Buying a filling machine is a complicated process because there are many options for filling machines, and it is difficult to know which one is more suitable for your product. The following are the questions you need to know before buying a filling machine, hoping to help you choose the equipment that best suits your production needs.
1. What do I need to fill when buying a filling machine?
While some bottle fillers are designed to fill dry goods, such as powders or pills, into containers, there are others that are suitable for handling liquids. If you are considering buying a filling machine, the first important factor to consider is the viscosity or consistency of the product. The viscosity of the product will help determine which type of filling technology the machine uses to correctly handle the specific properties of the product. If the product has a high viscosity (e.g. molasses), you need to consider purchasing a filler that can handle the physical properties of the product.
2. The principle of back pressure canning machine
Carbonated beverages (e.g. beer, soda, champagne, etc.) require unique filling technology and specialized filling equipment. If you need to consider buying a filling machine that can fill/bottle carbonated products correctly, this kind of machine is called a back pressure filling machine. The back-pressure filler maintains the carbonation of the liquid through a double pre-evacuation process, even during bottling. This method works by extracting air from the bottle and pressurizing it with carbon dioxide. Then, by repeating the process, it is ensured that 99.99% of the oxygen in the bottle can be removed (double pre-vacuuming). Due to these repetitive pre-evacuation cycles, bottled carbonated products will have a longer shelf life.
3. Standard of the degree of automation of filling machine
When buying a filling machine, it is crucial to determine which level of automation to use. For home brewing, entry-level brewing, or small companies with few employees and no growth plans, manual filling machines are a good choice. Manual filling machines are designed to handle relatively low production volumes, making them not suitable for small and medium-sized breweries or breweries with expansion plans.
For most small breweries, the semi-automatic filling machine is a good "middle" option and ideal for breweries with growth plans. These machines are more productive than manual filling machines, but still require some manual operation, which reduces filling efficiency. In terms of price, semi-automatic filling machine is between manual filling machine and automatic filling machine, which is an economical investment.
The automatic filling machine is the best choice for large breweries (large enterprises with higher output) because the filling speed of this machine is much faster than manual filling machines and semi-automatic filling machines. Although the automatic filling machine occupies a large space, it rarely requires manual processing. When it comes to purchase and maintenance, automatic filling machines are usually the most expensive.
4. How much capacity/volume does the filling machine need to fill
The size and capacity of the container can have a huge impact on the weight change during the filling process. Due to the characteristics of some liquids, it may be necessary to fill the container, so the filling capacity is set. This enables effective and accurate control of product waste.
5. Maintenance and cleaning of filling machine
The accumulation of fluid in the element will affect the normal operation of the filling machine and the quality of the finished product. Try to choose machines that are easy to clean and maintain to prevent contamination and poor product quality.
