{"id":10859,"date":"2026-09-17T14:56:48","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T12:56:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mom-packaging.com\/?p=10859"},"modified":"2026-09-17T14:56:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T12:56:48","slug":"bleach-filling-machine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mom-packaging.com\/en\/bleach-filling-machine\/","title":{"rendered":"Bleach filling machine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why does bleach filling present specific constraints?<\/h2>\n

Bleach is a corrosive, highly alkaline, and chemically unstable product. These three combined properties impose very specific requirements on filling equipment.<\/p>\n

Chlorine corrosiveness on materials<\/h3>\n

Chlorine is one of the main enemies of stainless steel. It causes pitting corrosion that progressively degrades product-contact surfaces. But the constraint does not stop at direct-contact parts: chlorine vapours<\/strong> released during filling also attack all unprotected metal parts near the machine (fasteners, bolts, frame). A machine built in standard stainless steel degrades rapidly in this environment.<\/p>\n

High alkalinity<\/h3>\n

Bleach is a highly alkaline product (high pH). This alkalinity contributes to material degradation and requires careful gasket selection. Certain common elastomer materials do not withstand strongly alkaline products.<\/p>\n

Chemical instability<\/h3>\n

Active chlorine degrades over time, with heat, and with light exposure. Active chlorine concentration decreases after manufacture, which imposes short shelf lives<\/strong> on concentrated products (2 to 3 months for 9.6% refill pouches). Filling speed is therefore a direct economic issue: the faster the product is filled after manufacture, the longer its shelf life.<\/p>\n

Vapours and operator safety<\/h3>\n

Chlorine vapours released during filling are toxic to operators and corrosive to surrounding equipment. Adequate ventilation of the production area is mandatory. A drip tray under the machine is essential to contain any accidental spill and protect floors, operators, and the environment.<\/p>\n

Foaming tendency<\/h3>\n

Some bleach formulations include surfactants (bleach + detergent). These products generate foam during filling. A spout nozzle<\/a> is then essential to prevent contamination of the bottle neck and thread.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What types of chlorinated products are there, and what are their filling constraints?<\/h2>\n

The range of chlorinated products to fill is wide. Each format and each concentration places specific demands on the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Format<\/th>\nConcentration<\/th>\nSector<\/th>\nPackaging<\/th>\nMachine constraint<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Ready-to-use bleach<\/td>\n2.6% active chlorine (\u2248 9\u00b0chl)<\/td>\nConsumer, public services<\/td>\nRigid PET bottle 1 to 2 L, child-safety cap<\/td>\nHigh throughput, legal metrology, anti-drip nozzle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Concentrated refill pouch<\/td>\n9.6% active chlorine (\u2248 36\u00b0chl)<\/td>\nConsumer<\/td>\nFlexible pouch 250 mL<\/td>\nFlexible packaging filling, high corrosivity, short shelf life<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Professional bleach extract<\/td>\n14\u201315% active chlorine (\u2248 48\u00b0chl)<\/td>\nIndustry, public services, swimming pools<\/td>\nHDPE jerrycan 5 to 25 L<\/td>\nLarge doses, weight-based dosing mandatory, reinforced drip tray<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hospital-grade solution<\/td>\n\u2248 3.8% active chlorine (12\u00b0chl)<\/td>\nHealthcare, laboratories<\/td>\nDedicated bottles<\/td>\nBatch traceability, weight-based accuracy, IQ\/OQ qualifications<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scented bleach \/ with surfactants<\/td>\nVariable<\/td>\nConsumer<\/td>\nPET bottle 1 to 2 L<\/td>\nFoaming: spout nozzle essential<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Which materials for a bleach filling machine?<\/h2>\n

This is the most important technical decision. A bleach filling machine cannot be built like a standard stainless steel machine.<\/p>\n

PVC for product-contact parts<\/h3>\n

Parts in direct contact with bleach are built in PVC<\/strong>. This material withstands the corrosivity of chlorine and alkaline products. Tanks have cone-bottom design to eliminate product retention zones.<\/p>\n

Epoxy treatment for metal parts<\/h3>\n

Where certain parts must be metallic for mechanical reasons, they receive an epoxy paint<\/strong> treatment to protect them from chlorine vapours.<\/p>\n

Protected fasteners or inert material screws<\/h3>\n

Fasteners are protected with plastic caps<\/strong> or replaced with screws made from inert materials such as PEEK<\/strong>. Without this precaution, fasteners corrode rapidly under vapour exposure, even without direct contact with the product.<\/p>\n

Drip tray<\/h3>\n

A drip tray<\/strong> under the machine is essential. It protects operators, floors, and the environment in the event of accidental spillage. It is also required by regulations for corrosive and hazardous products.<\/p>\n

Opaque plastic packaging only<\/h3>\n

Bleach is never filled into transparent glass or stainless steel containers. Packaging is in PET, HDPE or PVC<\/strong>, opaque to protect active chlorine from light-induced degradation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Which dosing technology to choose?<\/h2>\n

Weight-based dosing<\/h3>\n

Recommended as a first choice. Bleach density varies with its active chlorine concentration (from 1.07 to 1.22 depending on the formulation). A volumetric system calibrated for one concentration will deliver an incorrect net mass if the concentration changes. Weight-based dosing measures mass directly, regardless of density. MOM weight-based fillers can operate under legal metrology<\/a>, with a wide dosing range thanks to load cell technology.<\/p>\n

Volumetric dosing<\/h3>\n

Viable for formulations with a perfectly stable and controlled density. Less robust than weight-based dosing as soon as active chlorine concentration varies from one batch to another.<\/p>\n

Spout nozzle for foaming formulations<\/h3>\n

For bleach products with surfactants or foaming formulations, a spout nozzle<\/a> is essential. It converts turbulent flow into laminar flow, prevents foam formation inside the packaging, and eliminates drips at the end of dosing, without diving into the bottle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Which filling machine to choose based on throughput?<\/h2>\n

More than 14,000 units \/ day<\/h3>\n

A high-speed automatic filling line<\/strong> in PVC is the right choice. These lines incorporate clean-in-place (CIP), essential for limiting downtime linked to cleaning circuits in contact with bleach. Real-time production data collection enables batch-by-batch tracking.<\/p>\n

Between 4,000 and 14,000 units \/ day<\/h3>\n

A filling-capping monobloc<\/strong> in PVC or epoxy-treated, combined with a labeller. Format changeovers are fast and tool-free, which limits operator exposure time during interventions on the machine.<\/p>\n

Between 3,000 and 6,000 units \/ day<\/h3>\n

Two solutions are possible depending on the formats to be filled:<\/p>\n