Global Beverage Machinery Certifications Compared: CE vs FDA vs EAC vs SASO

Views: 137 Author: Howie SUN Publish Time:
Two quotations that look different usually differ in four numbers: the slowest station, the changeover time, the CIP time and the consumable cost.

Filling Machine for Viscous Product

Key facts at a glance
ScopeFilling, capping, labelling and packing equipment
Sizing basisDemand in units per day, divided by productive hours and a production factor
Production factor0.65-0.85 depending on formats and changeovers
Key controlFill accuracy, closure integrity, changeover time
Key decisionOne flexible line or two dedicated lines
AcceptanceOutput, accuracy, closure and changeover, measured

What is the real difference between the two options?

Two options usually differ on one axis that matters and several that do not. Compare the dosing principle, the changeover time and the failure mode before the price, because a cheaper machine often costs more per 1,000 units once changeover and rejects are counted.

How do you compare two quotations that look different?

Compare the lowest rated station, the changeover time, the CIP time and the consumable cost per 1,000 units. A lower price with a slower packer or a longer CIP is not a lower cost. Ask both suppliers for the same four numbers in writing.

DecisionWhat it fixesWhat it does not fix
Filling principleProduct and accuracyDownstream capacity
Valve countRated BPHChangeover and CIP time
Automation levelLabour per shiftProduct quality
Line layoutFloor space and flowThroughput of the slowest station

The specification sheet for the Gravity Filling Machine for Still Water carries the utility figures quoted here.

Where does a filling line lose output that the specification ignores?

Changeover, CIP, label roll changes and downstream stops. A line rated at 12,000 BPH and run with four formats and two changeovers per shift delivers closer to 8,000. The production factor is not a discount on the machine; it is what the plant actually gets.

The Volumetric Filling Machine for Still Water is the reference unit for this configuration.

When should a plant buy two lines instead of one flexible line?

When the formats are far apart, or when one product cannot tolerate the cleaning regime of the other. A single flexible line carries changeover cost every day; two dedicated lines carry capital cost once. The crossover is usually visible in the annual changeover hours.

The same question is worked through from another angle in Double-Head Sleeving Machine: Throughput and Film Control.

How to read the numbers. What the specification calls capacity is a reference range, not a tested output. Rated capacity is a steady-state number; changeover and cleaning sit outside it, so size on 0.65-0.85.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between BPH and bottles per minute?

BPH is bottles per hour; divide by 60 for bottles per minute. A 12,000 BPH line runs at 200 bottles per minute, and every downstream machine has to carry that rate.

How long does a filling line last?

A well-maintained stainless line runs for well over a decade, with wear parts replaced on condition. The variables are water quality, cleaning regime and whether spare parts are kept in stock.

Can a line be upgraded later?

Capacity is usually added by a second line or by a downstream upgrade, not by speeding up the filler. The filler, the capper and the packer are matched, so raising one alone moves the bottleneck.

What is the difference between a monoblock and a full line?

A monoblock combines rinse, fill and cap on one frame. A full line adds treatment, blowing, labelling, packing and palletizing around it. The monoblock is one station in a longer chain.

Key takeaways
  1. Fix the product and the package before the machine.
  2. The production factor is what the plant gets, not a discount.
  3. Two quotes are comparable only when the specifications match.
  4. Ask for the FAT procedure before the price.
About the author
Written by the Sunswell engineering team - led by Howie SUN, Founder & CEO, with 14 years in filling and blow-moulding equipment R&D and turnkey project delivery across 71+ countries.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-28 . Reviewed by Sunswell engineering team
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