Vitamin and supplement manufacturers use a wide range of products, formulations, and packaging formats. Natronics Equipment helps manufacturers evaluate automatic tube filling equipment based on the product, tube format, fill requirements, and production goals.
For products packaged in plastic tubes, automatic tube filling equipment can combine tube loading, product filling, and tube sealing into a streamlined production process. The objective isn't simply to select the fastest machine available — it is to identify equipment that fits the actual application.
Discuss Your Vitamin or Supplement Application →Many vitamin and supplement products are packaged in bottles, but tubes can provide another packaging format for products that are suited to tube filling.
Whether a particular vitamin or supplement product is appropriate for tube packaging depends on the formulation, tube requirements, fill volume, and overall packaging objectives. For manufacturers considering tubes, the equipment-selection process should begin with the product and the finished package.
1. Product Characteristics
The first consideration is the product itself. Vitamin and supplement formulations can have different physical characteristics, which can affect how they move through a filling system. Information about the product's consistency and viscosity should be provided when evaluating equipment. The UTF-100PIII and UTF-200P are listed with a 500–180,000 cps viscosity range.
2. Fill Volume
Determine how much product needs to be filled into each tube. The UTF-100PIII is listed with a 3–250 ml filling range. The UTF-200P is listed with a 3–200 ml filling range. The appropriate machine depends on the required fill volume as well as the other characteristics of the application.
3. Tube Dimensions
The tube itself is another important part of the equipment-selection process. Tube diameter and tube length should be identified before selecting equipment. Both Natronics tube filler models accommodate tube diameters from 13.5–50 mm. The UTF-100PIII is listed with standard tube lengths from 80–190 mm, with custom configurations also available. The UTF-200P is listed for tube lengths from 80–220 mm.
4. Production Requirements
Determine how many finished tubes need to be produced. The UTF-100PIII has a listed maximum capacity of approximately 80 tubes per minute. The UTF-200P has a listed maximum capacity of approximately 180 tubes per minute. The machine's maximum listed speed should be viewed as a reference point rather than a guarantee of actual production output — product characteristics, tube format, machine configuration, and operating conditions can all affect production performance.
5. Tube Sealing
The filling process needs to end with a finished, sealed tube. Both the UTF-100PIII and UTF-200P use hot-air sealing, which heats the seal area before the tube moves through the closing process. Manufacturers should provide their tube specifications and desired finished seal requirements when discussing equipment.
3–250 ml filling range, ~80 tubes/min maximum capacity, 500–180,000 cps viscosity range. Bottom-up filling with shut-off nozzle, hot-air sealing, 316L stainless steel contact parts.
View the UTF-100PIII →
3–200 ml filling range, ~180 tubes/min maximum capacity, 500–180,000 cps viscosity range. Tube loading cassette, bottom-up filling with shut-off nozzle, hot-air sealing, 316L stainless steel contact parts.
View the UTF-200P →The UTF-100PIII may be worth considering when:
The required fill volume falls within its 3–250 ml range, production requirements fit its approximately 80 tubes/min maximum capacity, the application fits its specified tube dimensions, and the product falls within its listed viscosity range.
The UTF-200P may be worth considering when:
The required fill volume falls within its 3–200 ml range, higher listed production capacity is required, production requirements fit its approximately 180 tubes/min maximum capacity, the application fits its specified tube dimensions, and the product falls within its listed viscosity range.
The final equipment selection should always be based on the complete application.
Vitamin and supplement products can take many different forms. Depending on the formulation and packaging requirements, tube filling applications can include products with cream, gel, ointment, lotion, or paste-like characteristics.
However, a product category by itself isn't enough to determine machine compatibility. For example, simply identifying a product as a "supplement" doesn't tell an equipment provider everything needed to select a machine. Product characteristics, viscosity, fill volume, and tube specifications should all be evaluated.
When discussing a vitamin or supplement tube filling application with Natronics, provide:
Product: Product description, product characteristics, product viscosity.
Tube: Tube diameter, tube length, tube material, tube configuration.
Fill: Desired fill volume, required filling accuracy.
Production & Sealing: Desired tubes per minute, current and expected production, desired finished seal, any special sealing requirements.
The more complete the information, the easier it is to determine which equipment options should be evaluated.
Tube filling may be one part of a larger manufacturing and packaging operation. Depending on the product and package format, a manufacturer may also need equipment for other stages of production and packaging.
Natronics Equipment provides additional equipment categories including filling machines, capping machines, labeling machines, tablet and capsule counters, bottle unscramblers, and conveyors and bottle handling equipment. When building a complete production system, each piece of equipment should be evaluated according to the manufacturer's actual process requirements.
Explore Packaging Equipment →Certain vitamin products may be suitable for plastic tube packaging. Suitability depends on the product formulation, tube format, and packaging requirements.
Some supplement products can be packaged in plastic tubes. The product's characteristics, fill volume, and tube requirements should be evaluated before selecting equipment.
Tube filling may be considered for products with characteristics suitable for tube packaging, including certain creams, gels, ointments, lotions, and paste-like formulations. The specific product should be evaluated before selecting equipment.
The UTF-100PIII and UTF-200P have different production capacities, filling ranges, and tube-loading configurations. The UTF-100PIII is listed at 3–250 ml and approximately 80 tubes/min, while the UTF-200P is listed at 3–200 ml and approximately 180 tubes/min. The right choice depends on the complete application.
The UTF-100PIII and UTF-200P are listed with a viscosity range of 500–180,000 cps. The actual product should be evaluated to determine whether the equipment is appropriate for the application.
Provide the product characteristics, viscosity, fill volume, tube dimensions, desired production output, and sealing requirements.
If you're evaluating tube packaging for a vitamin, supplement, or nutraceutical product, start with the product and production requirements. Natronics Equipment can help you evaluate automatic tube filling equipment based on your application.
Request a Tube Filling Quote → Talk to an Equipment Specialist →