The Right Filling Equipment Drives Packaging Line Efficiency

While a packaging line as a whole will require each piece of equipment to run efficiently for the line as a whole to run efficiently, choosing the correct filling machine can boost efficiency in more ways than just adding speed.

Liquid filling machines may likely be the only piece of equipment on a packaging line that actually handle or contact the product being packaged. These machines must move product through a pathway to allow the liquid to flow from a holding tank or bulk supply to the bottles or other containers not only quickly, but accurately, and often without contamination. The ability to confidently prep containers in a consistent and reliable manner is a huge step toward creating an efficient system of packaging liquids.

The manner in which the product is moved will depend in large part on the product. Thin products may be moved using simple gravity while more viscous products will require the assistance of a pump or piston. Trying to use gravity to move a thick, slow moving product like honey, for example, would not be an efficient manner of filling product. Each cycle would take an inordinate amount of time to reach the bottles using only gravity as the moving force, creating a slow process for filling bottles. This is an example of how the wrong machine can cause inefficiency based on speed but, as noted above, there are other considerations besides just speed.

Depending on the industry and the product, certain liquids may need to be filled by volume, weight or some other manner to meet certain requirements. Products filled using a new weight filler, for example, are sold by weight. This type of filling machine will use scales to ensure that a precise amount of product is dispensed into the container. The weight of the container filled with product, minus the tare weight (weight of the empty container) will equal the net weight. Filling in this manner cannot be achieved by using an overflow filler, which fills to a level, or any of the volumetric fillers, without likely adding and removing product and reweighing bottles to reach the correct net weight.

For those industries that require a specific weight, the correct fill principle to use would be the net weight filler. Other industries may require certain volume tolerances in each bottle or container. Filling by volume in an industry that requires a specific weight of product could potentially lead to broken regulations, fines, repackaging or other issues. The fill principle employed by the liquid filler also helps to ensure efficiency in the packaging process by helping the packager reach their own specific goals when preparing product for the shelf.

While each packaging machine will help to add efficiency to the entire packaging system, choosing the correct filling equipment for a project will not only add speed to the process, but will also help the filling process remain reliable and consistent based on the needs of the packager. To learn more about the different fill principles, or for assistance in identifying the correct filling equipment for your own packaging needs, contact Liquid Packaging Solutions today.