How to Choose an Edible Oil Filling Machine that meets production needs

When you start looking at brochures and talking to sales reps, you’ll be hit with a lot of technical specs. It’s easy to get lost. But from my years in the field, I can tell you that it all boils down to a few key areas.
Of all the specs you’ll look at, none are more important than the filling and metering methods. These two things define how the machine works and are directly tied to the type of oil you have.

Filling and Metering Method.

The filling method is the physical mechanism a machine uses to push oil. Such is a simple gravity filler, is for free-flowing, thin oils. In order to handle a machine which has more power and makes thicker products more viscous, a piston or a pump filler got all this oil into the container mechanically. Then there are types of machinery such as overflow fillers that aim to make every bottle reach exactly the same height visually for easy sale.
Now, tied directly to this is the metering method. This is all about accuracy. Most machines use volumetric metering, which installs a certain, fixed amount of oil on each stroke to the pump, much like using a measuring cup. This method has stood the test of time and is in years generic term for its reliability. There is no substitute for net-weight metering when you absolutely have to have the highest accuracy. A net-weight filler uses a precision scale of the highest type to weigh the oil as it fills and cuts off just as soon as target weight is reached. This is especially good for controlling product giveaway, since the density of oil can change with temperature.

Filling Speed.

Another thing that is worth mentioning is the filling speed. Pump types, the number of nozzles and the stability of pneumatic components are factors that affect filling speed and price. The type of the pump determines the flow rate of the machine (how much liquid can it pump in a certain time), the number of nozzles means how many containers the machine can fill at once, stable pneumatic components ensure consistent, fast, and repeatable movement, minimizing breakdowns and errors. Pair this with a well-adjusted filling system that matches your bottle’s height and neck diameter, and you’ll have a setup that’s both durable and perfectly compatible with your packaging line.
We’ll only briefly touch on this here. If you are interested in truly understanding the differences between pump types such as piston pumps and gear pumps for filling machines, and to see which one is right for you, I’ve put together a more detailed guide you can find here: [Main Types of Oil Filling Machines]

Accuracy.

Accuracy often requires a trade-off with speed. You might see two liquid filling machines on the market that both have a filling capacity of 500 bottles per hour, but their prices differ by several thousand dollars. The reason lies in the filling accuracy. To achieve stricter filling accuracy, there are strict requirements for important components in the filling machine, such as the pump structure, PLC control program, and filling nozzles.

Equipment Component Materials.

What’s the right machine without the right materials? When it comes to oil filling or packaging machines, the material determines the quality and safety. A reliable machine should always be made from food-grade stainless steel, the same type widely used in food and pharmaceutical equipment. Stainless steel offers strength, hygiene, and easy cleaning — all essential for maintaining product purity during production.
During the production process, we ensure that all surfaces of parts that come into contact with the product meet stringent food contact standards, thereby protecting the quality of our customers’ products and their business reputation. If the liquid being filled has a high salt or acid content, we can also upgrade to 316 stainless steel upon request, as ordinary stainless steel may corrode over time.

Container Compatibility.

As we all know, the shape and size of filling containers vary depending on the product design. These might include rectangular bottles, round bottles, tin cans, large-capacity containers, etc. Therefore, the filling machine’s conveyor belt, filling volume, and filling program need to be compatible with these containers. In large-scale industrial fully automated filling machines, the machines are customized based on container models in the early stages of production and cannot be compatible with containers of other sizes. For small and medium-sized enterprises, our fully automatic filling machines can be pre-programmed with data for various common container sizes, allowing customers to switch or adjust at any time. However, please note that because the hardware components of the filling equipment are fixed, the adjustment range of the filling machine is limited, and changes in container style cannot exceed the adjustable range.

Now that your machine is built right and fully compatible with your bottles and oil, let’s talk about what takes it from good to great. These components below add more features that separate a good machine from a great one, especially on high-end equipment.

• A solid control system, usually a PLC with a touchscreen interface, lets you easily adjust fill volumes and speeds and save “recipes” for different products.
• Anti-drip devices. They solve the messy and wasteful problem of stray drops on your bottles and conveyor after a fill cycle, often using specialized nozzles.
• For certain oils or daily chemical products that are prone to foaming under pressure, anti-foaming functionality is also crucial. This is typically achieved through nozzles that fill from the bottom up or a vacuum filling system, minimizing splashing.
• Finally, an automatic cleaning system, often called a ‘Clean-in-Place’ (CIP) system, can be a lifesaver. It automates the washing and sanitizing process, which saves an enormous amount of time and ensures your machine is hygienically clean between batches.