Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) for Agricultural and Seed-Processing Equipment
Factory Acceptance Testing is the last realistic chance to catch a defect before equipment leaves the manufacturer. For any capital purchase above USD 100,000 — seed-processing lines, sorting graders, greenhouse climate systems, irrigation head-stations — a documented FAT should be a contract condition and a payment milestone.
Can FAT be done remotely?
Yes — many suppliers now offer video-witnessed FAT with a signed report. It is acceptable for lower-value orders but on-site FAT remains the standard above USD 250,000. The supplier hosts and pays for the test itself. The buyer pays for their own travel and any third-party inspector.
Paste your brief straight into our RFQ Builder — we identify qualified independent global suppliers on your behalf. Free for buyers.
Open the RFQ BuilderWhen FAT is essential
FAT is standard practice for seed-processing plants, packing houses, cold rooms, irrigation head-stations, greenhouse climate controllers and any custom-fabricated equipment. It is usually skipped for off-the-shelf items under USD 50,000.
What a professional FAT protocol contains
The FAT document is agreed in writing at contract signature, not at test time:
- Scope: exact equipment, model numbers, serial numbers.
- Test conditions: input material, throughput, ambient conditions.
- Pass / fail criteria for each test (accuracy, throughput, energy, uniformity).
- Attendees: buyer, supplier, third-party inspector if used.
- Documentation: signed test record, deviation list, corrective actions.
- Consequences: what happens if the equipment fails (rework, discount, cancellation).
Third-party inspection
For orders above USD 250,000, budget 0.3–0.7% of contract value for an independent inspector (SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV). Their signed report is what banks and insurers rely on.
FAT as a payment milestone
Standard payment structure for capital equipment: 30% at contract, 60% at successful FAT, 10% at successful SAT. Never release the pre-shipment tranche before FAT is signed.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — many suppliers now offer video-witnessed FAT with a signed report. It is acceptable for lower-value orders but on-site FAT remains the standard above USD 250,000.
The supplier hosts and pays for the test itself. The buyer pays for their own travel and any third-party inspector.
A buyer submits one private brief through the RFQ builder. Factory Acceptance Testing is the last realistic chance to catch a defect before equipment leaves the manufacturer. For any capital purchase above USD 100,000 — seed-processing lines, sorting graders, greenhouse climate systems, irrigation head-stations — a documented FAT should be a contract condition and a payment milestone. A dedicated sourcing specialist normalises it into a single technical specification, issues it to qualified international manufacturers, integrators and EPC contractors, and returns offers that can be compared line by line on the same scope, lead time and delivery terms.
SeedMatchGroup works on commercial agricultural projects from USD 250K upward — greenhouses, irrigation and fertigation, seed processing and production facilities, nurseries, packhouses, cold chain, water treatment, agricultural solar and related infrastructure. Smaller retail or hobby requirements are outside the platform's scope.
Ready to send a real RFQ?
Our sourcing specialist identifies qualified independent seed producers across Africa, MENA, Europe, Asia and the Americas, requests offers on your behalf and returns a side-by-side comparison. Private by default, free for buyers.
Start your RFQ