A Complete Ointment Filling Machine Buying Guide for 2024

Ointments, creams and lotions have many medicinal and aesthetic uses, since they are versatile, semi-solid formulations. We often store such products in tubes, jars or bottles. And They need special machines for filling and sealing to achieve perfect results.

Tube filling machines (sometimes referred to as ointment filling machines ) play an essential part in manufacturing operations. They ensure tubes are filled with the appropriate product in the right quantity every time. No matter what scale of production you run, having access to suitable filling machinery will streamline and optimize your process.

What Are Ointments?

Ointments are semi-solid topical preparations applied directly on the skin. Ointments typically feature an oily or greasy base such as petroleum jelly or waxes. This base helps trap moisture while allowing active ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin.

Ointments are commonly used as an effective delivery system for medication such as antibiotics, corticosteroids and antifungals to the skin. Due to their occlusive effect, ointments are an attractive treatment choice for many skin conditions. Besides, they offer protection from environmental irritations as well as moisture loss - perfect for dry or chapped skin conditions.

What Are Ointment Tubes Composed of?

Ointment tubes typically consist of aluminum or plastic.

Aluminum Ointment Tubes

These durable tubes can handle an incredible amount of pressure, making them the ideal way to package thick products such as ointments. Since aluminum blocks moisture, oxygen, and light, it helps ensure products remain fresh longer on store shelves. Plus, its non-toxicity doesn't react with most pharmaceutical or cosmetic ingredients either!

Plastic Ointment Tubes

Plastic tubes are flexible and easy to squeeze, giving users precise control of when and how their product gets dispensing out. Lightweight materials also make them great choices for consumers. Furthermore, decorating options such as printing, labeling and embossing allow brands to craft packaging that looks their best!

What Are My Ointment Filling Machine Options?

Your choice of an ointment filling machine depends entirely upon what it is used for and your production volume. Small manufacturers or large pharmaceutical firms alike will all find an ointment filler to meet their specific needs.

Manual Ointment Filling Machine

For projects on a small-scale or just doing occasional seals, manual ointment fillers may be an ideal solution. These affordable machines are simple to use and have tubes that can be sealed manually after filling. However, they might not be the best fit for large-scale production because they require a lot of manual labour.

Semi-Automatic Ointment Filling Machine

Semi-automatic ointment fillers are perfect for medium-scale production environments, as they automate the filling process for greater efficiency and accuracy than manual methods. But we still require separate manual sealing tools.

Semi-automatic filling machines are frequently chosen by research and development labs as well as small to mid-sized businesses for use.

Fully Automatic Ointment Filling Machine

Fully automated machines are built for high-volume production and offer the maximum level of automation. These machines can quickly fill, seal and package tubes all at the same time to save costs while increasing overall productivity.

Automatic ointment filling machines often feature advanced features like digital controls, precise dosing systems and tube feeding and ejection mechanisms - perfect for large manufacturing plants that need their products filled accurately and fast.

How Does an Ointment Filling Machine Operate?

Ointment filling machines automate filling, sealing and coding of ointment tubes for filling stations to process. I will briefly walk you through how this machine operates as follows.

• Firstly, tubes enter via an internal feeder from either a magazine or hopper and are automatically placed onto filling stations by machine.
• The machine accurately dispense precise doses of ointment into each tube using either piston or plunger filling systems, so you can customize its fill volume according to product needs.
• Once tubes have been filled with paste or gel filler, they proceed to the sealing station where they will be sealed using either heat-sealing or mechanical crimping techniques.
• Once sealed tubes arrive at their final destination, they're transported to a coding station where a printer applies essential product and batch-related details like name, batch number and expiration date directly onto each tube.
• Finally, once coded tubes leave the machine, they're collected in designated area for further packaging or distribution.

How Can You Properly Maintain an Ointment Filling Machine?

Maintenance is key to ensure the longevity and proper functionality of an ointment filling machine, here are a few maintenance tips:

• It is recommended to give the ointment filling machine an extensive clean after every production run, especially using mild detergent and warm water as cleaning solutions.
• Avoid harsh chemicals that could damage the machine components.
• When necessary, disassemble it for thorough cleaning of its various areas like filling nozzle, hopper and sealing mechanism.
• Before performing maintenance on any machine, always turn off its power source. Plus, allow time for cooling before beginning any task.
• Lubricate all moving parts like gears, bearings, and slides regularly.
• Check electrical components for signs of damage or wear-and-tear. If you find any, replace them immediately.
• Inspect hydraulic fluid levels and quality.
• Verify all safety guards are functioning appropriately before performing this examination.
• Maintain regular calibration checks of filling and sealing mechanisms to make sure everything's functioning optimally.

What to Consider before You Purchase an Ointment Filling Machine?

There are various factors you need to keep in mind before investing in an ointment filler machine. Do your research carefully, so you will find one best-suited to meet your individual requirements:

1. Production Capacity and Future Growth

Identify current production volumes as well as your product mix plans for filling. Additionally, consider your future growth plans when choosing a filling machine. It should be capable of supporting increased output requirements.

2. Budget

To start off your budget process for an ointment sealing machine, first decide your desired budget in terms of installation, training and maintenance costs. Then consider what potential savings could come from automating processes by cutting labor expenses.

3. Automation Level

Manual ointment filling machines may be adequate for smaller production runs. However, their labour intensive operation makes this solution inadvisable. Semi-automated machines offer increased efficiency and accuracy while still needing operator intervention; full automation machines offer even higher levels of productivity at higher initial investment costs.

4. Machine Functions

Test whether your machine can accurately dispense the desired amount of ointment, as well as create strong airtight seals. Consider how easy it would be for operators to clean or maintain. Consider downtime reduction possibilities while prioritising safety features in order to protect operators and reduce accidents.

5. Reputable Manufacturer and After-Sales Support

It is essential to select a renowned manufacturer with proven credentials. Also, make sure the machine meets industry and regulatory standards and meets maintenance and technical support needs. When buying any machine, it should include technical support and spare parts as required by its own specifications.

Final Thoughts

We hope this guide helps you choose the right ointment filling machine. Think about things like how much you want to produce, your budget, how automated you want it to be, and what features you need. This will help you make the best choice for your business.

If you need more advice or want to talk to someone in the industry, contact an expert or manufacturer.