Match your product's thickness to the right filling technology -- overflow, pump, piston, or heavy duty piston -- using this reference chart and common product examples.
| Viscosity Range | Level | Example Products | Recommended Filler | Typical Fill Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 1,000 cP | Low | Water, alcohol, juices, milk, oils, thin solvents | Overflow filling machine — high speed, excellent accuracy on free-flowing liquids | ±0.25% – 1% |
| 1,000 – 10,000 cP | Medium | Shampoo, liquid soap, sauces, dressings | Pump filling machine — versatile across a range of medium viscosities with smooth, consistent flow | ±0.5% – 1.5% |
| 10,000 – 100,000 cP | High | Lotions, creams, gels, syrups, honey | Piston filling machine — accurate, powerful dosing for thick liquids and semi-solids | ±0.5% – 1.5% |
| 100,000+ cP | Very High | Peanut butter, toothpaste, mayonnaise, thick pastes | Heavy duty piston filler — strong positive displacement for very thick or chunky products | ±1% – 2% |
Viscosity is measured in centipoise (cP). Water sits at roughly 1 cP as a reference point. These ranges are general guidelines — exact filler selection also depends on foaming tendency, particulates, temperature sensitivity, and container type. Talk to us about your specific product for a precise recommendation.
Low viscosity (1–1,000 cP): Our GI 3300 overflow filler handles free-flowing liquids at high speed with excellent accuracy, filling to a consistent level regardless of minor container variations.
Medium viscosity (1,000–10,000 cP): Our TruPump 8 and TruPump 275UB gear pump fillers offer individually adjustable fill volume and speed per pump, suited to a wide range of medium-viscosity products with easy changeover between them.
High viscosity (10,000–100,000 cP): Our Minipiston 8 and TruPiston 8 SERVO piston fillers handle thick liquids and semi-solids with precise, powerful dosing — the TruPiston 8 SERVO also handles particulates up to 3/4".
Very high viscosity (100,000+ cP): Our PI3300 automatic piston filler, expandable up to 14 pistons, is built for very thick or chunky products where strong positive displacement is essential.
| CFM (ft³/min) | Liters/min | m³/min |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 CFM | 14.2 L/min | 0.014 m³/min |
| 1 CFM | 28.3 L/min | 0.028 m³/min |
| 5 CFM | 141.6 L/min | 0.142 m³/min |
| 10 CFM | 283.2 L/min | 0.283 m³/min |
| 20 CFM | 566.3 L/min | 0.566 m³/min |
Formula: liters/min = CFM × 28.3
Viscosity is commonly measured in centipoise (cP). Water sits at roughly 1 cP as a reference point — honey runs in the thousands of cP, and thick pastes can run into the hundreds of thousands.
Some machines have a wider working range than others. Piston fillers in particular tend to handle a broad viscosity range well, from thin liquids to thick pastes, since fill volume is controlled by mechanical displacement rather than gravity or timed flow.
Products with particulates — salsa, soup with visible pieces, or products with fruit chunks — generally need a piston filler with an appropriately sized valve or gate to avoid damaging the particulates or clogging the fill head.
Yes. Viscosity changes with temperature — most products get thinner when warm and thicker when cold. Filler selection should be based on the viscosity at your actual production and filling temperature, not just room temperature.
See our liquid filling machines, or talk to us about your specific product.
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