Quick answer: If you're filling thick products like creams, lotions, sauces, gels or pastes, you want an SGP piston filler. If you're filling thin, free-flowing liquids like oils, tinctures, juices or cleaning solutions, you want an SGY liquid-only piston filler. Then pick a single head if one operator can keep up with your orders, or a dual head if you need to fill two containers per cycle. Finally, pick the size (60 ml up to 5,000 ml) that matches your bottle.
That's the short version. Below, we'll walk through every liquid filler we sell, what each piston filler is built for, and how to pick the right size so you don't end up buying twice.
Every liquid filler we offer at a glance
We sell six piston filler models, plus gear pump, peristaltic, overflow and complete compact-line options. Here's how they compare:
| Machine | Filler type | Best for | Fill range | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGP single head | Piston, hopper-fed | Creams, liquids and highly viscous products | 10–1,000 ml (5 sizes) | Compressed air only |
| SGP-5000 | Piston, hopper-fed | Big fills of thick product: sauces, body butters, lubricants | 550–5,000 ml | Compressed air only |
| SGP dual head | Piston, hopper-fed, 2 heads | Higher-volume runs of creams and thick liquids | 10–250 ml per head | Compressed air only |
| SGP dual head, large capacity | Piston, hopper-fed, 2 heads | Bulk thick-product production | 100–5,000 ml per head | Compressed air only |
| SGY single head | Piston, draw hose | Thin, free-flowing liquids | 10–5,000 ml (5 sizes) | Compressed air only |
| SGY dual head | Piston, draw hose, 2 heads | Higher-volume runs of thin liquids | 10–5,000 ml per head (5 sizes) | Compressed air only |
| FG1000 gear pump filler | Gear pump, tabletop | Low-to-medium viscosity liquids: syrups, perfumes, cosmetic liquids | 5–4,000 ml | 110V |
| SGF-1-D dual head gear filler | Gear pump, 2 heads | Oils, sauces, syrups, serums, cleaning solutions, beverages | 5 ml–10 L per head | 110V |
| FT1000 peristaltic pump | Peristaltic | Small-volume, non-viscous pharmaceutical and cosmetic liquids | 10–5,000 ml | 110V |
| CE-FIL-OF11 overflow filler | Automatic pressure overflow | Consistent fill levels in clear bottles: beverages, personal care, cleaning products | Level-based | PLC-controlled, automatic |
| CFL200 compact filling line | Gear pump fill + capper + labeler | Low-viscosity liquids when you want one complete tabletop line | 5–4,000 ml | 110V + compressed air |
What is a piston filler, and why do so many small manufacturers start with one?
A piston filler works like a big syringe. On the intake stroke, the piston pulls an exact volume of product into a cylinder. On the output stroke, it pushes that same volume out through the nozzle and into your container. Because the volume is set by how far the piston travels, every fill comes out the same. Our piston fillers are rated at ±1% accuracy on liquids, and the SGP is rated at ±2% on creams.
Here's why they're so popular with growing brands:
- They handle thick product. Gravity and overflow fillers struggle with lotions, sauces and gels. A piston pushes them out.
- They're fully pneumatic. Every SGP and SGY runs on compressed air with no electrical hookup, which makes them a good fit for chemical and flammable applications and for spaces without 110V power at the filling station.
- They're simple. Set the volume, put a bottle under the nozzle, press the foot pedal. There's very little to program or maintain.
- They're built for food and cosmetics. The SGP and SGY are built with 316 stainless steel (food grade).
- They're affordable. Single-head piston fillers start at a few thousand dollars, which is a lot easier to justify than a fully automatic line when you're moving off hand-filling.
SGP vs. SGY: the most important choice you'll make
Our piston fillers come in two families. The one you need depends on how your product pours.
SGP: cream and liquid piston fillers
The SGP series is built for creams, liquids and highly viscous products. Product sits in a hopper on top of the machine (3 gallons standard on the smaller models, with larger hoppers available), so thick product feeds down into the cylinder instead of having to be pulled up through a hose.
Choose an SGP if you fill: lotions, creams, body butters, gels, ointments, sauces, dressings, condiments, pastes, lubricants, adhesives or coatings. It also handles thin liquids, so it's the safer pick if your product line includes both.
