F.A.Q.
We encourage you to ask our competitors the following questions.
Our machines are designed to handle pieces up to 1 inch without smashing the particulate on filling. Great for gourmet applications. The head cleanly shears any particulates caught in the cut off in one clean shear per cycle.
Simplex produces high–quality heavy duty production machinery built to last and made to operate around the clock for years! Other machines may be cheaper, but they brake easier and wear out sooner. In the long run, we are more cost–effective. Make sure you are comparing the quality of construction when comparing machine performance. Simplex machines offer tremendous payback in terms of longevity. Minimal downtimes, accurate fills, ease of cleaning, all adds up to overall cost savings over the life of the machine. We have some machines fully operational and still in service since the 50’s!
The customer needs to be realistic in their output capacity requirements. Also, future requirements need to be considered. This realistic approach will determine what equipment is really required. There is no need to over equip yourself if it is not required.
In this industry the rule of thumb is: Speed and capacity is directly related to dollars. The faster you want to go the more expensive the machine.
A complete tear down for cleaning is approximately ten minutes per head. There are six parts in product contact. The product cylinder/piston assembly, the head assembly and the spout assembly, are all designed for quick easy removal and clean up.
Simplex offers many different varieties of spouts designed for specific product applications. We offer a wide range from straight spouts, air operated internal raising no-drip plug spouts, pressure spouts, and spouts for Form Fill & Seal machines, all of which come in many different diameters.
Simplex philosophy: The product and customer specifications determine the equipment required!
Bottom up filling is just that, the discharge nozzle is plunged into the container and the filling cycle will begin inside the container from a height chosen by the operator. The lifting can be profiled in various ways, such as, steady rate lift, stair step lifting, and subsurface filling. All of these are product/container dependent.
This option is only needed under certain circumstances. Such as; foaming products, thick/viscous products (i.e.; heavy paste, cream) and products requiring no voids in the container.
Simply put, Simplex builds robust production quality machinery, built to last for years of continuous production service. When comparing machinery the longevity of service plays heavily into the final cost outlay from your pocket. An initial higher cost for a machine that will last for years and will be more financially prudent for the long haul.
Simplex machines are liquid filling machines, which means, the product must be flowable and can be transported under gravity suction.
We do not fill dry granular powder. If you are unsure about your product, call us. We fill many products that some customers consider to be dry, such as certain pastes, with no problem.
On average our machines fill up to a peanut butter (approx. 250,000 cps) consistency. At 200,000 cps we need to evaluate the product specifically to determine what options might be required to move your product through our machine. For higher viscosity products, sometimes just the change in temperature of the product during the filling process will eliminate the need for an expensive option. We will evaluate all products to determine the specific requirements for your machine.
Water is one centipoises. Some solvents are lighter than water, many of which have run thru our machines. For lighter viscosity products call for an evaluation of your specific product.
Volumetric filling refers to filling by a volume of product vs. weight or level. A volumetric filling machine is one of the fastest, most accurate and mechanically repeatable filling methods in the market place. The volume is accurate to one half of one percent by volume, plus or minus. A volume of material can be moved quickly and repeatable, faster than a fill by weight. Increased production means faster fill time. Repeatable accuracy means less product waste and this leads to higher profits.
Anything that is liquid and flowable. Light solvents, food, oils, almost all cosmetics, salad dressings, salsa and creams. Not only do our machines handle thin watery products, but we also can run thick or large particulate matter up to one inch in diameter through our machine, without crushing the product as other fillers will. The particulate shears only once per cycle in the rotating head: making this machine extremely versatile. These machines are food grade approved, and are used in all industries, from food, to cosmetics, pharmaceutical, paint and industrial applications.
To ensure the best accuracy the cylinder size is selected based on the volume of the product being in the middle range of the cylinder size. The cylinders have an upper and lower range of volumes to ensure we maintain our accuracy which is +/– 0.5% by volume. We achieve it, we repeat it.
Contour filling is a term used to describe odd shaped containers; such as a container with a wide bottom and a very narrow neck and opening. This is very important information because many fillers adjust the flow rate into the container at a linear, stead rate. This means your flow rate is adjusted to the most restrictive component, the neck to prevent splash back out of the container. With our cam action machines with Siemens Logo programed controls we can vary the flow rate during the fill cycle! This means; fast fills in the wide part, slower fill at the restrictive neck to prevent blow out, thus the fastest fill possible for your special container.