Many players reach a point in Alchemy Factory where everything seems correct on paper —
machines are connected, ratios look reasonable, fuel is supplied —
yet the factory slows down, stalls, or collapses after unlocking new content.
This page explains why production breaks down even when nothing is technically "wrong",
and why this is a system design problem, not a math problem.
If your factory feels slow without an obvious reason,
you may also want to read: 👉 Production Is Slower Than Expected
Why Ratios Feel Correct at First — Then Suddenly Break
Most factories follow the same early-game pattern:
- A few machines connected in a line
- Belts moving steadily
- Production appearing stable
Then, after unlocking a new tier, fuel type, or machine, throughput collapses.
This happens because Alchemy Factory does not scale linearly.
Early systems tolerate inefficiency.
Mid-game systems expose it.
Late-game systems punish it.
Ratios that worked before begin to fail — not because they are incorrect, but because the system around them has changed.
This moment often coincides with new fuel or power pressure.
👉 See also: Fuel and Power System Explained
Ratios vs Throughput: Why Balance Is Not Enough
A ratio describes how much output one machine produces relative to another.
Throughput describes how fast materials can actually move through the system.
In Alchemy Factory, these two concepts often diverge.
You can have:
- correct input/output ratios
- but insufficient belt speed
- fuel starvation
- or hidden storage pressure
When that happens, machines idle even though the math is correct.
Throughput becomes the limiting factor long before ratios do.
If your belts look full but machines still stop,
the issue may not be ratios at all.
👉 Understanding the Calculation System
This is also why a traditional calculator or planner has limitations in Alchemy Factory.
👉 Calculator & Planning Guide
The Hidden Trap: Designing for Balance Instead of Resilience
A common mistake is trying to make every production line perfectly balanced.
In Alchemy Factory, a perfectly balanced system is fragile.
When one input slows down:
- buffers overflow
- belts stall
- fuel demand spikes
- downstream machines starve
This is why many players report sudden bottlenecks after expansion.
👉 If this sounds familiar, read:
Bottlenecks Explained: Why Lines Suddenly Stop
Resilient systems accept imbalance.
They slow down instead of collapsing.
Why Progression Breaks Previously Working Factories
Progression in Alchemy Factory is not just "more recipes".
Each new tier changes:
- fuel density
- machine consumption patterns
- space requirements
- customer and dispatch expectations
A layout that worked at Tier 3 may become unsustainable at Tier 5, even with identical ratios.
This is not a mistake.
It is a deliberate progression wall.
Many players interpret this as a power or fuel issue at first.
👉 Power Shortage and Power Failure
The game expects structural adaptation, not numerical optimization.
Common Symptoms of Throughput Failure
If your factory is struggling, look for these signs:
- Machines frequently idle despite full inputs elsewhere
- Fuel lines draining faster than expected
- Belts backing up in one area while starving another
- Rebuilding temporarily "fixes" the issue
These are not ratio problems.
They are throughput and system pressure problems.
Blueprint-heavy layouts often amplify these issues.
👉 Blueprint Scaling & Reuse
How to Tell If You're Experiencing a Ratio Problem — or a Progression Wall
Ask yourself:
- Did the issue appear right after unlocking a new tier?
- Are machines idle because inputs are missing, or because demand changed?
- Does the system fail under load, but work when slowed down?
If yes, this is likely not a ratio issue.
It is a progression wall — a signal that the system expects a different layout, not better calculations.
Why Rebuilding Is Part of the Game
Alchemy Factory is not designed around permanent layouts.
Rebuilding is not failure.
It is progression.
Verticality replaces efficiency.
Modular systems replace compact perfection.
Buffers replace balance.
Understanding this shift is the key to stable mid and late-game factories.