SGY: liquid-only piston fillers
The SGY series is built for free-flowing liquids. Instead of a hopper, it pulls product straight from your container through a draw hose (1" inside diameter) and dispenses through a 1/2" ID dispensing hose. That means you can drop the hose into a pail or drum and start filling without transferring product into a hopper first.
Choose an SGY if you fill: water-thin products like essential oils, tinctures, juices, cleaning solutions, and other liquids that pour easily. If your product is thick enough that it won't flow freely through a hose, go with an SGP.
Single head vs. dual head: how much do you need to fill?
Both the SGP and SGY families come in single-head and dual-head versions. A dual-head machine has two synchronized filling heads, so every press of the pedal fills two containers instead of one. That can double your output with the same operator.
- Go single head if you're a startup or small-batch producer, you run a lot of different products, or one operator filling one bottle at a time keeps up with demand. Single-head SGP and SGY models on smaller fill sizes are rated up to 50 cycles per minute.
- Go dual head if filling has become your bottleneck, you're running long batches of the same product, or you're filling for wholesale or retail orders. Dual-head models are rated up to 30 cycles per minute per head.
Why you'd choose each piston filler
SGP Cream & Liquid Piston Filler (single head)
The SGP single head is our most popular starting point for cosmetic, food and specialty brands. It comes in five sizes: SGP-60 (10–60 ml), SGP-120 (30–120 ml), SGP-250 (45–250 ml), SGP-500 (75–500 ml) and SGP-1000 (100–1,000 ml).
You need this if: you're hand-filling jars or bottles of lotion, sauce, balm or gel and want consistent fills and a faster pace without a big investment.
SGP-5000 Cream & Liquid Piston Filler
The SGP-5000 is a single-head SGP built for big containers. It fills 550–5,000 ml (about 18.5 oz to 1.3 gallons) at up to 30 cycles per minute and comes standard with a custom 22-gallon hopper.
You need this if: you're filling gallon jugs or large tubs of thick product: bulk sauces, dressings and condiments, large-format creams and body butters, or industrial products like lubricants, adhesives and coatings.
SGP Dual Head Cream & Liquid Piston Filler
The SGP dual head comes in SGP-60-D (10–60 ml), SGP-120-D (30–120 ml) and SGP-250-D (45–250 ml) sizes. You get the SGP's ability to handle thick product with two heads doing the work.
You need this if: you fill small-to-mid-size cosmetic, skincare or sauce containers in volume and a single head can't keep up anymore.
SGP Dual Head Cream & Liquid Piston Filler (Large Capacity)
The large-capacity SGP dual head comes in SGP-1000-D (100–1,000 ml per head) and SGP-5000-D (500–5,000 ml per head) and ships standard with a custom 26-gallon hopper.
You need this if: you're running bulk production of thick products in quart, half-gallon or gallon containers, and you need two at a time.
SGY Liquid Only Piston Filler (single head)
The SGY single head is our most affordable piston filler. It comes in SGY-60 (10–60 ml), SGY-120 (30–120 ml), SGY-250 (45–250 ml), SGY-1000 (100–1,000 ml) and SGY-5000 (500–5,000 ml).
You need this if: you fill thin liquids like oils, tinctures, juices or cleaners and want accurate, repeatable fills straight from a bulk container.
SGY Dual Head Liquid Only Piston Filler
The SGY dual head comes in the same five sizes as the single head (SGY-60-D through SGY-5000-D), with two heads filling at once.
You need this if: you run high volumes of free-flowing liquids, including chemicals and flammable liquids, and want to double output without adding an operator.
Which size piston filler do I need? (Bottle size cheat sheet)
Match the machine to the fill volume you'll run most. Where two sizes overlap, the smaller cylinder usually gives you finer control. If your bottles change often, pick the size that covers your most common fills.
| Your fill size | Approx. ml | SGP (creams & liquids) | SGY (liquids only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | 30 ml | SGP-60 | SGY-60 |
| 2 oz | 59 ml | SGP-60 or SGP-120 | SGY-60 or SGY-120 |
| 4 oz | 118 ml | SGP-120 or SGP-250 | SGY-120 or SGY-250 |
| 8 oz | 237 ml | SGP-250 or SGP-500 | SGY-250 or SGY-1000 |
| 16 oz / 1 pint | 473 ml | SGP-500 or SGP-1000 | SGY-1000 |
| 32 oz / 1 quart | 946 ml | SGP-1000 | SGY-1000 |
| 1 gallon | 3,785 ml | SGP-5000 | SGY-5000 |
Dual-head versions follow the same sizing. Between the standard and large-capacity models, the SGP dual head comes in 60, 120, 250, 1000 and 5000 sizes. The SGY dual head comes in 60, 120, 250, 1000 and 5000.
