How to excite a fluorescent lamp without connecting it?
A 2.545GHz Microwave beam run axially (along the length) of a straight fluorescent lamp has been proven to excite the plasma in the lamp and make it glow (link). But containing that on something like a moving conveyor belt would be problematic for anyone working in the area. What is your purpose here? Are you wanting to test the lamps before packing them? Because if so, this would not tell you that the lamp as a whole is functioning, only that the gasses and phosphor coatings are present. The ballast / ignition system would not be tested by this, and those are the parts most likely to not be functioning.