Volumetric Cup Filler for Accurate Paste, Dip and Sauce Dosing
Servo-driven volumetric piston dosing for pastes, dips, spreads and sauces: ±0.5% fill-weight accuracy from 50 g to 500 g, up to 30 cups per minute, with an optional weight checker and feedback loop to correct drift.
A volumetric cup filler doses each cup by displacing a fixed, set volume of product rather than weighing it. Our SDH-R uses a servo-driven volumetric piston to fill 50 g to 500 g into pre-formed cups at ±0.5% fill-weight accuracy, at up to 30 cups per minute (18-25 real-world), then seals and lids each cup in the same pass. An optional weight checker with feedback loop corrects density-driven drift.
- Dosing principle
- Servo-driven volumetric piston (standard)
- Fill accuracy
- ±0.5% fill weight
- Fill range
- 50-500 g (approx. 2-17 oz) standard
- Output
- Up to 30 CPM dry cycle (18-25 CPM real-world)
- Cup sizes
- 4, 8, 10, 16 oz standard; 2-32 oz custom
- Weight control option
- Weight checker with feedback loop
- Price
- From $45,000 USD (single-filler configuration)
What Is a Volumetric Cup Filler?
A volumetric cup filler doses product into cups by volume, not weight: each cycle draws in and pushes out the same fixed volume, so every cup receives the same displaced amount. On our SDH-R automatic cup filling, sealing and lidding machine, that dose comes from a servo-driven volumetric piston that fills 50 g to 500 g per cup at ±0.5% fill-weight accuracy, then passes the cup to the sealing and lidding stations on the same frame.
Volumetric filling suits pastes, dips, spreads and sauces because it does not depend on how fast a thick product flows, only on how much the piston displaces. The trade-off: a volumetric filling machine delivers a set volume while the label declares a weight, and density links the two. The SDH-R runs the principle on a compact rotary indexing platform built in Calgary, Alberta.
How a Volumetric Filling Machine Doses a Fixed Displaced Volume
Every volumetric dose comes down to one relationship: delivered volume equals piston area multiplied by stroke length. Hold both constant and the volume is constant, cycle after cycle. On the SDH-R a servo motor sets the stroke, so the dose is changed with a recipe value on the HMI rather than a mechanical stop.
- Intake. The piston retracts and draws product from the hopper into the cylinder at a controlled speed, so viscous paste fills it without voids.
- Valve switch. The valve closes the hopper side and opens the nozzle path, isolating a fixed volume.
- Discharge. The piston advances its programmed stroke and pushes that volume into the cup while the turret dwells.
- Cut-off. A cut-off nozzle shears the stream, or a suck-back nozzle reverses briefly so nothing strings onto the cup flange.
- Index. The turret carries the cup on to sealing and lidding while the piston starts its next intake.
Why servo control matters
A servo-driven piston repeats its stroke precisely and lets us shape the motion profile: a gentle start for products that splash and a controlled stop that keeps the product tail tidy. That is how one volumetric cup filler holds ±0.5% on firm hummus and on a looser sauce. For the mechanics in more depth, see our piston filling machine and servo cup filler pages.
Density, Aeration and Temperature: Why Volume Is Not Weight
Mass equals volume multiplied by density. Because a volumetric cup filler holds volume tightly, cup weights that move while the stroke has not almost always point to a density change somewhere between the kettle and the cup.
- Aeration. High-shear blending and pumping entrain air. A hummus carrying a few percent more air by volume weighs a few percent less per cup at the same stroke. Resting or deaerating the batch stabilizes it.
- Temperature. Products are usually slightly denser cold than warm, and viscosity shifts even more. Filling every batch at a consistent, pumpable temperature removes much of the variation.
- Oil separation and syneresis. Tahini, pesto and nut butters can separate oil in the hopper, and yogurt dips such as tzatziki can weep whey. Short hold times and a homogeneous feed keep density steady.
- Particulates. Chunky salsa and herb-heavy dips never distribute solids perfectly evenly, so density varies slightly from dose to dose.
- Hopper level. A very full hopper presses product into the cylinder harder than a nearly empty one; a steady level band keeps every intake complete.
Volumetric vs Gravimetric Filling, Time-Pressure and Auger Compared
Four dosing principles come up when plants compare cup fillers. Each measures something different, and that decides which products it suits.
Volumetric vs gravimetric vs time-pressure vs auger filling for cups
| Principle | What it controls | Best suited to | Limitation for paste and dip cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volumetric piston (SDH-R standard) | Fixed displaced volume per stroke | Pastes, dips, spreads, sauces and liquids, including soft particulates | Weight follows density; aeration and separation need control or weight-check correction |
| Gravimetric (net-weight) | Actual weight per container via a load cell | Free-flowing liquids where every container must be weighed during filling | Needs settling time and vibration isolation, which is hard to fit into a short indexing dwell |
| Time-pressure | Valve open time at constant pressure | Thin, consistent liquids at a stable temperature | Dose shifts whenever viscosity changes, a poor fit for thick pastes |
| Auger | Screw revolutions inside a funnel | Dry powders and granules | Not designed for wet pastes |
Gravimetric filling sounds more accurate because it measures what the label declares. On a compact rotary cup line dosing thick product, though, a volumetric cup filler backed by a weight check usually balances speed, accuracy and cost better: the piston doses quickly and consistently, and the weight checker verifies the result.