What you need to run a piston filler
Because the SGP and SGY are fully pneumatic, the only utility you need is compressed air: 5 CFM at 90 PSI. We recommend at least a 30-gallon air compressor. You'll also want a sturdy table at a comfortable working height, and for SGY models, a bulk container of product for the draw hose.
Every SGP and SGY piston filler comes with a 1-year warranty, and our team in Madison, WI is a phone call away if you have questions.
When a piston filler isn't the right fit
- You need a 110V tabletop filler for thin-to-medium liquids: The FG1000 gear pump filler fills 5–4,000 ml, plugs into standard 110V power and uses a drip-free ball-valve nozzle. Need two heads? Look at the SGF-1-D dual head gear filler.
- You're filling small doses and worried about cross-contamination: In the FT1000 peristaltic pump, product only touches the tubing, so changeovers are fast and cross-contamination is prevented. It's a common choice for pharmaceutical and cosmetic liquids.
- You need every clear bottle filled to the same visible level: The CE-FIL-OF11 automatic overflow filler fills to a consistent level no matter small differences in bottle volume, which matters for retail shelf appeal.
- You want to fill, cap and label in one footprint: The CFL200 compact filling line combines bottle feeding, gear pump filling, cap torquing and labeling on a tabletop line.
Frequently asked questions about piston fillers
What is the difference between the SGP and SGY piston fillers?
The SGP is built for creams, liquids and highly viscous products and feeds from a hopper on top of the machine. The SGY is a liquid-only filler for free-flowing liquids and pulls product from your container through a draw hose. If your product is thick, choose the SGP. If it pours like water or oil, the SGY is the more affordable option.
Can a piston filler fill thick products like lotion, honey or sauce?
Yes. That's what the SGP series is designed for. It handles creams, lotions, gels, pastes, sauces and other highly viscous products. The SGY series is for free-flowing liquids only.
How accurate are Cleveland Equipment piston fillers?
Our SGP and SGY piston fillers are rated at ±1% accuracy on liquids. The SGP, which also fills creams, is rated at ±2% on creams.
How fast is a semi-automatic piston filler?
Smaller single-head SGP and SGY models are rated up to 50 cycles per minute. Dual-head models and larger fills are rated up to 30 cycles per minute per head. Real-world speed depends on your product, fill size and operator.
Do piston fillers need electricity?
No. The SGP and SGY are fully pneumatic and run on compressed air only (5 CFM at 90 PSI; we recommend a 30-gallon compressor). That makes them a good fit for chemical and flammable applications and for areas without 110V power.
Should I buy a single-head or dual-head piston filler?
Buy a single head if you're starting out, run many different products, or one bottle at a time keeps up with demand. Buy a dual head if filling is your bottleneck. Two synchronized heads fill two containers per cycle and can double output with the same operator.
What size piston filler do I need for 8 oz bottles?
An 8 oz fill is about 237 ml. For creams or thick products, the SGP-250 (45–250 ml) or SGP-500 (75–500 ml) covers it. For thin liquids, use the SGY-250 (45–250 ml) or SGY-1000 (100–1,000 ml).
Can I fill gallon containers with a piston filler?
Yes. The SGP-5000 fills 550–5,000 ml and the SGY-5000 fills 500–5,000 ml, which covers a 1-gallon (3,785 ml) fill. For two gallons at a time, look at the SGP-5000-D or SGY-5000-D dual-head models.
What is the warranty on a piston filler?
SGP and SGY piston fillers come with a 1-year warranty.
Not sure which one fits? Ask us.
Tell us what you're filling, your container sizes and how many units you need per day, and we'll point you to the right machine. Call 866-888-6327 (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm CST), email sales@clevelandequipment.com, or browse all piston fillers.