrial and agri-focused funds, typically alongside a debt tranche to lower the blended cost of capital.
- Tenor
- 4 – 7 year hold
- Ticket
- $5M – $150M
Best for: Platform build-outs, consolidation and cross-border expansion
- Governance standards
- Growth thesis
- Exit path
Investment Partners
Strategic co-investors, family offices and regional sponsors who bring local licensing, land, offtake or distribution alongside capital.
- Tenor
- Negotiated
- Ticket
- $1M – $50M
Best for: Projects needing local partnership or market access as much as funding
- Shareholder agreement
- Clear capital structure
- Aligned exit
Government Programmes
Industrial localisation incentives, capex grants, interest subsidies, free-zone benefits and agri-processing schemes that reduce effective project cost.
- Tenor
- Programme specific
- Ticket
- Grants 5% – 40% of capex
Best for: Projects in priority sectors, special economic zones or import-substitution plans
- Local registration
- Job creation targets
- Application windows
How financing is structured
1. Scope & budget
Technical scope and realistic capex band are fixed first — lenders price the project, not the wish list.
2. Route selection
We map which of the nine routes actually fit your country, sector, ticket size and sponsor profile.
3. Bankable package
Feasibility, offtake, DSCR model and equipment quotations assembled into a lender-ready file.
4. Introductions
Independent introductions to ECAs, DFIs, banks, lessors and equity partners — no exclusivity, no success fee to buyers.
Get a funding route assessment
Human-led, supplier-neutral and 100% free for buyers. We return the routes that realistically fit your project, with indicative tenors, equity requirements and documentation checklists.
Next steps
Put this into practice
Request machinery quotes
Supplier-neutral · Human-led · No cost to buyers
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