Tube Filling Machines: Fill, Seal and Crimp Tubes

Mactec builds Made-in-USA tube filling machines on the compact MTMB24 rotary monoblock. Tubes are filled with a liquid or dry product, then closed by sealing, crimping or tip insertion, with printing in line, on one platform built at our New Jersey headquarters.

Replacing a manual tube filling and sealing process

Many small-batch, clinical and R&D operations still fill, seal and code tubes by hand. A tube filling and sealing machine brings those steps together on one rotary platform, so each tube is filled, closed and coded the same way. Mactec is currently engineering automated tube filling, sealing and coding to replace manual processes in clinical manufacturing; see custom packaging machines.

What the MTMB24 does for tubes

• Manual or automatic tube loading
• Liquid or dry-product filling
• Application-specific closing: sealing, tube crimping or tip insertion
• Printing, such as lot numbers and expiration dates, with optional labeling
• A listed cycle rate of 10–15 cycles per minute, depending on product size and fill

The same MTMB24 platform also runs vials, cups and small bottles. Compare it with the MTMB60 on the MTMB24 model page, which includes a tube application video, and see all monoblock filling machines.

Which closure does your tube need?

Sealing, crimping and tip insertion are not interchangeable. The closing station is matched to the actual tube and closure you plan to run, so define it with your own tubes rather than from a catalog description. If you run more than one tube or closure, tell us, because one configuration should not be assumed to handle every format.

What to send us for a tube filling quote

• Tube samples or drawings, with the tube size and material
• The fill product, the fill amount, and how the product behaves during filling
• The sealing, crimping or tip-insertion method you need
• Lot, expiration or other coding requirements
• Whether tubes will be loaded by hand or need automatic feeding
• Your target output and timeline

The packaging equipment RFQ checklist and how a Mactec project works explain each step, from samples to factory acceptance testing.

Tube filling machine specifications

Both Mactec tube filling machines are rotary monoblocks: the MTMB24 fills, seals or crimps one tube per index on a compact 914 mm frame; the MTMB60 is the larger platform with four containers per index. The values below are the ones published on each model page.

Published specifications, from the model pages

Specification	MTMB24	MTMB60
Machine footprint	914 mm square frame	72-inch square frame
Rotary table	Turret diameter 813 mm	Fill table 1524 mm diameter
Containers per index	One	Four cups per index
Index tolerance	High-precision indexing, ±0.003 inch	High-precision indexing, ±0.003 inch
Machine speed	10–15 cycles per minute, depending on product size and fill	15–25 cycles per minute, depending on product size and fill
Electrical requirements	110 VAC at 10 amps	220 VAC at 40 amps
Air consumption	8–14 CFM based on 20 cycles per minute	20–30 CFM

Specifications are application-dependent and must be confirmed in Mactec’s proposal.

MTMB24 model pageMTMB60 model pageMTMB24 spec sheet (PDF)MTMB60 spec sheet (PDF)

MTMB24 Rotary Tube Filler and SealerPlay video · 2:07

Questions about tube filling machines

Can one machine fill both liquids and powders?

The MTMB24 is offered with liquid or dry-product filling. The filling equipment is matched to your product, so tell us every product you plan to run.

Can it print lot numbers and expiration dates on the tube?

Yes. Printing is available on the MTMB24, and the printer type depends on the tube and what must be printed.

Do we need automatic tube loading?

Not always. The MTMB24 is offered with manual or automatic loading. Some projects start with manual loading and add automation later; your proposal states which is included.

How fast is it?

The MTMB24 has a listed rate of 10–15 cycles per minute, depending on product size and fill. Actual output depends on your tube, product and configuration.

Can Mactec support validation?

Yes. Customers can witness factory acceptance testing at Mactec, and we provide validation documentation support, including IQ/OQ protocol support, along with operator and maintenance training.