Liquid packaging machines: the benefits of automating the capping process

It’s a pretty safe bet that most bottlers who cap bottles by hand to prepare them for sale aren’t looking forward to the process. Not only can it be tedious and time consuming when the numbers are large enough, it can present a danger to those who twist, push and squeeze in the form of repetitive motion injuries. Also, some closures are simply not conducive to manual sealing, such as ROPP caps that require knives to screw caps on when applying. At a certain point, capping machinery can truly become a necessity for packers, and the benefits of such equipment will remain much the same whether semi-automated equipment or fully automated bottle cappers are used. There are also other benefits to using capping machinery, some of which are outlined below.

1. Consistency and reliability

Whether you use semi-automatic or automatic capping equipment, one of the biggest benefits is that bottles and other containers will seal evenly every cycle. Besides the fact that human hands just won’t tighten all caps the same way, extended time spent sealing bottles can lead to fatigue and, if we’re being honest, boredom, which then leads to inconsistent and unreliable capping. . Automatic capping machines are built to cap each and every container the same way, whether it’s applying torque, applying pressure, or otherwise sealing. Of course, semi-automatic capping machines will still use an operator to assist in the process, but the actual squeezing, pushing, or sealing will be done by the machine itself. Automated machines will only require an operator to do the initial setup, as cap delivery systems will be used to present the closures to the bottles.

2. Capping speed

Given enough time, or broken up into enough shifts, manual capping can be a fairly consistent and reliable method of getting product ready for the shelf. However, as the numbers increase, taking the time to avoid fatigue, boredom, and injury would ultimately lead to an inefficient throttling process. Bottle capping machines will generally pick up speed over manual capping, with automatic machinery reaching speeds of up to 100 bottles per minute or more. Almost all packagers looking for an automatic capping machine will expect higher throughput, but there are a few exceptions to this rule. As noted above, capping machines can bring consistency and reliability to the process, and some tabletop and manual cappers will be used for these purposes, even without a significant increase in speed. However, more often than not, the speed with which the sealing can be done will be one of the main benefits of using capping machinery.

3.Simple operation

While things don’t get much simpler than screwing on a cap or pushing in a cork, good capping machines are designed to make things easy for the operator. Semi-automatic equipment will generally require the operator to place the cap on the bottles and slide the combination into place to allow the machine to perform the sealing. Automatic machinery will require some initial setup and bottle-to-bottle changeover, but once up and running, it usually only requires the operator to make sure the closures are available to the machine from time to time. The best capping machines will require no tools to set up whenever possible, relying on hand cranks and knobs to make adjustments. While unique containers and closures may lead to some exceptions to tool-less setup and adjustment, the ability of almost anyone to operate capping machinery is a third benefit for packers.

4. Versatility

Very rarely will a company package a single product in a single container, using only one type of lid or closure. Therefore, capping machinery must be versatile enough to handle a variety of cap shapes and sizes. For example, screw capping machines offer a solution for screw caps, whether flat caps, flip caps or even trigger sprayers, a single screw capper can be built to handle a variety of screw caps. Some machines can even be combined to handle different types of closures, such as a screw and snap capper. This machine can tighten continuous thread caps or apply pressure for snap type caps. The versatility of a capping machine is a benefit that allows for a cost effective and efficient solution to the capping process.

5. Integration

In the packaging industry, there are manufacturers that specialize in a specific type of machine, whether it be a liquid filler, capping machine, labeler, or other equipment. Capping machinery can be integrated with existing packaging lines as long as space is available for the equipment. Some packagers will also automate the processes step by step. Processes such as filling or labeling may already be automated when a packer looks for a capping machine. The advantage of being able to integrate capping machinery into an existing system is that packers can grow and automate at their own pace, which will be different for almost every company.

The benefits of adding automation to the throttling process will vary from project to project, as will the amount of automation added, but the benefits listed above will often be the motivating factors for change. An analysis of packaging, closures, product demand, space and budget should always be done for any project when looking for the best capping solution, which can add efficiency, speed, reliability and much more to the overall packaging process.