Energy Gel & Liquid Vitamin Packaging Line

Eradicating seal contamination, overcoming thick fluid dynamics, and reducing CIP washdown times for a premier European sports nutrition brand

Project Details

Client:

Sports Nutrition Manufacturer

Sector

Sports Gels, Liquid Supplements & Syrups

Format

Easy-Tear Liquid Stick Packs & Spouted Pouches

Tags:

CE Marked,EHEDG Guidelines

Date Deployed

June 2025

Budget:

$795,00+

Location:

Munich, Germany

EIXPACK pharmaceutical gel stick pack packaging machine featuring sanitary 316L stainless steel dosing system

The Challenge

The client was manufacturing highly concentrated, ultra-viscous carbohydrate energy gels and liquid vitamins. Their generic liquid packaging line was creating a sanitation and profitability nightmare:

  • Catastrophic Seal Contamination : The thick gels “stringed” and dripped from the nozzles after the fill cycle, contaminating the horizontal sealing jaws. This led to sticky, failed seals, causing severe leakage during shipping and destroying retail boxes. 

  • Inconsistent Dosing Under Pressure : Viscosity changes due to ambient temperature shifts caused pneumatic pumps to over-fill or under-fill pouches, resulting in massive product giveaway and non-compliant labeling. 

  • CIP Washdown Nightmares : Sticky gel residue required maintenance crews to dismantle the entire fluid path with tools, taking over 3 hours for a complete sanitary washdown between flavor changeovers. 

Target KPIs & Project Objectives

Before deployment to Munich, the line was subjected to a rigorous FAT using the client’s actual viscous formulas, targeting the following non-negotiable metrics:

The EIXPACK Solution

EIXPACK engineered an IP65-rated, heavy-duty liquid packaging architecture specifically optimized for high-viscosity fluid dynamics and European sanitary mandates.

Proprietary Anti-Drip Diving Nozzles

We replaced standard valves with a servo-driven diving nozzle system equipped with a positive mechanical shut-off. The nozzle dives deep into the pouch and rises exactly in sync with the fluid level, snapping shut instantly. Zero stringing. Zero drips.

Complex servo-driven multilane auger dosing system for high-speed powder packaging
Automatic high-speed filling machine with servo auger dosing by EIXPACK.

Servo-Driven Ceramic Piston Pumps

Eradicating pneumatic inconsistencies, each lane is powered by independent servo-piston pumps. The master PLC pushes thick gels with absolute force, ignoring viscosity fluctuations and locking in ±0.1g volumetric accuracy.

Tool-Less IP65 CIP Architecture

The entire fluid delivery path features sanitary tri-clamp connections and self-draining angles. Operators can flush the system or strip the contact parts by hand in minutes, reducing contamination risks.

EIXPACK pharmaceutical gel stick pack packaging machine featuring sanitary 316L stainless steel dosing system
Plant manager and EIXPACK engineer reviewing packaging machine performance in a cGMP facility

ROI & Operational Results

Operational data from the first six months of production demonstrated massive efficiency gains and brand protection: 

  • Spoilage Claims Eliminated: The anti-drip system achieved 0% seal contamination, completely eradicating costly retailer chargebacks due to sticky, leaking boxes. 

  • Labor Overhead Slashed: Reducing the sanitation teardown time saved the facility an estimated 250+ labor hours per quarter.

  • Precision Profitability: Eliminating high-value product giveaway directly added an estimated €42,000 back to the bottom line annually. 

Frequently Asked Questions on Energy Gel & Liquid Packaging

Thick liquids are prone to "stringing." EIXPACK neutralizes this via proprietary diving nozzles with positive mechanical shut-off valves. The nozzles lower directly into the pouch and rise in perfect sync with the fluid fill level. At the exact millisecond the dose is complete, the internal valve snaps shut, mechanically cutting the fluid stream and ensuring a 0% drip rate. The seal zone remains perfectly clean.

Yes. Generic pneumatic pumps struggle to push high-viscosity gels, leading to short-fills and slow cycle times. EIXPACK utilizes robust servo-driven ceramic piston pumps. The servo motors generate massive, highly controlled torque, pushing thick liquids effortlessly while maintaining a micro-tolerance dosing precision of ±0.1g, regardless of temperature-induced viscosity changes.

We engineer our machines to minimize labor-intensive downtime. The EIXPACK liquid filling system is built on an IP65 sanitary washdown architecture. All fluid paths utilize polished 316L stainless steel, self-draining geometries, and quick-release sanitary tri-clamps. This allows operators to execute complete Clean-In-Place (CIP) flushing or fully dismantle the contact parts by hand in under 30 minutes.

Absolutely. EIXPACK systems are strictly designed in accordance with EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group) guidelines and FDA cGMP standards. We eliminate dead corners where bacteria can harbor, utilize food-grade and pharma-grade seals (like Viton and PTFE), and provide complete material traceability (MTR) to pass the most rigorous global facility audits.

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