Customer Questions, Expert Answers
Welcome to our FAQ page, where we address your most common questions about ATG Pharma’s automation solutions. Whether you’re exploring our products or need support, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
What products and containers can the RoboCAP fill?
The RoboCAP fills virtually any flowable product into virtually any container. Across its interchangeable nozzle systems, fill volumes run from 0.1 mL to 300 mL at ±0.3% to ±4% accuracy, using trays built for your exact container.
Products the RoboCAP fills today
- Tinctures and beverages
- Lotions, creams, balms, and salves
- Distillates, oils, and thin liquids
- Liquid-filled hard capsules (gelatin or HPMC)
Containers it Fills Into:
- Cartridges and pens (via 50Bloc, 100Bloc, and MonoBlox trays)
- Bottles, vials, and tincture bottles
- Jars and tins
- Capsules, sizes 00 through 4
- Suppositories
- Syringes
- Custom-moulded trays made specifically for your container
Which nozzle handles which job
Nozzle system | Fill range | Accuracy | Throughput | Best for |
Volumetric Filler (VF+) | 0.1 – 2 mL | ±1.0 to ±2.5% | — | Cartridges, small precise doses |
TDK | 0.1 – 2 mL | ±0.3% to ±1% | — | Highest-accuracy small fills |
Volumetric Filler Deluxe | 2.0 – 8.2 mL | ±1.0 to ±2.5% | Up to 4,800/hr | Volumes between 2 and 8 mL |
LabF6 Peristaltic | 0.75 – 10 mL | ±0.7 – 1.3% | 1,500 – 3,200/hr | Small-volume liquids, high speed |
Peristaltic Pump | 10 – 100 mL | ±0.5 – 4% | 250 – 1,000/hr | Bottles and larger liquid fills |
Dispensing Needle Valve | 0.3 – 120 mL | Varies | — | Wide-range general dispensing |
Cream Depositor | 30 – 300 mL | ±1 – 3% | 800 – 2,000/hr | Lotions and flowable creams |
Can the RoboCAP fill thick or viscous products?
Yes.
Heated options are available on most nozzle systems, up to 60°C on peristaltic pumps, 85°C on the TDK, and 100°C on the Volumetric Filler Deluxe, Volumetric Filler+, and Dispensing Needle Valve.
A heated jacket for the pressure vessel and heated stretch coils, with individual temperature controllers, keep viscous products flowing.
Products with honey-like viscosity typically run at 20–35 psi vessel pressure. The Cream Depositor is rated for flowable creams up to 5,000 cps.
Can I switch between different products on the same machine?
Yes.
Nozzle systems are fully interchangeable. You can move between pressure-based and pump-based systems on the same RoboCAP as your product mix changes, and trays are swapped to match the container. Customers regularly run cartridges in the morning and bottles or capsules in the afternoon.
What if my product isn’t on this list?
ATG Pharma offers custom product testing before purchase. Send us a sample and we’ll run it on the machine and share the results, so you know your fill volume, accuracy, and throughput before you commit.
Equipment is manufactured in Canada and built to GMP, Health Canada, FDA and EU-compliant standards.
Have a product you’d like tested? Book a Discovery Call
How many units per hour can one RoboCAP fill?
One RoboCAP fills 1,000 to 4,000 units per hour depending on nozzle configuration and product viscosity. Because nozzle systems and trays are interchangeable, the same machine can fill cartridges on one shift and bottles, capsules or creams on the next.
How many units per hour can one RoboCAP fill?
Throughput depends on which nozzle system is fitted and how many nozzles are installed:
Nozzle system | Per-nozzle rate | With 4 nozzles | Typical use |
LabF6 Peristaltic | 1,500 – 3,200 / hr | Scales with nozzle count | Small-volume liquids |
Volumetric Filler Deluxe | Up to 1,500 / hr | Up to 4,800 / hr | Liquid volumes from 2 to 8 mL |
Cream Depositor | 800 – 2,000 / hr | N/A | Lotions and flowable creams |
Peristaltic Pump | 250 – 1,000 / hr | Scales with nozzle count | Bottles, larger liquid fills |
Thinner products run faster. Thick or heated products run slower because each dispense cycle takes longer.
How many units per shift or per day?
An eight-hour shift produces roughly 8,000 to 30,000 units. Actual daily output depends on product viscosity, fill volume, changeover time between runs, and cleaning cycles.
As a practical reference point, one customer reports filling and capping 2,000 cartridges per hour with a single operator using a RoboCAP paired with a Monopress capper.
How many units fit on a tray?
