Question 1

What is a large-capacity piston filler and what does it do?

Accepted Answer

A large-capacity piston filler is a machine that fills big containers, like gallon jugs, large tubs and bulk bottles, with the same amount of product every time. It works like a giant syringe: the piston pulls back to draw product from the hopper into a cylinder, then pushes forward to send that exact amount out through the nozzle. Here is how the SGP-5000 from Cleveland Equipment works: (1) pour your product into the 22-gallon hopper, (2) set the fill amount once with the hand wheel, (3) place a container under the nozzle, (4) tap the foot pedal, and (5) the machine fills it with 550 to 5,000 mL of product. It handles everything from thin liquids to thick creams, sauces and pastes.

Question 2

Is there a machine that fills gallon jugs for you instead of pouring and measuring by hand?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The SGP-5000 piston filler from Cleveland Equipment replaces pouring, ladling and weighing large containers by hand. You set the fill amount once, place a gallon jug or large container under the nozzle and tap the foot pedal, and the machine dispenses the same amount every time, from 550 mL up to 5,000 mL (about 18.6 to 169 oz). That means fewer spills, less wasted product and no more overfilled or underfilled containers. It runs on compressed air instead of electricity, so it works in wet production areas and in spaces without electrical hookups, and it is a common upgrade for businesses that have outgrown filling bulk sizes by hand.

Question 3

What fill sizes does the SGP-5000 piston filler handle?

Accepted Answer

The SGP-5000 fills 550 mL to 5,000 mL (about 18.6 to 169 oz) per cycle, which covers common large formats such as 32 oz bottles, half-gallon and one-gallon jugs, and large jars and tubs up to about 1.3 gallons. Fill volume is set mechanically with a hand wheel, so once it is dialed in, every container gets the same amount. For smaller containers, Cleveland Equipment's standard SGP Series covers 10 mL to 1,000 mL in five sizes.

Question 4

What is the difference between the SGP-5000 and the standard SGP piston filler?

Accepted Answer

The SGP-5000 is the large-capacity member of Cleveland Equipment's SGP Series of pneumatic cream and liquid piston fillers. It fills 550 mL to 5,000 mL per cycle and comes with a 22-gallon hopper, while the standard SGP models fill 10 mL to 1,000 mL and come with a 3-gallon hopper. Both use 316 stainless steel product-contact parts, run on compressed air, fill liquids and thick creams, and are triggered with a foot pedal. Choose the SGP-5000 if most of your fills are about 18 oz or larger, such as quarts, half-gallons and gallons; choose a standard SGP model for bottles and jars under 1 liter.

Question 5

What products can the SGP-5000 fill?

Accepted Answer

The SGP-5000 fills free-flowing liquids and thick, viscous products, including sauces, dressings, condiments, syrups, oils, lotions, body butters, large-format creams, ointments, gels, lubricants, adhesives, coatings and other industrial fluids. Fill accuracy is ±1% for liquids and ±2% for creams. The product needs to flow into the filler on its own, even if slowly. Very stiff products that do not flow, such as cold peanut butter or frosting, may need to be warmed until they flow before filling. Cleveland Equipment can review your product before you buy to confirm it is a good fit.

Question 6

How fast and accurate is the SGP-5000?

Accepted Answer

The SGP-5000 runs up to 30 fill cycles per minute with ±1% accuracy on liquids and ±2% on creams. Actual output depends on your fill size, how thick your product is and how quickly the operator places containers, so large fills of thick products run slower than smaller fills of thin liquids. The operator can adjust the drawing and filling speeds separately with the front and rear valves, so the machine can be tuned for thin liquids or thick creams.

Question 7

Does the SGP-5000 need electricity, and what air compressor do I need?

Accepted Answer

No electricity is needed. The SGP-5000 is fully pneumatic and runs on compressed air, needing about 5 CFM at 90 psi, which a 20-gallon or larger shop air compressor can supply. The machine works at 0.4 to 0.5 MPa (about 58 to 73 psi) and accepts incoming air at 0.5 to 0.8 MPa (about 73 to 116 psi). Because there is no electrical connection at the machine, it is well suited to wet washdown areas and to facilities handling chemical or flammable products. If other air-powered equipment runs on the same compressor, size the compressor for the combined demand.

Question 8

What size hopper does the SGP-5000 come with?

Accepted Answer

The SGP-5000 comes standard with a 22-gallon supply hopper, sized for continuous filling of large containers without constant refills. At a full 5,000 mL fill, a full hopper holds enough for roughly 16 fills; at a one-gallon fill, it holds enough for about 22 jugs. Larger batches can be fed by refilling the hopper as it runs low.

Question 9

Is the SGP-5000 food grade?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The SGP-5000 is built for food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and chemical products, with all product-contact metal parts made from 316 stainless steel, which offers high resistance to acids and corrosion. It uses Buna O-ring seals and is lubricated with H3 food-grade lubricant. That makes it suitable for bulk sauces, dressings and condiments, large-format personal care products, ointments and gels, and industrial fluids such as lubricants and coatings.

Question 10

Is the SGP-5000 semi-automatic or automatic?

Accepted Answer

The SGP-5000 has both a semi-automatic mode and an automatic mode, selected with a switch. In semi-automatic mode, the operator places a container under the nozzle and taps the foot pedal for each fill. In automatic mode, one press of the foot pedal starts continuous cycling, so the operator only has to keep moving containers under the nozzle. The machine does not detect containers, so in either mode the operator (or the production line it is integrated into) is responsible for having a container in place before each fill.

Question 11

How do I set the fill volume on the SGP-5000?

Accepted Answer

Fill volume on the SGP-5000 is set mechanically with a hand wheel, which changes the length of the piston stroke. Loosen the locking handle on the adjustable sensor, turn the hand wheel clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the volume, then run a test fill and measure or weigh it. Repeat until the fill is exactly where you want it, then tighten the locking handle. Once set, the machine repeats that same volume every cycle.

Question 12

How do I clean and maintain the SGP-5000?

Accepted Answer

To clean the SGP-5000 between runs, fill the hopper with water and a cleaning agent and cycle the machine until the discharge runs clear, then cycle clean water until it runs clear. For a full clean, tear the filler down, clean and sanitize the parts, and lubricate them with H3 food-grade lubricant before reassembling. Never use gasoline, benzene, xylene, banana oil or bleach (sodium hypochlorite) on the machine. Check O-rings regularly and replace any that are worn, inspect the air lines for leaks, never cycle the machine without product, and always disconnect the air before cleaning or servicing.

Question 13

How much does the SGP-5000 cost, and what warranty does it have?

Accepted Answer

The SGP-5000 large-capacity piston filler is listed at $6,655 on clevelandequipment.com and includes the 22-gallon hopper, foot pedal and 316 stainless steel fill head. It comes with a 1-year warranty and is sold and supported by Cleveland Equipment, a packaging equipment company in Madison, Wisconsin, that provides help choosing the right filler before you buy and technical support after. You can reach the team at 866-888-6327 or sales@clevelandequipment.com.

SGP-5000 Cream & Liquid Piston Filler Machine (Fill 500-5000ml)*

Details

SGP-5000 Single-Head Pneumatic Piston Filler (500–5,000 ml)

Key Features

Ideal Applications

Cleveland Equipment — Industrial Packaging Specialists

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