Quick answer: Minimum order quantities for powder stick packs come from setup cost and line run time, not policy. Changeover, film threading, line clearance and quality checks take the same time for a short run as for a long one. At T.H.E.M., our Sanko stick pack filling equipment has extremely high throughput. A 1,000 unit  run might be completed in mere minutes of run time. We try to ensure that our minimum run will cover at least one shift. MOQs vary widely between co-packers. At T.H.E.M., the minimum for powder stick packs is 50,000 units.

Why MOQs exist

Every run starts with fixed work. The line is cleared of the last product. Film is loaded and registered. Fill weights are dialed in and verified. Quality samples are pulled and released. Multilane stick pack machines run fast once they are set up. A very short run spends most of its time on setup.

What pushes your MOQ up

  • More SKUs. Each flavor or formula is its own changeover.
  • Allergen changeovers. While T.H.E.M. runs a separate allergen facility, on all equipment, moving between allergen profiles needs a full clean and verification.
  • Unusual stick dimensions. Nonstandard widths or lengths can require change parts.
  • Difficult powders. Sticky, fine or moisture-sensitive powders need more setup to hold fill weight.

How to work within an MOQ

  • Standardize stick dimensions across flavors so changeovers are faster.
  • Run flavors back to back in one scheduled window.
  • Commit to annual volume with scheduled releases instead of one-off orders.
  • Ask about a pilot or trial run before committing to full production.

Where T.H.E.M. fits

T.H.E.M. brought the stick pack format to the U.S. in 1996. We are the exclusive North American distributor of Sanko stick pack machinery, a partnership that spans 32 years. That depth means we set MOQs based on how your specific powder runs, not a blanket number.

FAQ

Is the MOQ per flavor or per order? It depends on the co-packer. At T.H.E.M., we will evaluate your product’s characteristics and how it runs on our equipment before making a plan.

Can I run a small pilot before committing? Our stick pack lab has equipment to help us understand your product and how it will behave on high-throughput machinery during a production run. We offer trial runs, with a different pricing structure. They may not be the most cost-effective, and our ability to fulfill them may depend on other projects.

Does the MOQ include packaging materials? We can work with many stages of product development, but we have a good understanding of films that work well with our equipment. We are happy to help guide you towards the best fit. Our MOQ generally refers to the number of units that we will be shipping.

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