Complete Packaging Lines - Rinse, Fill, Cap and More

As a business grows, higher demand may require new solutions for preparing products for the consumer. Efficient, consistent and reliable preparation can be achieved by employing a complete packaging line. Complete lines will look different for every packager, and Liquid Packaging Solutions can help source, build and put into practice the ideal solution for almost any business.

At LPS, most of the equipment for a complete, automatic system will be manufactured in the company's LaPorte, Indiana plant, which includes loading equipment, rinsing machines, liquid fillers, capping equipment, conveyors and more. For those packagers that require other machinery, such as labelers and coding equipment, LPS will integrate OEM machinery into the line, allowing a packager to acquire a complete solution from a single location. Some of the most common equipment on a complete line includes:

Loading Turntables

Loading turntables allow the operator of a packaging line to simply place empty bottles on a turntable top. From there, the turntable moves the bottles to the outer edge for delivery to the main conveyor, which will deliver the bottles to the other machinery to fill, cap, label and otherwise prepare products. Turntables can also be used to accumulate product or redirect bottles on a system that does not sit in a straight line.

Turntables work with round bottles and other solutions, such as laning conveyors, exist for non-round bottles.

Conveyor Systems

Conveyor systems are typically used to move bottles throughout the packaging line, working as the circulation system of the line. Conveyors are available in different models, such as sanitary-style or C-frame, to meet the needs of the specific project or packager. Conveyors may also be used for loading or accumulating bottles, as well as cooling when a hot or molten product is being packaged.

Rinsing Machinery

While not a necessary part of every packaging line, rinsing machines ensure that dust, debris and other contaminants are removed from bottles and containers prior to the introduction of the product. Using air, water or other cleaning solution, rinsing equipment will invert bottles or use a vacuum to remove contaminants that may exist from the manufacture of the bottle, shipment of the bottle or the simple storage of containers. These machines are often seen in packaging lines handling food, beverage and pharmaceuticals to help ensure products are packaged in a sanitary manner with no contamination.

Liquid Filling Machines

Liquid fillers are used to get the right amount of product into containers in a reliable and consistent manner. Whether looking for a specific volume, a net weight or a fill that reaches the same level in each bottle, filling machines allow an operator to set up the machine prior to production for a repeatable fill on each bottle based on the necessary principle. Filling machines can fill between two and sixteen bottles each cycle, allowing a packager to meet almost any demand in a production day.

Capping Machinery

Bottle capping machines exist for just about any closure type. Spindle and chuck capping machines can secure screw-on, or continuous thread, caps. ROPP cappers use knives to thread aluminum blanks onto many different bottles. Corking machines are popular in the distilled spirits and wine industry to quickly and easily press corks into different bottles. The capping machine used for any project will depend on the type of closure being used for the project. Automatic cap delivery systems mean operators of a line will only need to supply the machine with bulk caps on occasion, allowing bottles and other containers to be efficiently and consistently sealed throughout the production day.

Labeling Equipment

While LPS does not manufacture labeling machinery, relationships with OEM's allow LPS to provide different equipment for any number of projects. From wrap to front-and-back and even panel labeling, equipment can be added to an LPS line to complete a fill, cap and label solution for almost any product. Other OEM equipment may include laser coders or induction sealers, can be added to a line on an as needed basis.

Most complete packaging lines will include some or all of the equipment described above. However, an assessment of the components used, the speed necessary, the space available and many other items will help to determine the best solution for any packager, whether it be one of the Complete Lines found on the LPS website or an entirely custom solution.