The robot is programmed to run two full trays per cycle before an operator needs to reload:
- 50Bloc tray — 50 units per tray, 100 units per two-tray cycle
- 100Bloc tray — 100 units per tray, 200 units per two-tray cycle
- MonoBlox — 16 units per unit, with up to four MonoBlox units run in sequence
- Custom-moulded trays — built to match your specific container
How many different products can I run on one machine?
There is no fixed limit. Most customers run several product lines on a single unit rather than buying a machine per SKU — one customer added four additional cartridge products to their lineup after introducing the automated filler, without adding a second machine.
How many nozzles can I add?
Up to four. A RoboCAP can be configured as a two-nozzle system with heating and mixing capabilities, or a four-nozzle system without heating. Nozzles are added using product splitters, and the Volumetric Filler Deluxe is compatible with any robot size.
Unsure what your range needs? ATG Pharma will run your products before you buy and tell you exactly what throughput to expect. Book a Discovery Call
Do I need more than one RoboCAP?
For most producers, yes, start with one. A single RoboCAP is built to be upgraded rather than replaced. Nozzles can be added to an existing system, and swapping nozzle systems and trays lets one unit run several different product lines. Most growing producers expand the machine they have before they buy a second one.
What can one RoboCAP handle before I need more?
A single machine, with different options, can cover a wide production range of fill rates from 1,000 to 4,000 units per hour depending on the configuration, and a filling system can be scaled up to four nozzles. As a real reference point, one customer runs a single-nozzle RoboCAP RL-300 at 720 cartridges per hour at a 0.5 g fill.
That same customer moved to a second nozzle on their existing robot rather than buying a second unit, and projected roughly a 200% increase in production from the upgrade alone.
What is the upgrade path on a machine I already own?
Step | What changes | When it makes sense |
One nozzle | Starting configuration on most machines. | New production lines, single product, proving out demand. |
Two nozzles | Adds a second dispense head, with heating and mixing available. | Output has become the bottleneck and demand is steady. |
Four nozzles | Maximum configuration, without heating. | High-volume runs of a room-temperature product. |
New nozzle system | Swap between pump-based and pressure-based dispensing. | Adding a product type the current nozzle cannot handle. |
New tray | Custom-fabricated for a different container. | Adding a new container format to the same product line. |
Nozzle upgrades fit both new and existing machines, so a single-nozzle unit bought today can be expanded later.
When does a second RoboCAP make sense?
There are four situations where a second machine is the right call rather than an upgrade:
- You have scaled to four nozzles, and output is still the constraint.
- You need to run two product types at the same time rather than in sequence — for example, a heated product and a room-temperature one on the same shift.
- Changeover between products is eating into production time often enough to justify a dedicated machine per line. A quick-changeover kit can reduce that time first.
- You need redundancy, so that scheduled maintenance on one machine does not halt production.
Outside those cases, adding nozzles to the machine you own is usually the better value.
Will one machine still fit if my production grows?
Yes. Customers commonly scale output on a single unit while keeping a small bench footprint. When a second machine does become the right move, the trays, nozzles and operator training you already have all transfer to it.
How do I know which configuration I need?
ATG Pharma will run your product and fill volume before you buy and tell you what throughput to expect from each configuration. That way you are choosing between a one-nozzle and a two-nozzle machine based on your real numbers rather than an estimate.
Not sure which configuration fits? Book a Discovery Call or Build & Price
What training and support are included with ATG Pharma equipment?
Every ATG Pharma system includes a complimentary setup video call, an illustrated user manual, instructional videos, and ongoing access to technical support and our 24/7 AI Support Agent. Optional in-facility training and written SOPs are available if you want hands-on instruction at your own site.
What training comes with the machine?
What you get | What it covers | Cost |
Setup video call | Getting the machine installed, connected, and running your first product with an ATG technician on the call. | Included |
User manual | Illustrated, module-by-module: setup, connections, calibration, programming, cleaning, maintenance, troubleshooting, and warranty. | Included |
AI Support Agent | On-demand troubleshooting through the support agent on our website, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. | Included |
Technical support | Video calls with the support team for questions and troubleshooting after setup. | Included |
Instructional videos | Segmented by task, for use as a refresher or for re-training staff. Links are accessed through the AI Support Agent or by request. | Included |
In-facility training | An ATG trainer at your site covering product changeover, system calibration, operations, cleaning, and maintenance. | Optional add-on |
SOPs | Written procedures your operators can follow on the floor. | Optional add-on |
What is in the user manual?
