Temperature sensitivity
Warm sauces, waxes, oils and creams can change rapidly as the product cools in the hopper, pipe or nozzle.
Product behaviour guide
Viscosity guide for filling machines.
Understand why viscosity, temperature, particles, shear, foam and clean cut-off must be considered together when choosing a volumetric filler.
ViscosityParticles and foamProduct testing
Beyond a single number
Two products with the same quoted viscosity can fill very differently.
A viscosity figure is useful only when the measurement method and temperature are known. Real filling behaviour also changes with shear, air, particles, product head, nozzle geometry and time.
- Record the temperature at mixing, storage and filling.
- Describe whether the product settles, separates, foams, strings or drips.
- Measure the largest particle and how easily it is damaged.
- Explain whether the product is pumped, gravity-fed, hopper-fed or transferred from an IBC.
Behaviour checklist
Product properties that change the machine, valve and nozzle shortlist.
Shear response
Some products thin during pumping; others may be damaged by the wrong pump speed, valve or recirculation route.
Particles
Particle size, concentration and softness determine clearances and whether the product can pass without blocking or damage.
Foam and air
Air entrainment can alter apparent volume, create drips and require a slower, bottom-up or multi-stage fill profile.
Stringing and cut-off
Viscous products may form tails between nozzle and pack, making nozzle closure and retraction strategy important.
Abrasive or reactive products
Material compatibility, seal selection, wear and cleaning chemicals must be confirmed for the actual product.
Trial plan
Information to record during a representative filling test.
| Before the test | Product batch, age, temperature, mixing history, density, visible air, particles and container dimensions. |
| Machine setup | Filling principle, product feed, valve/nozzle, fill profile, speed, suck-back or shut-off settings and product level. |
| Results | Individual fill measurements, average, variation, drips, strings, foam, particle condition, cycle time and rejects. |
| After the test | Product hold-up, cleaning method, strip-down time, wear concerns and any changes needed for production. |
Related machinery and testing
Continue from product behaviour to a practical filling route.
Technical resource library
Continue your filling-machine project research.
Use the related tools and guides to build a clearer specification before requesting a machine shortlist.
Filler selection matrixCompare suitable dosing principlesCapacity calculatorEstimate packs per minute and shiftOverfill cost calculatorEstimate product giveaway and costFilling-line OEE calculatorModel availability, performance and qualityURS templatePrepare a stronger machine specificationUK compliance planningReview documentation and workplace dutiesTotal cost of ownershipCompare cost, savings and paybackAbout LancingCompany, support and content approach
FAQs
Viscosity and product-behaviour questions.
No. Temperature, shear response, particles, foam, aeration, stringing, surface tension and product supply can matter as much as one viscosity value.
Many products change flow behaviour with temperature, so a room-temperature figure may not represent the product at the nozzle.
It is a product whose apparent viscosity reduces while being sheared and recovers over time. That can affect pumping, settling and the repeatability of a filling trial.
A representative sample allows the proposed product path, valve, pump, nozzle and fill profile to be tested with the actual behaviour rather than a product name alone.
Turn the planning work into a practical machine shortlist.
Send your product, fill range, container, output target and available footprint. Lancing UK can compare the most practical filling route before quotation.