How Gravity Fillers Handle Wine and Juice Lines

Views: 3177 Author: Howie SUN Publish Time:
A juice line that runs at the right temperature holds shelf life; one that runs hot enough to deform the bottle trades shelf life for rejects. Unlike other filling methods that may subject the liquid to excessive agitation or pressure, gravity fillers rely on the natural force of gravity to fill containers smoothly and consistently.
Key facts at a glance
Filling principleHot-fill, up to 85 C
Capacity6,000-36,000 BPH at 0.2-2 L
PackageHeat-resistant PET geometry, or glass
LineHot-fill monobloc with tunnel pasteuriser
ProductsJuice, tea, nectar, functional drinks
Key controlFill temperature, hold time, cap seal

Why does juice get filled hot instead of cold?

Hot filling does two jobs at once: it pasteurises the product on the way to the filler, and the residual heat sanitises the bottle and cap. That is why a hot-fill line can run an acidic juice without a separate bottle steriliser. The price is a heat-resistant bottle and a longer cooling tunnel.

What does the fill temperature actually control?

Fill temperature and hold time together set the pasteurisation result. Below the target, shelf life is at risk; above it, the product cooks and the bottle deforms. The number belongs to the product and the bottle, not to the machine, and it should be written into the acceptance protocol with a tolerance.

RouteTemperatureWhat it costs
Hot fillUp to 85 CHeat-resistant bottle and a cooling tunnel
Cold fill with preservativeAmbientFormulation constraint, not a machine constraint
Cold fill with in-line pasteuriserProduct-side onlySeparate pasteuriser and a closed filling zone
Hot fill in glassUp to 85 CGlass mass, slower line, higher transport cost

The Hotfill Type Filling Machine for Juice is the matching unit when this becomes a line project.

What does a tea line need that a juice line does not?

Tea usually needs finer filtration, deaeration to protect aroma, and a fill temperature that does not strip the volatile notes. Tea also clouds after cooling, so the clarification step is part of the product design, not a filling detail.

The unit behind this configuration is the Juice By Volumetric Filler.

What causes a juice line to lose aroma?

Oxygen pickup and excessive heat. Deaeration before the filler, a closed product path and a short hold time protect the volatile fraction. A line that meets its microbial target can still fail on taste if it holds the product hot for too long.

The same question is worked through from another angle in How to Reduce Downtime in Hotfill Juice Lines.

How to read the numbers. Capacity on these pages means the specification range, before any site-specific derating. Pasteuriser heat-up, hold and cooling sit outside a rated BPH, so plan on 0.65-0.85.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature is juice hot-filled at?

Up to 85 C, set per product and per bottle. The exact set point and tolerance belong in the product specification, because acidity, pulp content and bottle wall thickness all move it.

Can one line run juice and tea?

Yes, if the filler, the recipe and the downstream cooling are specified for both. Tea usually needs a finer filtration step and a different deaeration setting, so the changeover is a recipe and filter change, not just a new label.

Why does juice lose colour after hot filling?

Heat-sensitive pigments and vitamins degrade above the product temperature limit. The fill temperature and the hold time are the two variables; lowering either protects colour and shortens the microbial margin.

Can a hot-fill line run clear juice and pulp juice?

With a filter change and a different valve bore for the pulp, yes. Clear juice needs finer filtration, and pulp needs agitation in the bowl so the fibre does not settle.

Key takeaways
  1. Fill temperature is a product and package number, not a machine setting.
  2. Pulp needs bore and agitation, not more pressure.
  3. Cold filling moves the microbial control from the filler to the product and the plant.
  4. Colour loss is a temperature and hold-time decision.
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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