Product conditioning
Consider heating, agitation, deaeration or controlled feed where product consistency changes during a batch.
Pastes, creams, gels and sauces
Automatic Filling Lines for Viscous Products
Control thick, stringing or particulate products through an automatic line designed around product transfer, dosing, clean cut-off and closure quality.
- Application-led specification
- Connected line engineering
- UK installation and support
40+ yearspackaging machinery experience
One production sequenceModules planned as a connected system
Built around your packsProduct, container and closure first
Practical UK supportFrom specification to aftercare
Your production requirement
Thicker products need the complete product path considered
Viscous products may need positive product transfer, larger-bore pipework, heated or agitated hoppers, diving nozzles or shut-off arrangements that create a cleaner cut. Particulates and temperature changes can further affect repeatability.
The filling stage also changes what happens next. Product around the neck can interfere with capping or sealing, while container pressure and nozzle withdrawal can affect lightweight packs. These interactions are addressed in the line design.
Line architecture
A practical viscous-product line
Product preparation and dosing are coordinated with the pack-handling and closure sequence.
Positive dosing
Use a method suited to the viscosity, particulates, fill range and cleaning requirement.
Cut-off control
Select nozzle and valve arrangements that manage tails, drips and product on the container finish.
Closure and clean-down
Protect cap application, sealing and label areas while keeping access practical for cleaning.
Specification checklist
Describe the product at production conditions
Bench samples alone may not represent product temperature, shear or particulate distribution on the line.
- Viscosity or flow behaviour across the temperature range
- Particle size, fragility and distribution
- Batch vessel, transfer pump and connection details
- Desired fill accuracy and headspace presentation
- Nozzle clean-down and allergen or cross-contamination controls
- Closure sealing surface and risk of neck contamination
Your project route
What you can expect from first discussion to production
- 1
Share
Tell us the product, pack formats, output target, shifts, site constraints and future plans.
- 2
Test
We review representative product, containers, closures and labels so recommendations are based on real production materials.
- 3
Plan
You receive a coordinated line concept covering machinery, transfers, controls, guarding, access, utilities and changeovers.
- 4
Install
We support installation, integrated testing, settings, operator training and production handover against the agreed scope.
- 5
Support
You can plan servicing, critical spares, new formats and future improvements around production risk.
Operational value
Designed to manage difficult product behaviour
Controlled product flow
Supply, dosing and nozzle design are treated as one product path.
Cleaner pack finish
Cut-off and container movement are planned to reduce trailing product and contaminated necks.
Repeatable changeover
Cleaning access, format tools and product-contact parts are considered from the outset.
Start with your product and production goal
Get a packaging line recommendation for your operation
Tell us what you pack, the container and closure, your target output and the space available. We will help you identify the right line sequence and level of automation.
Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a viscous product?
Examples include creams, gels, lotions, sauces, pastes, adhesives and other products that do not flow like water. Actual behaviour and temperature matter more than the product category alone.
Can products with particulates be filled automatically?
Often yes, subject to particle size, fragility, distribution, passage diameter and the required dose. Representative samples are essential.
Can the hopper or pipework be heated?
Heating can be considered where it is appropriate to the product and process. Temperature control, safety and clean-down must be included in the specification.
How can stringing or dripping be reduced?
Nozzle geometry, positive shut-off, diving motion, suck-back and product condition can all influence cut-off. The best approach is application-specific.
Next steps
Related line-planning resources
Solution
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View food and beverageViscous-product process conditions
Define temperature, shear, air and cut-off behaviour at production scale
Viscous products can change with temperature, standing time, mixing and transfer. A sample should therefore be accompanied by the conditions under which it was taken and the range expected during normal production.
The complete product path matters. Pipe length, bends, valves, hopper geometry, pump choice and nozzle cut-off can affect pressure, air entrainment, stringing and the time required to achieve a clean pack before capping or labelling.
| Condition | Record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Product state | Temperature, mixing history, settling time and batch variation | Dosing repeatability and representative trial condition |
| Transfer path | Supply vessel, pump, pipework, elevation and refill method | Pressure loss, shear, air and hopper stability |
| Cut-off | Stringing, drip, suck-back, nozzle contact and neck cleanliness | Nozzle design, dwell and downstream pack quality |
| Cleaning | Flush media, recovery, dismantling and product-change sequence | Product-path design and changeover duration |
Project check
Trial the difficult condition
Use the coldest, thickest or most aerated approved condition where that represents real production risk.
Project check
Support the container
Prevent distortion or movement while positive pressure is applied during dosing.
Project check
Allow product to settle where needed
Coordinate dwell, conveyor speed and capping so foam or strings do not create closure faults.
Information to prepare
- Production-condition product samples
- Temperature and batch range
- Supply vessel and transfer route
- Fill and container range
- Cut-off and neck-cleanliness standard
- Cleaning and product-change process
Continue the project
Use the related pages to turn this guidance into a clearer scope and a more useful technical discussion.