Knowledge centre · Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting cream and paste filling problems
Symptom first, cause second. Most filling faults fall into five patterns, and each pattern has a short list of likely causes worth checking in order.
Symptom → cause → fix
| Symptom | Likely causes | Practical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Dripping after the fill | Nozzle too wide for the product; no cut-off action; product stringing | Cut-off valve or smaller nozzle; adjust cut-off timing |
| Stringing / tailing | Product elasticity; nozzle retraction too slow | Retract during discharge; raise product temperature slightly |
| Weight drift over a shift | Product temperature change; pump or seal wear; air entrainment | Temperature control; maintenance check; degassing |
| Random light fills | Air in the product; hopper level too low; feed inconsistency | Agitated hopper; level control; gentler transfer |
| Intermittent short fill on particle products | Blockage at a valve seat or dead corner | Rotor pump principle; cut-off valve; CIP cleaning routine |
| Product on the container rim | Nozzle not matched to neck; container position variation | Filling station built to the actual container; guide rails |
Diagnose in this order
- Weigh, don't watch. Ten consecutive weighed fills tell you whether the fault is systematic (drift) or random (air, blockage).
- Check the product first. Temperature and entrained air explain more faults than machine settings do.
- Then the interface. Nozzle, container fit and cut-off timing are the next most common source.
- Only then the machine. Wear and settings come last — because they are the most expensive to change.
Send a short video of the fault with your product and container details: [email protected]