Guidelines for determination of maximum packing speed of FFS pouch packing machine - CBEC Issues Draft Circular
THIS concerns Pan Masala Packing Machine (Capacity Determination and Collection of Duty) Rules, 2008 and Chewing Tobacco and Unmanufactured Tobacco Packing Machine (Capacity Determination and Collection of Duty) Rules, 2010 . These rules were amended in the budget 2015-16 and the maximum packing speed at which a packing machine can be operated for packing of notified goods of various retail sale prices was made a factor relevant for determining deemed production.
Representations have been received from the Trade regarding lack of guidelines to verify the maximum speed of packing machines leading to disputes and litigation.
In this regard, CBEC has issued a draft circular.
A study was conducted by DGCEI in collaboration with IIT, Delhi to examine the methodology for determination of maximum packing speed. The study has established that through the use of automation software consisting of PLC (Programme Logic Controller) and Human Machine Interface, the speed of the Rotary Servo Motors installed in the said machines could be synchronised which in turn would control and determine the maximum speed of the pouch making machines. Through the study, it has been concluded that theoretical maximum speed of the pouch packing machine can be determined based on the principle of kinematics, after taking an efficiency factor of 80%. The efficiency factor takes into consideration various other limiting factors, such as, various design parameters of the mechanical and electrical parts, the product to be manufactured, the volume/ size of the pouches and the type of packaging materials used etc.
Formula for determination of Maximum Packing Speed:Based on the above study, the following formula is proposed in the draft circular to derive the maximum speed of the pouch packing machine:
Maximum Packing Speed =
RPM of the rotary motor X No. of funnels X 0.80
Overall Gear Box Ratio
Board requests feedback on the draft circular from Officers of the Department and Members of the Trade by 20.10.2016 on the email id: rohan.choudhary@nic.in
CBEC F. No. 81/03/2016-CX.3.,Dated: October 05, 2016