What is the best machine for filling different types of (paste) adhesives?
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What is the best machine for filling different types of (paste) adhesives?
When filling different formulations of paste (mid to higher viscosity) adhesives on the same filling machine, you will want a machine that is quick and easy to clean and set up.
The many different application requirements in the market, result in an ever-increasing number of formulations and formulation variants, to better serve these needs. But all the different formulation variants still need to be filled into packaging (typically cartridges) that the customer can use.
The result is that different formulations and formulation variants need to be filled on the same filling machine, making the cleaning time and simplicity of setup key to running an efficient filling operation.
Some Key Machine Spec Considerations
Bulk material supply
‘Paste’ (mid to higher viscosity) adhesives will need positive pressure to move/transfer them from their bulk drums or mixing pans, into the dosing units. The two options are:
- Pumping (typically two-ball piston pumps for mid viscosity, and chop-check/shovel piston pumps for higher viscosity)
- Or Pressing (hydraulic ram pushes the platen plate down into the drum and extrudes the paste/adhesive out).
Pumping typically offers a considerably lower upfront cost option compared to Presses (Pumps can generate high fluid pressure and effectively transfer material, with a considerably lighter-duty construction, hence the cost saving). However, when changing between formulation variants that require clean down of the system between batches, the Press becomes the more cost-effective solution over time.
This is because Pumps contain many fluid contact parts – these are the parts that generate the fluid pressure to transfer the material. Unfortunately, they are also the parts that require cleaning (when moving between disparate formulations), and intime, maintenance too, because maintenance is a multiple of moving parts. Often excessive disassembly and reassembly of Pumps can increase the wear and tear on their parts too.
Compared to a Press whose only fluid contact part is the Platen; and you can clearly see the hours and hours of cleaning and maintenance time saved over the equipment lifespan (when it utilises Presses rather than Pumps), far outweigh the additional upfront cost of the Presses.
Dosing Units
As with the bulk material supply, keeping wettable (fluid contact) parts to a minimum is also key for easy cleaning with the Dosing units.
With Grunfeld Servo Driven Volumetric Metering Units – the volume/dose size, the dispensing speed, and in the case of two-component filling, the ratios – are all selected through the touchscreen without any mechanical adjustment required; making the setup incredibly easy and quick.
Additional recipe control software will allow you to create your own ‘library’ of settings for products that are regularly used. This ensures complete repeatability of filling quality.
Grunfeld Metering or Dosing Units are specifically designed to be quickly disassembled with particular attention given to ease of cleaning, at the design stage.
Filling Pipes and Mandrels
At the point of dispensing into the packaging/cartridges, Filling Pipes or Mandrels also should also be designed to facilitate easy cleaning, preferably with smooth internal bores.
Different variations of Filling Pipes and Mandrels with different internal bores may be required (and occasionally valves) for different viscosity materials; to control back pressure and stop run-on/dripping.
We hope you found this blog on What is the best machine for filling different types of (paste) adhesives? helpful.
And if you happen to be filling lower viscosity (pourable) adhesives; the simpler nature of the equipment typically means less cleaning time is required anyway.
However if you have any additional questions about this topic please don’t hesitate to get in touch and speak to us.