What to Inspect Before You Pay the Balance

The FAT Checklist

Used-Machine Risk Tiers

• Tier A — cosmetic-industry trade-ins, low hours: typically 40–60% of new price, sound bores, full history. Rational buy with a seal kit and a proper FAT.
• Tier B — abrasive or corrosive service ( sauces, chemicals): bores and valves worn even at moderate hours; budget a full wetted-parts rebuild or walk away.
• Tier C — no history, ex-auction: assume rebuild; price it accordingly or skip. The cheapest machine in this tier is often scrap with a paint job.

A Tier B machine at "half price" that needs a rebuild equals a new machine's cost with a used machine's documentation gaps — run the arithmetic before the deposit.

Field Data: A Peruvian Cosmetics Purchase

A Lima cosmetics maker bought a 6-head piston filler, advertised as "Tier A, 2 years, cream service," at 52% of new price. The broker's photos were clean. We ran a pre-purchase inspection with the FAT checklist above: bores within tolerance, but two check valves weeped under vacuum test, the seal stack was original (hardened), and no 316L certificates existed for two replaced wetted parts.

Result of negotiating with facts rather than photos:

The inspection cost $600; the re-negotiation saved $9k and delivered a machine that started production the week it landed.

Water demos flatter piston fillers: Water is the friendliest product a piston filler will ever meet. A machine that can only be demoed on water, on your request of your cream, is telling you something.

Where Buyers Get It Wrong

• Paying the balance before FAT. The FAT is your only bargaining power; after payment, defects become warranty conversations.
• Trusting "low hours" claims. Hours are unverifiable; bores, seals and valve seats are measurable. Measure.
• No spares in the deal. New or used, ship a full seal kit and one valve set — lead times on parts exceed commissioning windows.

Compliance by Region

European Union

CE machinery, 316L wetted parts with certificates, EHEDG-adjacent cleanability for cosmetics/pharma, EC 1223/2009 context for cosmetics GMP (ISO 22716-aligned).

United States

FDA 21 CFR for pharma/cosmetics contact materials, cGMP records, UL electrical; MoCRA context for cosmetics facilities.

Southeast Asia

Halal for consumables; humidity corrodes unproven "stainless" parts — certificates matter more, not less, on used machines.

Middle East

GCC/SASO conformity; Gulf buyers importing used equipment should confirm conformity documentation transfers or plan re-certification cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a used piston filler a good buy?

Tier A with a written FAT: yes, 40–55% of new with 90% of the life. Tier B/C: only if you price the rebuild honestly.

What must run at FAT?

Your product, 30 consecutive fills, computed CV, plus a 30-minute continuous cycle at rated speed. Water alone is not a FAT.

Which spare parts matter most?

Full seal kit, one complete valve assembly, O-rings and gaskets per product contact — items with long lead times that stop the whole line.

How do I verify 316L claims?

Mill certificates or a PMI (positive material identification) test — verbal assurances fail audits and corrode in service.

Written by Helen Xu | Chief Industrial Application Engineer

Helen Xu is a Chief Industrial Application Engineer with 9 years of specialized experience in packaging machinery and liquid filling machine design, equipment model selection, and full production line process optimization. He focuses on delivering customized packaging & filling solutions for pharmaceutical, food, and chemical manufacturing industries, with mature practical expertise in GMP compliance, ISO 9001 quality management standards, and turnkey large-scale filling & packaging production line integration.