Unplanned filler downtime rarely starts with a dramatic failure. It usually starts with a worn seal, a dry bearing or a cam follower that was due weeks ago. A simple, consistent preventive maintenance program catches those issues while they are cheap to fix.
This is a general starting point. Always follow your machine's manual and your plant's safety procedures, including lockout/tagout, and adjust intervals to your hours and products.
Every shift or daily
- Clean and sanitize per your CIP procedure, and confirm the cycle completed.
- Check fill heights across all valves and note any outliers.
- Look for product, air and CO2 leaks at valves, piping and the rotary union.
- Lubricate points that require daily lubrication.
- Confirm guards, doors and safety switches work.
Weekly
- Inspect sealing rubbers and vent tubes; replace damaged ones.
- Check centering bells and bottle pads for wear.
- Watch lift cylinder operation for uneven lift or sticking.
- Inspect starwheels, guides and wear strips.
Monthly
- Inspect snift components, valve springs and cam followers.
- Check drive belts or chains for tension and wear.
- Verify gauges and regulators read correctly.
- Review fill-height and downtime records for trends.
Every six months
- Replace valve seals on a planned schedule rather than as they fail.
- Service rotary union seals and level control diaphragms.
- Inspect gearboxes and check oil condition.
Annually
- Inspect the main bearing and consider grease sampling to catch wear early.
- Check alignment and timing between starwheels, the filler and the closer.
- Inspect drive gears and shafts.
- Schedule a full machine audit and update your spares list.
Make it stick
Keep the checklist at the machine, record what was found and replaced, and review it monthly. Trends in fill heights and parts usage tell you what is about to fail.
World Packaging can audit your filler, recommend a spares list, and train your operators and maintenance crew. Most wear parts ship from our Meyer filler parts inventory the same day.