Finance Assets arranges packaging machinery finance for UK businesses buying filling and capping machines, wrapping and packing machines, carton and case equipment, labellers and the end-of-line kit that gets products onto a pallet.
Packaging machinery finance spreads the cost of packing equipment over 2 to 7 years, so a food or drink producer, contract packer or board converter can add a line, automate a manual packing room or take on a new retail contract without a large cash outlay. We arrange hire purchase and leasing for new and used machines and complete lines. For moulding and extrusion equipment that makes the packaging itself, see our plastics machinery finance guide.
Written by Marcus Wright, founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, in financial services since 2008 and a commercial finance broker since 2019. Last reviewed October 2026.
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The short version
- Packaging machinery finance spreads the cost of filling, wrapping, cartoning, labelling and end-of-line equipment over 2 to 7 years.
- Complete lines can go on one agreement, including conveyors, integration and installation from different suppliers.
- Machines from established makers hold their value, so lenders fund them readily, new or used.
- Lenders look closely at your customer contracts, because many packers rely on a few large retail or brand customers.
- Finance Assets arranges packaging machinery finance for limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Machinery covered | Bottle and can filling, flow wrapping and packing machines, carton making and cartoning machines, case packers, labellers, palletisers and stretch wrappers |
| Deal sizes | From a single labeller or stretch wrapper to a complete filling or end-of-line packaging line |
| Terms | Usually 2 to 5 years on used machines, and up to 7 years on new lines from major makers |
| Paid upfront | Hire purchase: often a 10% deposit plus VAT. Leases: usually 1 to 3 rentals in advance |
| New or used | Both, from manufacturers, dealers, line integrators and other packers, including imported machinery |
| Who we help | Limited companies and LLPs, plus sole traders and partnerships on business agreements over £25,000 |
Packaging machinery we finance
Lenders will fund most packaging equipment, provided it comes from an identifiable maker with service support in the UK.
| Machinery group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Filling and capping | Bottle and can filling equipment, cappers, seamers, rinsers and monoblocks for drinks, sauces, oils and liquids, from makers such as Krones, KHS and Sidel, plus smaller units for craft brewers and cideries |
| Wrapping and packing | Flow wrappers, vertical form fill seal machines, tray sealers, thermoform packers, multihead weighers and shrink wrappers, from makers such as Ilapak, Ulma, Ishida and Multivac |
| Carton making and cartoning | Die-cutters, folder gluers and window patchers for board converters, plus cartoners, case erectors, case packers and sealers for packers |
| Paper and board converting | Slitter rewinders, sheeters, paper bag making machines, tissue converting lines, corrugators, and core and tube winders |
| Labelling and coding | Pressure-sensitive and sleeve labellers, print and apply systems, inkjet and laser coders, and checkweighers and metal detectors |
| End of line | Robotic and conventional palletisers, stretch wrappers, strapping machines and the conveyors that link the line |
Paper and board converters, such as reel slitters, bag makers and tissue and corrugated producers, are funded in the same way as packaging lines. Converting lines are often bought used from established makers, and lenders look at the line’s age, the installation costs and your customer contracts. If you also print on the board, see printing press finance.
Lines, change parts and hygiene
A few points about packaging machinery change how lenders look at it.
- Complete lines. Packaging is often bought as a line from several makers, joined by conveyors and controls. Lenders can fund the whole line on one agreement, including the integrator’s work, but value it mainly on the individual machines, which can be resold, rather than on the bespoke conveyors.
- Change parts and format parts. The parts that let a machine run a different bottle, tray or carton size are usually funded with the machine when they are on the same quote. They have little value on their own, so lenders treat them as part of the package.
- Hygiene and food contact. Washdown and stainless steel machines for food and drink hold their value well, because buyers need that specification. Lenders like to see your BRCGS or SALSA status, as it shows the line will keep winning retail work.
- Used and imported machinery. Used machines from major makers are widely funded after lenders check age, hours and service history. Machines from overseas makers can be funded when there is a UK agent or service partner.
Finance options for packaging machinery
Most packers buy packaging machinery on hire purchase, as the machines run for many years. Our types of asset finance guide covers each option in more depth.
| Type | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | A deposit, then fixed monthly payments. You own the machinery after the last one | Machines and lines you will run for their full working life |
| Finance lease | Rentals with VAT added to each one. The lender owns the machinery | Spreading the VAT on a complete line with installation |
| Operating lease | Lower rentals set around the machinery’s expected resale value. Hand back at the end | Machines needed for a fixed-length packing contract |
| Type | VAT | Tax treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | VAT on the full price is paid at the start, and a VAT-registered business usually reclaims it on its next return | The business is treated as the owner, so it may be able to claim capital allowances, such as the annual investment allowance, or full expensing for companies buying new machinery |
| Finance lease | VAT is added to each rental and reclaimed as normal | Rentals are usually deductible as a business expense |
| Operating lease | VAT is added to each rental | Rentals are usually deductible, and the lender claims the capital allowances |
Your accountant can confirm how each option works for your tax position.
Hire purchase for wrapping and packing machines
Hire purchase for wrapping and packing machines suits a packer that will run the equipment for many years. You pay a deposit, often around 10% plus the VAT, then fixed monthly payments, and the machine becomes yours after the final payment and a small option fee. Flow wrappers, tray sealers and case packers from well-known makers hold their value, so a balloon can lower the monthly cost on newer machines.
