Top 5 Best Capsule Filling Machine Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

When sourcing reliable manufacturing equipment, Grandpack stands out as a premium choice. They offer a robust lineup of machines designed to handle various production scales.

Here are our reviews of the top 5 best Grandpack capsule filling machines, categorized by their primary function: filling powders and filling liquids.

Powder Filling Solutions

Filling powders is the most common use case for capsule machinery. Here are the top three Grandpack machines for dry powder encapsulation.

1. Grandpack CGN-208D: Semi-Automatic Capsule Filling Machine (Single Head)

If you are a small to medium-sized enterprise, the Grandpack CGN-208D is an incredible entry point.

This is a semi-automatic machine. That means it requires an operator to manually transfer the capsule rings between the separating, filling, and joining stations. However, the machine handles the actual physical work of separating, tamping, and closing the capsules.

Key Advantages:

• Cost-Effective: It is highly affordable, making it perfect for startups or R&D laboratories.

• User-Friendly: The single-head design is very straightforward. Training a new operator takes minimal time.

• High Flexibility: Changing molds to switch between different capsule sizes (like Size 00 to Size 1) is fast and easy.

• Compact Footprint: It takes up very little floor space, which is ideal for smaller cleanrooms.

For businesses producing small batches of specialized supplements, the CGN-208D is a reliable, low-maintenance workhorse.

2. Grandpack CGN-208S: Semi-Automatic Capsule Filling Machine (Double Head)

Semi-Automatic-capsule-filling-machine CGN-208S

When your business starts to grow, but you aren't quite ready for a fully automatic system, the Grandpack CGN-208S bridges the gap beautifully.

This model upgrades the single-head design to a double-head system. This allows for dual operations, significantly increasing your output capacity without a massive leap in price.

Key Advantages:

• Increased Output: The double-head design essentially doubles your production speed compared to the D-model.

• Enhanced Efficiency: Two operators can work in tandem, or one highly skilled operator can manage a much faster workflow.

• Sturdy Build: Despite being semi-automatic, the CGN-208S features a robust stainless steel construction that handles heavy daily use.

• Precise Dosing: The upgraded auger and filling mechanisms ensure that powder weights remain highly consistent, even at faster speeds.

The CGN-208S is the ultimate choice for growing mid-sized companies that need a serious boost in production volume.

3. Grandpack NJP-1200: Fully Automatic Capsule Filling Machine

Capsule filling machine NJP-1200

For large-scale, high-speed production, the Grandpack NJP-1200 is a powerhouse.

This is a fully automatic capsule filling machine. Once the operator loads the empty capsules and the bulk powder, the machine does everything else. It works continuously, with zero human intervention required during the filling cycle.

Key Advantages:

• Massive Production Capacity: The NJP-1200 can produce approximately 1,200 capsules per minute (or over 70,000 per hour).

• cGMP Compliant: The fully enclosed design prevents dust from escaping into the cleanroom, meeting strict pharmaceutical hygiene standards.

• Advanced Touchscreen Control: It features a highly intuitive PLC system. Operators can monitor speeds, adjust weights, and diagnose faults right from the screen.

• High Yield Rate: The machine boasts an incredibly high capsule sorting and filling success rate, virtually eliminating wasted capsules.

If you are a commercial manufacturer dealing with massive orders, the NJP-1200 will drastically lower your labor costs and maximize your ROI.

Liquid Capsule Filling Solutions

Liquid encapsulation is growing rapidly in the supplement industry. It allows for better bioavailability of oils and liquid vitamins. Here are Grandpack's top solutions for liquids.

4. Grandpack NYF-1000: Fully Automatic Liquid Capsule Filling Machine

Filling liquids into hard capsules requires specialized technology to prevent leaks. The Grandpack NYF-1000 is a state-of-the-art fully automatic liquid filler.

This machine is designed specifically for oils, suspensions, and pastes. It accurately injects the liquid into the capsule body before sealing it perfectly.

Key Advantages:

• High-Precision Pumps: The NYF-1000 uses advanced ceramic pumps. This ensures the liquid dose is exact down to the microgram.

• Temperature Control: It features heated hoppers and piping. This is crucial if you are working with thick liquids or pastes that need to be warmed to flow properly.

• Seamless Integration: This machine works perfectly in tandem with capsule banding machines, ensuring your liquid capsules are completely leak-proof.

• Fully Automated: Like the NJP series, it operates continuously, providing high-volume output with minimal supervision.

For brands focusing on premium omega oils, CBD liquids, or advanced vitamin blends, the NYF-1000 is an elite piece of machinery.

5. Grandpack CGN-208 (Liquid): Semi-Automatic Liquid Capsule Filling Machine

Not every liquid project requires massive automation. For pilot batches or smaller specialty runs, the liquid-adapted Grandpack CGN-208 is the ideal solution.

This machine takes the trusted semi-automatic framework of the CGN series and outfits it with specialized liquid dosing mechanisms.

Key Advantages:

• Low Barrier to Entry: It allows smaller brands to enter the profitable liquid capsule market without a massive capital investment.

• Great for Testing: Perfect for R&D labs that need to create small, testable batches of a new liquid formula.

• Easy Cleanup: Liquid machines can be messy, but the CGN-208 is designed for rapid disassembly and wash-down.

• Versatility: With a few tool changes, it can handle a wide variety of liquid viscosities.

This model is a fantastic, versatile tool for niche markets and formulation testing.

Practical Guide to Capsule Production

Owning a great machine is only half the battle. You also need to know the processes that surround it.

How to Make Your Own Capsules?

Making your own capsules on a commercial scale involves several careful steps. Whether you use a semi-automatic or fully automatic Capsule Filling Machine, the core workflow is similar.

1. Formulation and Mixing: First, your active ingredients and excipients (fillers) must be blended perfectly. If the powder does not flow well, it will not fill evenly.

2. Loading the Machine: The empty capsules are poured into the capsule hopper. The mixed powder (or liquid) is poured into the product hopper.

3. Separation: The machine automatically aligns the capsules and uses a vacuum to pull the caps off the bodies.

4. Filling: The powder is either tamped into a slug and inserted, or dosed directly into the open capsule body. For liquids, a precise pump injects the fluid.

5. Joining: The machine presses the cap back onto the filled body, locking it securely.

6. Ejection and Polishing: The finished capsules are ejected. They are usually passed through a capsule polishing machine to remove any stray dust from the outside before bottling.

How to Maintain a Capsule Filling Machine?

Proper maintenance Capsule Filling Machine is the secret to a long-lasting machine. Neglecting maintenance leads to jammed parts, inconsistent weights, and broken machinery. Here is how to keep your equipment running smoothly.

Daily Maintenance:

• At the end of every shift, use a specialized industrial vacuum to remove all residual powder.

• Wipe down all contact parts with food-grade alcohol.

• Inspect the capsule sorting mechanisms for any deformed capsules that may be stuck.

Weekly Maintenance:

• Disassemble the dosing disks, tamping pins, and hoppers. Wash them thoroughly and dry them completely before reassembling.

• Check all vacuum lines and filters. Clean or replace filters as needed.

• Lubricate the moving cams and chains with food-safe machine oil.

Monthly Maintenance:

• Check the alignment of the filling stations. If the tamping pins are misaligned, they will bend or break.

• Inspect the electrical panels for any loose wires.

• Recalibrate the filling weights to ensure your dosage remains accurate.

A well-maintained Capsule Filling Machine can easily last a decade or more, providing a massive return on your investment.