How Many Workers Do You Really Need to Run a Paper Bag Machine?

We get asked this a lot. Not right at the start. Usually after someone has looked at the machine, thought about their workshop and started picturing how it would run.

How many people will I actually need to operate it?

It is a real question. Not just about cost. But about daily life in the factory. Who stands where? When do you need help? Can one person really handle it?

At Zhuxin, we design machines so that one person can run them. That is the idea from the beginning. Simple operation. Clear workflow. No extra bodies needed.

In most cases, it works like this. One operator loads paper into the feeder. Keeps an eye on the process. Takes the finished bags off the stacker. The machine does the rest. Folding. Gluing. Attaching the paper handle. Stacking. All automatic.

They do not need years of experience. Most workers get comfortable in a day or two. Load sheets. Press start. Watch for jams. If something stops, clear it and go again.

We have seen it in small packaging shops in Thailand. One person runs the machine and packs the output during downtime. In Egypt, a customer started with one machine and now supplies supermarkets across the city. Still with one operator per shift.

If your speed is high, say 400 bags per minute or more, stacking can become busy. Then a second person helps with boxing and palletizing. But the machine itself still only needs one to operate.

Paper handles do not add much extra work. The strip is fed automatically. Cut to length. Glued and pressed in place. As long as the paper is consistent, the system runs smooth. No manual feeding. No extra hands.

Even when you change bag size, it is not a team job. One worker can adjust the guides, set the glue point and test the first few bags in 30 to 60 minutes. We use standard tools and clear markings. No engineer required.

Cleaning and maintenance are simple too. Wipe the rollers. Check the glue nozzle. Make sure the belts are tight. Done during breaks. Nothing complicated.

Some customers tell us, "We used to have three people folding and gluing by hand. Now one person runs the machine and we make more than double the output."

That is what we are here for.

Not to make things harder.

But to give one person the right tool to get the job done.

If you are wondering how it would work in your place, just tell us your bag type, your volume and how many hours you run.

We will tell you how many people you really need. No guesswork. Just how it is.

Can’t make it? Message us. We’ll send you a video or talk anytime.

— The Zhuxin Team