Get a configured SDH-R quote for your productSend your product, cup size and target cups per minute — we reply within 24 hours.
Request a quoteWhy Pastes and Dips Favor a Volumetric Filler for Paste
The piston in a volumetric cup filler is a positive-displacement device: it pushes product out whether it flows like a loose sauce or holds a peak like firm hummus. Time-pressure and gravity-style fillers depend on flow rate, which is the property that varies most between paste batches.
- Viscosity independence: the same displaced volume whether a batch runs soft or firm.
- Particulates: large-bore valving passes herbs, shredded cucumber and nut pieces.
- Clean cut-off: cut-off and suck-back nozzles stop drips, keeping the flange clean for sealing.
- Gentle handling: a controlled servo motion profile limits shear on emulsions such as aioli.
- Repeatable recipes: stroke and speed settings are stored per SKU on the HMI.
That is why a servo-driven volumetric filler for paste is the base filler in every hummus filling machine and dip filling and sealing machine we configure. Flange contamination is a common cause of weak or leaking membrane seals, so drip-free dosing protects seal integrity, tamper evidence and low residual oxygen in MAP cups.
Checkweigher Feedback Loop on a Volumetric Cup Filler
Since a volumetric cup filler controls volume, the reliable way to control weight is to measure it and feed the result back. The SDH-R can be fitted with a weight checker with feedback loop. A typical sequence runs like this:
- Filled cups are weighed after filling and sealing.
- Each weight is compared with the target stored in the active recipe.
- The running average is tracked, so normal cup-to-cup scatter does not make the filler hunt.
- When the average drifts, for example as a batch warms or releases air, the servo piston stroke is trimmed slightly.
- The average returns to target and the loop continues.
Feedback corrects slow drift; it cannot rescue a cylinder that is not filling because the hopper ran low or the product holds air pockets. It also gives quality teams a weight record for each run, which supports net-quantity checks: US inspectors commonly follow NIST Handbook 133, and in Canada net-quantity declarations on prepackaged food fall under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. Our article on servo-driven filling benefits explains the stroke control behind these corrections.
Fill Accuracy and Give-Away: An Illustrative Example
Every plant sets its target fill above the declared weight to avoid underfilled cups. The wider the variation, the higher the target, and every gram above the label is given away. The example below is illustrative only: the comparison line's variation, the run hours and the product cost are assumptions chosen to show the arithmetic, not results from any plant.
Illustrative example (assumed figures): 8 oz (227 g) cup at 20 CPM
| Item | Hypothetical line at ±3% | Volumetric cup filler at ±0.5% |
|---|---|---|
| Declared net weight | 227 g | 227 g |
| Target fill so the low end of the band meets 227 g | 233.8 g | 228.1 g |
| Average give-away per cup | 6.8 g | 1.1 g |
| Cups per day (20 CPM × 7 hours) | 8,400 | 8,400 |
| Give-away per year (250 production days) | 14.3 t | 2.4 t |
| Cost per year at an assumed $4.00/kg | $57,204 | $9,534 |
Here the tighter volumetric cup filler saves about 5.7 g per cup, roughly 11.9 tonnes of product and $47,700 a year at the assumed cost. Real figures depend on cup size, speed, shift pattern, product cost and how your quality team sets targets from measured standard deviation. Send your numbers through our quote request form and we will run the comparison with you.
Volumetric Cup Filling Machine Configurations on the SDH-R
The SDH-R volumetric cup filler uses the servo piston as its standard base filler inside a complete one-pass cup line: denest, fill, roll-film seal and, if specified, nitrogen flush and lid. Output is up to 30 cups per minute on a dry cycle and 18 to 25 cups per minute in real-world production.
- Fill range: 50-500 g (approx. 2-17 oz) standard at ±0.5%.
- Cups: 4, 8, 10 and 16 oz standard; 2-32 oz custom with matching change parts; round, square or rectangular pre-formed cups.
- Extra fillers: up to three stations in one pass, adding a peristaltic pump for oil, a vibration filler for spice blends or a garnish filler for nuts, seeds and herbs.
- Nozzles: cut-off or suck-back, with large-bore valving for particulates.
- Closing: roll-film membrane seal, pre-die-cut lids, plastic lid pick-and-place or snap-on over-top lids, plus optional nitrogen MAP that reduces residual oxygen to 0.3-0.4%.
- Line options: weight checker with feedback loop, variable data coding, top and side labeling and an extended discharge conveyor.
SKU changeover takes under about 15 minutes: recall the recipe on the HMI and swap cup tooling if the size changes. See our multi-head cup filling machine and MAP cup filler pages for multi-filler and nitrogen-flush layouts.
Hygiene, Allergens and Food-Safety Compliance
A volumetric cup filler has several product-contact parts to clean: hopper, valve, cylinder, piston and nozzle. The SDH-R is built from food-grade 304 stainless steel, with CIP (clean-in-place) and tool-free strip-down for inspection and manual cleaning. The machine is CE marked, UL listed and built with FDA-compliant food-contact materials.