Finance lease for bottle and can filling equipment
A finance lease for bottle and can filling equipment spreads the VAT across the rentals, which helps when a filling line comes with rinsers, cappers, labellers and conveyors. The lender owns the equipment, and at the end you can usually carry on at a small secondary rental, or sell it for the lender and keep most of the proceeds. Brewers, cideries and soft drinks producers often use it to fit a canning or bottling line without paying the VAT upfront.
Operating lease for carton making machines
An operating lease for carton making machines, cartoners or case packers suits a business that needs a machine for a fixed-length contract, or expects to change formats within a few years. The rentals are set around what the machine should be worth at the end, so they are lower than a finance lease, and you hand it back when the lease ends. It works best with die-cutters, folder gluers and packing machines from makers whose used machines sell readily.
Packaging machinery finance costs: a worked example
A new end-of-line packaging cell at £180,000, with a case erector, case packer, robotic palletiser, stretch wrapper, conveyors and installation, costs about £4,031 a month on a 4-year hire purchase, or about £3,363 a month over 5 years.
| Item | 4 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|
| Price (excl. VAT) | £180,000 | £180,000 |
| Deposit (10%) | £18,000 | £18,000 |
| VAT paid upfront | £36,000 | £36,000 |
| Monthly payment | £4,031.38 (48 months) | £3,362.85 (60 months) |
| Total interest | £31,506 | £39,771 |
The longer term lowers the monthly payment by about £669 but adds around £8,265 of interest. Many packers set the term to match the customer contract the cell was bought for.
Illustration calculated in October 2026, assuming an interest rate of 9% a year. It is not a quote. Your rate depends on your trading history, credit profile and the machinery.
What lenders look for in packaging machinery finance applications
Lenders look at the usual financial documents, plus a clear quote and the work the machinery will do.
- Accounts and bank statements. The last two years of accounts, recent management accounts and three to six months of business bank statements.
- Supplier quote. An itemised quote showing each machine, change parts, conveyors, integration and installation separately, especially when a line comes from several makers.
- Customers and contracts. Your main customers and supply or packing contracts. Contract packers and food producers often rely on a few large retailers or brands, so lenders look at how much of your work each one gives you and how long the contracts run.
- Owner or director history. Lenders check the credit records of the directors, partners or owner, and may ask for personal guarantees on newer businesses or larger lines.
Related guides
- Production line and automation finance, including robots and conveyors
- Asset finance for e-commerce businesses, for packing automation in fulfilment
- Food manufacturing equipment finance
- Brewery and drinks equipment finance
- Plastics machinery finance
- Printing press finance
- Commercial refrigeration finance
- All manufacturing equipment finance
- Types of asset finance
Who we can help
We arrange packaging machinery finance for UK limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000 that are for business purposes. We are not authorised by the FCA, so we cannot arrange agreements of £25,000 or less for sole traders or partnerships of two or three partners, or finance for personal use.
Packaging machinery finance FAQs
Can I finance a bottling or canning line?
Yes. Lenders fund new and used bottle and can filling equipment, from small semi-automatic fillers for craft brewers and cideries to complete monoblock lines with rinsing, filling, capping or seaming, labelling and packing. The whole line can usually go on one agreement, including conveyors and installation.
How much does it cost to lease packaging machinery?
It depends on the machinery, the term and your credit profile. As an illustration, a £180,000 end-of-line cell costs about £3,363 a month over 5 years on hire purchase at 9%, after a 10% deposit and the VAT paid upfront. Lease rentals are usually similar, but VAT is added to each rental instead of being paid upfront.
Can I finance a used packaging machine?
Yes. Used flow wrappers, fillers, cartoners and palletisers from established makers are widely funded, from dealers and other packers. Lenders look at the machine’s age, hours, service history and whether parts are still available. Terms are often shorter on older machines.
Can installation and line integration be included?
Usually, yes. Installation, conveyors, controls, change parts and the integrator’s work can normally go on the same agreement as the machines, as long as the machines make up most of the total cost. Ask for a quote that shows each item separately, because lenders will want to see it.
Can a contract packer get packaging machinery finance?
Yes. Contract packers are funded regularly, and lenders look closely at the packing contracts the machinery will serve. Signed contracts with known brands or retailers, a spread of customers and BRCGS or SALSA certification all help. A term that matches the contract length often makes the case stronger.
Can I raise cash against packaging machinery I already own?
Yes. Through a sale and hire purchase back, a lender buys machinery you own outright and sells it back to you over a fixed term, so it stays in production. The amount depends on the machinery’s value, age and maker. Packers use it to fund a new line, automation or working capital.
Get a packaging machinery finance quote
Tell us about the machinery
Send us the supplier quote and a few details about your business. We will come back with the options that are realistic and what they are likely to cost.
About the author
Marcus Wright is the owner and founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, which trades as Finance Assets. He has worked in financial services since 2008, beginning his career at Santander, and has been a commercial finance broker since March 2019.
He founded Bolton Business Finance in 2020 to give businesses access to the whole lending market rather than one bank’s own product range. The firm is a member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers and works with a panel of 135+ lenders. Call 0161 546 9128.
Finance Assets is a trading name of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, an independent commercial finance brokerage, not a lender. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and can only complete non-regulated introductions. All lending is for business purposes only. Registered address: Westgate House, 1 Westgate Avenue, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 4RF. Company number 12495909.