The manual is written for operators, not engineers. Every nozzle and module on your machine gets its own chapter, and each chapter follows the same structure:
- Data sheet: specifications, fill range, accuracy, and wetted materials.
- Parts: labelled diagrams with part numbers for reordering.
- Setup and operation: electrical connections, pneumatic connections, and calibration.
- Cleaning: step-by-step disassembly and cleaning procedure.
- Maintenance: what to check for and how often.
- Troubleshooting: plain-language answers to the problems operators encounter.
A separate programming chapter walks you through the teach pendant, tray programming for 50Bloc, 100Bloc, and MonoBlox formats, and how to set dispense and tail times for your product.
Do I need a technical operator to run it?
No.
The machines are designed to be run by production staff, not engineers. Customers consistently describe the setup as straightforward and the maintenance as minimal, and many run full production with a single operator where they previously needed two or more.
How do I get help after setup?
Three routes, depending on how urgent it is:
- The 24/7 AI Support Agent on our website, for immediate troubleshooting.
- A booked support call with the technical team, for anything that needs a person.
- Direct email to support@atgpharma.com for technical issues, parts@atgpharma.com for replacement parts.
Customers regularly note that support is reachable quickly, including by video call at short notice.
Can you train my team at our facility?
Yes.
In-facility training is built around your specific production and lab requirements rather than a generic curriculum, and ATG Pharma can travel internationally where required.
Already own an ATG machine? Book Support
What do I do if my RoboCAP stops working correctly?
Start with the troubleshooting section for the affected nozzle in your user manual — most issues encountered in production are covered there with a documented fix. If that does not resolve it, the support routes below cover every hour of the day. Equipment is covered by a twelve-month limited parts warranty from the date of shipment.
How do I troubleshoot a filling problem?
Each nozzle chapter in your manual ends with a troubleshooting section, addressing the issues most seen in production:
- Under-fills are usually resolved by increasing dispense time and recalibrating.
- Product leaking is typically related to air pressure above the recommended range, or a check valve needing replacement.
- Air bubbles in the tubing: for pumps, generally the countersink not being fully submerged; for volumetric systems, typically an air leak in the pressure vessel or one of the fittings.
- Product not dispensing from the valve is commonly related to valve orientation or a valve requiring priming.
- Product not flowing from the vessel usually means insufficient vessel pressure or temperature.
- Heated product solidifying: check stretch coil coverage on the shut-off valve, check valve, and needle tip.
Each entry gives the specific correction for your nozzle type. Working through the relevant section resolves most filling problems without needing to contact us.
What if the fault is mechanical rather than a filling problem?
Controller and screen faults are covered in the same troubleshooting sections. A frozen touch screen is usually cleared by cleaning the screen and power cycling the controller, and a controller that will not power on is generally a fuse or a connection. Anything beyond that should come to our technical team rather than being opened up.
How do I reach technical support?
Four routes, depending on the hour and the problem.
Route | When | Use it for |
AI Support Agent | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | Immediate troubleshooting at any hour, including overnight and weekend production runs. |
Live FaceTime support | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET, Mon–Fri, booked online | Anything needing a technician to see the machine. Book a slot on our website. |
support@atgpharma.com | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET | Technical issues where a written record is useful. |
parts@atgpharma.com | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET | Ordering replacement or consumable parts. |
1-866-309-5029 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET | Warranty claims and replacement parts. |
What if a run goes wrong outside business hours?
Use the AI Support Agent. It draws on the same troubleshooting documentation supplied with your machine, so a night-shift operator can work a problem through without waiting for the morning. If it needs a technician, book a FaceTime session online at the moment the problem occurs rather than calling to arrange it.
What does the warranty cover?
ATG Pharma warrants to the original purchaser that all parts are free of defects in material and workmanship. The warranty is limited to replacement of parts or components for twelve months from the date of shipment, under conditions of normal use. It is not transferable.
It does not cover damage from improper installation, product spillage or water damage. Nor does it cover customer modification, improper repair, accident, misuse, external or cosmetic damage, or wear and tear on consumable parts. Opening a product enclosure voids warranty claims unless directed by an authorised ATG Pharma technician.
How do I make a warranty claim?
- Call our customer service team on 1-866-309-5029.
- Claims are subject to factory approval. Approved replacement parts ship immediately, subject to availability.
- If you are returning a defective part for credit, we will issue an RMA number first. Returns need proof of machine purchase.
What about parts that wear out normally?
Consumables are excluded from warranty but are stocked and straightforward to reorder. Silicone tubing, for instance, has a typical service life of 80 to 120 hours. Every part in your manual is listed with its part number, so you can order by number rather than description.
