Filling machine buying checklist: 12 questions before you sign

Part 1 — Know your product first

1. What exactly are you filling? Viscosity, particle size, temperature and shear sensitivity drive the pump type. If you cannot answer this, no quote can be reliable.
2. What is the real fill volume range? Today's SKU and tomorrow's planned range are different questions. A rotor pump filler covers 5 ml to 300,000 ml; confirm the machine's range matches your roadmap, not just your current order.
3. What is the required output per hour? Speed claims are always at a reference fill volume. Ask for output at your actual volume and container.

Part 2 — Verify the accuracy story

4. What accuracy is published, and under what conditions? ±0.5% (error ≤1 g) is our published figure; ask any supplier for the same detail — accuracy, sample size, product, fill volume.
5. Is the dosing drive servo? Pneumatic and mechanical drives drift with air pressure and setup. Servo control is the basis of repeatable, HMI-changeable doses.
6. Can you run a test with your product? A filling test with your actual paste, sauce or cream beats any datasheet argument.

Part 3 — Check daily operation

7. How long does changeover take? If you run many SKUs, HMI parameter change beats mechanical adjustment.
8. How is the machine cleaned? For hygiene-critical lines, ask if the pump head is CIP-capable without disassembly.
9. What spares and wear parts are required? Seals, stators and valve seats wear. Ask for a realistic annual spares list and cost before purchase, not after.

Part 4 — Confirm the commercial picture

10. What is included in the price? Feed pump, nozzles, change parts, conveyor, CIP package, commissioning — each can be quoted separately. Compare like for like.
11. What training and after-sales support come with it? Ask who answers when the line stops, and in what time.
12. How is acceptance defined? Agree the acceptance test before signing: product, fill volume, speed, accuracy and how samples are measured.