Sesame became the ninth major US food allergen on January 1, 2023 under the FASTER Act, so plants running hummus or tahini beside sesame-free products need a validated cleaning procedure between them. The SDH-R is designed to support plants operating under FDA FSMA Preventive Controls (21 CFR Part 117), HACCP, BRCGS and SQF programs, Canada's Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and EU Regulation (EC) 1935/2004; the machine itself is not certified to those schemes.
When a Volumetric Cup Filler Is Not the Right Fit
A volumetric cup filler on a rotary platform fits many fresh and refrigerated cup products, but not all of them. We would rather say so before you buy.
- High single-SKU volume: for sustained output well above 30 cups per minute on one product, an inline cup filling machine is the better class of equipment.
- Shelf-stable products: the SDH-R is not an aseptic or retort system.
- Frozen products: ice cream and other frozen fills are outside its scope.
- Very small portions: fills below 50 g, such as 1 oz cups, are outside the standard range; 2 oz cups sit at the low end.
- Powder as the main product: the vibration filler doses spice blends as a secondary component only.
- Unusual conditions: the SDH-R fills product at a pumpable temperature; hot fills, viscosity extremes and very large particulates are confirmed with our engineering team before quoting.
How to Specify a Volumetric Cup Filler: Buying Checklist
To quote a volumetric cup filler accurately, gather the following before you contact us:
- Product name and texture: smooth, chunky, oily, aerated or prone to weeping.
- Particulate size, and whether pieces must stay whole.
- Fill temperature and hold time before filling.
- Cup size, shape, material and target fill weight per SKU.
- Target cups per minute and production hours per day.
- Accuracy needs, including whether you want a weight checker with feedback loop.
- Closing method, MAP, lidding, labeling and coding requirements.
Pricing starts from $45,000 USD for the single-filler configuration and scales with additional fillers, MAP, labeling and custom tooling. Delivery is 8 to 12 weeks from order confirmation with a 12-month warranty, backed by our service centres in Alberta, New Jersey and California. Request a volumetric cup filler quote and we will reply within about 24 hours.
Volumetric Cup Filler — Frequently Asked Questions
The SDH-R volumetric cup filler starts from $45,000 USD for the single-filler configuration. Price rises with additional filling stations, nitrogen MAP, lid placement, labeling, custom cup tooling and a weight checker with feedback loop. Our cup filling and sealing machine cost guide explains each cost driver.
The SDH-R volumetric cup filling machine holds ±0.5% fill-weight accuracy with a servo-driven volumetric piston, about ±1.1 g on an 8 oz (227 g) cup. It depends on consistent product density, so control aeration, batch temperature and separation. An optional weight checker with feedback loop trims the piston stroke to correct slow drift.
Volumetric filling doses a fixed volume per cycle, for example with a piston, and relies on consistent density for consistent weight. Gravimetric, or net-weight, filling measures each container's weight with a load cell. On cup lines for thick pastes and dips, volumetric piston dosing is generally faster and simpler; adding a weight checker, as the SDH-R allows, provides weight verification and correction.
If a volumetric cup filler's piston stroke is unchanged, weight changes come from density. Typical causes are air whipped in during blending, a batch warmer or colder than the last, oil separating in tahini or pesto, whey weeping from yogurt dips, uneven particulates, or a hopper too low to fill the cylinder. Fix the product condition first; checkweigher feedback handles the remaining drift.
The SDH-R volumetric cup filler runs at up to 30 cups per minute on a dry cycle and 18 to 25 in real-world production. It fills 50 g to 500 g (approximately 2 oz to 17 oz) as standard at ±0.5% accuracy, in 4, 8, 10 and 16 oz cups, with custom 2 oz to 32 oz sizes on matching change parts. Fills below 50 g, such as 1 oz cups, are outside the standard range.
Yes, within limits. The SDH-R volumetric piston filler can use large-bore valving that passes herbs, shredded cucumber and nut pieces, and suck-back nozzles keep the cup flange clean for sealing. Larger toppings are often better dosed by the optional garnish filler as a second or third station. Very large or unusual inclusions are confirmed with our engineering team before quoting.
The SDH-R volumetric cup filler is built from food-grade 304 stainless steel and supports CIP (clean-in-place) plus tool-free strip-down for inspection and manual cleaning. SKU changeover takes under about 15 minutes with HMI recipe recall. For allergens such as sesame, a major US food allergen since January 1, 2023, plants should validate cleaning under their HACCP or FSMA Preventive Controls plan.
The SDH-R volumetric cup filling, sealing and lidding machine is built in Calgary, Alberta, with delivery 8 to 12 weeks from order confirmation and a 12-month warranty. Service comes from our Alberta, New Jersey and California service centres. Send your product, cup size, target cups per minute and options through our contact page; we reply within about 24 hours.
Related machines & guides
Explore the pages most relevant to this application.
Why producers buy from Hummus Pack
Ready to Quote Your Volumetric Cup Filler?
Get a personalized SDH-R configuration and price for your product, cup sizes, and production volume.