Articles · Technology · 2026-09-13

How a custom filling line is designed: from product data to production

A custom line fails when the design starts with the machine instead of the product. This is the process we follow to keep it the other way around.

Step 1 — Build the product data sheet

Every custom line starts with four answers: product type and viscosity, fill volume, container and required output. Around them we add temperature, particle size and shape, shear sensitivity, foaming tendency, hygiene class and cleaning regime. This one sheet decides everything downstream — pump type, contact materials, nozzle design, line speed and CIP configuration.

Step 2 — Choose the dosing principle

Pump type is an output of product data, not a company preference. In broad terms:

Product profileTypical dosing pump
Thin liquids (oil, beverages)Gear pump filler
Simple, robust low-cost dosingPiston pump filler
Shear-sensitive pastes and creamsScrew pump filler
High viscosity, particles, wide fill rangeRotor pump filler (metering grade)

Step 3 — Design the line layout

We then map the complete flow: product feed and conditioning, the filling station, container handling, capping or sealing, labelling, and downstream packing. Bottle or jar shape, neck size and material all affect the filling nozzle and handling rails. Layout is planned for realistic operator access, cleaning paths and future capacity — not just the tightest footprint.

Step 4 — Integrate control and data

A modern line is a small factory network. Servo dosing parameters, changeover recipes, counting and quality data should connect to your line control. We plan the integration in the design phase so that data logging and changeover don't become retrofit projects later.

Step 5 — Test, build, commission

Where the product is unusual, we run a filling test before quoting the final machine, then again at factory acceptance with your product. Installation and commissioning cover line balancing, operator training and a documented acceptance test — product, fill volume, speed and accuracy, measured on real samples.

Facts used in this article: filling accuracy ±0.5% (error ≤1 g); viscosity coverage ≈50–300,000 cSt; GTX series fill range 5–300,000 ml. These are the published manufacturer figures also stated on our specifications page. Grounton Pak builds rotor, gear, piston and screw pump filling machines and complete custom lines.
Questions about this topic for your own product? [email protected] · Tel +86 133 9317 7755