In previous papers I discussed liquid filling. This month I’ll talk about dry, or solids, filling. There are many types of dry products ranging from fine powders like talc or flour, to irregular pieces like frozen chicken parts. Other types of dry products include pharmaceutical powders, regular shaped products like nuts and bolts, candies and pharmaceutical tablets.
A variety of filling technologies are available. Many times more than one technology will give satisfactory results on a particular product/package combination. In most instances, there is one technology which will give the best results when all factors are considered.
Dry filling technologies can be broken down into 3 basic categories:
- Volumetric filling dispenses a measured volume of product.
- Weight filling dispenses a measured weight of product.
- Piece filling dispenses a specific count of product.
Sometimes the package label claim will determine the technology to be used. Two popular candy mints are packed in similar containers. In the 90’s and prior, one of them claimed a certain weight of mints on the label. The other claimed a specific number of mints. To assure label claims were met, one had to be filled by count, the other by weight.
Download the complete Dry Filling Whitepaper to continue learning about dry or solid filling.