Will someone come to our facility?
Most issues are resolved remotely. Where an issue cannot be, ATG Pharma can travel, including internationally. Factory repairs are carried out only at locations designated by ATG Pharma.
Need help with a machine now? Book Support or ATG Pharma Technical Support Agent
Can I test my product on the RoboCAP before I buy?
ATG Pharma tests client products on our filling equipment free of charge, before any purchase. It starts with a discovery call, so we understand your product and your production requirements. You then send one to two litres of your product, we run it at your target fill volume, and you receive a written report, a video of the testing, or both. Turnaround is typically one to two weeks.
What the test tells you
- Which nozzle system suits your product.
- The fill accuracy you can expect at your target volume.
- Realistic throughput per hour for each suitable configuration.
- Whether your product needs heat, vessel pressure, or both to run reliably.
- Which configuration you need, and which you do not.
You choose equipment on measured performance with your own product rather than on a published range.
How the process works
- Book a discovery call. We need to understand your product characteristics and production requirements before testing is useful — viscosity, target fill volume, container, and the volumes you are working towards.
- Put an NDA in place, if you need one. We will sign one on request.
- Send your sample. We will confirm the delivery address and courier arrangements on the call.
- We run it on one of our test units at your target fill volume, across the configurations that suit your product.
- You receive the results.
What we need from you
Requirement | Detail |
Sample quantity | Two litres or more preferred. One litre minimum. |
Container | Where possible, send the container you intend to fill. |
Fill volume | Your target dose and the tolerance you need to hold. |
Turnaround | One to two weeks, depending on the current testing queue. |
Cost | None. Product testing is a free service. |
Confidentiality | A non-disclosure agreement can be signed on request. |
Where do I send my sample?
Shipping is arranged on your discovery call. Our facility is in Oakville, Ontario, and we will confirm the delivery address, the courier arrangements, and any paperwork you need once we know what you are sending. Please do not ship a sample before that call — we want the team ready for it when it arrives.
What do I get back?
Your choice of a written report, a video of your product being filled, or both. The report sets out the fill accuracy and throughput achieved and the configuration we recommend. The video shows the machine running your product, which is useful if colleagues who were not on the call need to see it before a decision is made.
What if my product cannot be shipped?
Many of our clients work with regulated products that cannot legally cross a border. In that case, send a placebo or a formulation with equivalent physical characteristics. Viscosity, density, and behaviour under heat and pressure are what the test measures, so a well-matched stand-in gives you results you can rely on.
Note: If the sample’s characteristics are not equivalent to your final formulation, we cannot guarantee that the results will carry across to the product with active ingredient. Tell us what differs and we will tell you how much confidence to place in the figures. |
Who this is for
Anyone evaluating filling equipment who wants certainty before committing capital. It is particularly useful if your product is unusually viscous, if you are filling a new format, if you hold a tight fill tolerance, or if you are weighing a single-nozzle machine against a multi-nozzle configuration and want to know whether the upgrade is warranted.
Frequently asked questions
Is product testing really free?
Yes. There is no charge, and no obligation to purchase.
Will you sign an NDA?
Yes, on request.
Do you test products you have never filled before?
Regularly. If your formulation is outside anything we have run, that is the strongest reason to test rather than estimate.
Ready to get started? Book a Discovery Call
How accurate is the RoboCAP’s fill volume?
Fill accuracy ranges from better than ±0.3% to around ±3%, depending on the nozzle system, the fill volume and the viscosity of your product. The table below gives the figure for each configuration. Because accuracy varies with your specific formulation, we measure it on your product before you buy.
What accuracy can I expect from each nozzle system?
Nozzle system | Fill accuracy | Conditions |
TDK | ±0.3% to ±1% | At a 0.5 mL fill. The highest-accuracy option for small doses. |
LabF6 Peristaltic | 0.72% – 1.33% | 0.72% at 0.75 mL with #13 tubing; 1.33% at 2 mL with #14 tubing. Benchmarked with water. |
Volumetric Filler+ | ±2.5% | At a 0.5 mL fill. |
Volumetric Filler Deluxe | ±2.5% | Across its 2.0 to 8.2 mL range. |
Peristaltic Pump | 0.5% – 2.5% | Varies considerably with tubing size and fill volume. See the table below. |
Cream Depositor | ±1% – ±3% | ±3% at 30 mL, ±1% at 60 mL and 300 mL with water. |
Why does accuracy vary with fill volume?
