Using a Liquid Filling Machine to Reach a Consistent Level

The principles of liquid filling include multiple ways to measure the products that flow into the bottles. Gravity, pump, and piston filling machine all allow a business to fill liquids by volume, while other filling machines provide a method to measure products by weight. While different products and industries may want to fill by volume or weight, some may be looking for a third alternative. The overflow filling machine allows a packager to fill containers to a specific level, even if the volume of product necessary to reach that level in each bottle varies slightly.

So why would a packager want to fill bottles to a specific level? There are several key benefits that may make the overflow filler an ideal liquid filling machine for certain bottlers. This liquid filling machine uses a special nozzle that allows product to reach a specific level in a bottle by exiting the bottle via a return port on the nozzle, sending excess liquid back to the holding tank. So, in addition to allowing each bottle to be filled to a specific level, the overflow filler reduces waste by recycling product that returns to the supply during the fill cycle.

Given that product not only flows into containers, but also overflows back to the holding tank, this liquid filler is best suited for free-flowing products, but these also may include certain products that foam during the fill. Though fill times may need to increase slightly for foamy products, liquid can fill and overflow until the foam in the bottles dissipates. This results in a consistent level fill without foam, meaning levels will not change due to foam subsiding once the fill is complete.

The overflow filler also offers aesthetic benefits for those who package products in clear or opaque bottles. Consistent and level fills across all containers adds shelf appeal to a product or brand while also increasing consumer trust. Bottles filled to the same level create customer confidence by ensuring no customer feels cheated by an underfilled, or seemingly less full, package.

At Liquid Packaging Solutions, we manufacture overflow fillers in both automatic and semi-automatic versions to help businesses both large and small. These liquid filling machines can fill containers to the same level while sitting on a tabletop or as a part of a complete in line packaging system. Built to handle a range of container sizes with simple adjustments, these liquid fillers work for products such as water, distilled spirits, and other beverages as well as syrups, shampoos, cleaners and a variety of other low to medium viscosity liquids.

Visit the Overflow Fillers section of the website for more information on these unique filling machines or call LPS at 219-393-3600 to discuss your own liquid packaging project.