Integrating a Bottle Capping Machine into Your Packaging Process

Hand tightening caps on bottle or other containers may work for startups and small businesses, but a growth in popularity can quickly render such a process inefficient and ineffective when trying to meet customer demand. From Foods & Beverages to Cosmetics, Personal Care Items, Chemicals, and other products, Liquid Packaging Solutions builds machinery to meet product demand by saving time while adding consistency to the capping process. While our bottle capping machines are made to integrate into just about any packaging system, there are few steps to take to ensure you are incorporating the best capping solution into your own project.

Assess Your Project 

Different capping machines are used to tighten different closures. If more than one type of closure is being used, you may need to identify which closures require automation to meet demand. You should also assess the speed necessary to figure out what level of automation will be needed to meet demand. Both semi-automatic and automatic bottle capping machines have the potential to add speed, consistency and reliability over the process of hand capping containers.

Select the Best Bottle Capper 

With the cap types selected and the speed determined, the path to the best capping machine can usually be determined. We offer the following machines in both semi-automatic and automatic models based on the type of closure used for the products. 

• Spindle Capper - The spindle capper tightens continuous thread, screw-on, type closures. This machine can secure a wide range of caps, including most trigger sprayers and pumps. It is ideal for continuous capping of containers and closures travel down a conveyor and through sets of matched disks. 

• Chuck Capper - Also used for continuous thread caps, the chuck on this capping machine descends over the cap as it sits on the bottle to apply torque and consistently tighten closures. These machines offer more semi-automatic options for smaller packagers. 

• Snap Capper - The snap capper seals snap on type closures by either pressing down on the caps with a declining belt or by tamping caps into place. A snap capper may also be combined with a spindle capper to allow one machine to handle two different cap types with a quick change in set up.

• ROPP Capper - The ROPP capping machine uses aluminum blanks and a special capping head to form the cap and threads during the sealing process. ROPP capping machines offer a tamper evident sealing process to protect products after the packaging is completed.

• Bottle Corker - The bottle corker presses corks, T-corks, and similar closures into place with ease. Popular among distilleries and wineries, these machines off quick, consistent, and reliable sealing for those using cork to protect products.

• Custom Equipment - From time to time, unique closures will require a unique capping machine. At LPS, we can collaborate with you to design, engineer, and manufacture a capping machine for just about any project.

Plan for Integration 

Once the best bottle capper is selected, it's time to plan the integration! LPS designs capping machinery to easily integrate into almost any packaging system. For new packagers, the capper may simply be installed and put to work, if this is the first machine to be automated. For packagers with existing equipment, you may want to assess the need for a system layout redesign, for added conveyors, or simply for the space necessary to efficiently add the machine. LPS works with packagers before the delivery of the equipment to help provide a plan for integration, including providing line layouts and synchronization with other machines to help in planning for the day of delivery.

Installation, Testing, and Maintenance 

For every project, Liquid Packaging Solutions asks for bottles and caps so that the equipment can be tested before it leaves our production floor! Testing with customer bottles and caps helps to ensure peak performance and can also save time and money by allowing and unforeseen, but necessary, modifications to take place before delivery. Once testing is complete, we always offer installation for automatic equipment to help ensure a smooth transition when integrating new equipment whether packager is new to the equipment or a veteran in the industry. Installation allows the business to take advantage of LPS expertise when setting up, ensures the equipment runs to expectations, and allows for training to help with operation and changeover.

Finally, maintenance will be different for each bottle capping machine based on the type of equipment being used, the bottles, the products and even the environment for the packaging. But our machines are made to require minimal maintenance to ensure maximum run time, keeping production running smoothly to meet demand. Even once the equipment is fully integrated, the LPS Parts and Service team is only a phone call away to guarantee continued efficiency throughout the life of the equipment.

Integrating different bottle cappers will require a slightly different process based on the type of machine and the current packaging process. But at Liquid Packaging Solutions, we do not just build the capping machines, we partner with businesses to ensure lasting success in automating the packaging process. Click to learn more about capping equipment, or browse the site to find bottle rinsers, filling machines, and other packaging equipment offered by LPS.