A small deviation is a larger percentage of a small dose than of a large one. The same nozzle that holds 0.5% at 100 mL may hold only 4% at 10 mL, because the absolute variation is similar while the target is ten times smaller. Choosing a nozzle whose range sits comfortably around your target volume matters more than choosing the nozzle with the best headline figure.
The peristaltic pump illustrates this clearly. Published precision by tubing size and fill volume:
Tubing | Product | 10 mL | 30 mL | 100 mL |
#15 | Water | Not recommended | 2% | 0.5% |
#15 | Oil | 3% | 1.5% | 1% |
#24 | Water | Not recommended | 1.5% | 2% |
#24 | Oil | Not recommended | 1.5% | 0.5% |
#36 | Water | Not recommended | Not recommended | 2.5% |
#36 | Oil | 1% | 0.5% | 1.5% |
Matching the tubing to the fill volume is what determines the result.
Does my product affect accuracy?
Yes, substantially. The figures above were benchmarked with water, oil or flowable lotion. A thicker or more variable formulation behaves differently, and the Cream Depositor figures hold only where the product is flowable, at or below 5,000 cps, and handled with minimal agitation.
How do I find out the accuracy for my product?
Send us a sample and we will run it at your target fill volume, then report the accuracy achieved on each suitable configuration. There is no charge.
Find out your actual number: Book a Discovery Call
What maintenance does the RoboCAP require?
Very little, and most of it happens during the cleaning you are already doing. The schedule below sets out every routine task, and every consumable part is listed in your manual with its part number for reordering.
What is the maintenance schedule?
Frequency | Task | Notes |
Daily, during cleaning | Inspect O-rings and gaskets for damage. Keep the machine clean. | Replace anything torn or worn. A clean machine is what keeps fills accurate. |
Every 80 – 120 operating hours | Replace peristaltic tubing. | Tubing run at higher RPM may need replacing sooner. Use separate tubing for each product, as residual flavourings and additives can carry into the next run. |
After every cleaning session | Replace the springs in the dual check valve. Inspect seals. | Applies to the Volumetric Filler Deluxe and Volumetric Filler+. |
After every cleaning session | Check Teflon-wrapped fittings. | Each fitting should have three to four wraps for a tight seal. Rewrap if worn, frayed, or loose. |
Weekly | Clean the heating system components. | Where a heated configuration is fitted. |
Monthly | Inspect thermocouples and stretch coil heaters. | Exposed metal anywhere but the tip will distort temperature readings. Replace any split or frayed heaters immediately. |
Periodically | Inspect and lubricate the robot itself. | Regular inspection prevents unexpected failures and extends machine life. |
Every part is listed in your manual with its part number, so you can order by number rather than description.
How long does cleaning and changeover take?
It depends on the configuration. Peristaltic systems are the simplest — they run pressure-free and the only component contacting your product is the tubing, so there is no pressure vessel or nozzle to strip down. Pressure-based nozzles involve more disassembly, and the manual covers each one step by step.
Quick-changeover kits are available, reducing the changeover between batches to minutes.
Is any of it specialist work?
No.
Maintenance is inspection and component replacement, carried out by production staff using the procedures in the manual. Perform it with the machine at a standstill and follow lockout procedures. Do not open a product enclosure unless an authorised ATG Pharma technician has directed it, as doing so voids warranty claims.
What happens if maintenance is skipped?
Most of the faults operators encounter trace back to a missed maintenance item or a lack of cleaning. Tubing past its service life, a worn check valve, or a loose Teflon wrap will show up as under-fills or leaking before the machine stops working. Keeping to the schedule above prevents the majority of production issues.
Need replacement parts or consumables? Contact Us
How do tariffs affect pricing for U.S. customers?
U.S. customers are not charged a tariff surcharge. We are establishing U.S. operations in Niagara Falls, New York for light assembly, parts distribution and equipment sales, so American customers buy from a U.S. location. Where duty applies to components entering the United States, we absorb it rather than passing it on. The price we quote you is the price you pay.
Why we can hold the price
American customers buy from a U.S. location rather than importing a finished machine per order. That also shortens the supply chain, simplifies delivery, and puts replacement parts closer to you.
What happens if the trade position changes
The price on your quote is the price you pay. If anything changes between quote and delivery, that is our exposure to manage, not yours.
What your procurement team should know
We work with a licensed U.S. customs broker on classification and entry for every shipment, and we are happy to put your procurement or compliance team in touch with them directly. Raise it on your discovery call and we will arrange it.
Have a question about U.S. delivery or pricing? Book a Discovery Call