Building Custom Packaging Machinery

Every once in awhile a packaging project comes along that requires something new - some packaging machine that has not been built before.  These challenges can arise from the product, the package, the desires of the packager or some combination of each.  In our opinion, however, every project we take on requires custom packaging machinery.  Though two companies may both request a six head gravity filler, it is highly unlikely that the same exact filling machine will best suit the needs of both companies.  Instead, we like to think we custom manufacture each and every packaging machine to best meet the needs of the individual customer.  Sometimes customizing a machine can be very subtle, as we explain below.

For material handling equipment, such as turntables and power conveyors, customizing may consist of nothing more than using an usually large turntable top for wide bottles or changing the standard length or width of a conveyor to accommodate a range of containers.  For packagers putting corrosive chemicals into bottles and containers, even the material used to build the conveyors and turntables may be custom.  HDPE will often be used with such products to fight against the early breakdown of the machine caused by product build up or, in some cases, even the fumes.

 

The design of a conveyor system may also be customized to fit the production space available.  Conveyors may not always run in a straight line, taking advantage of curved sections or transfer turntables to move containers around a bend.  Some facilities may use vertical space, such as a stacked, serpentine cooling conveyor, others may drop product low for end of the line packaging machinery such as case packers.  These, and any number of other tweaks can be applied to find the best individual packaging solution for any project.

Similar subtle changes can help to custom fit a filling machine to any given project.  The most obvious difference in filling machinery would probably be the number of fill heads used on the machine.  But the filling principle will be chosen based on the product as well.  As with conveyors, certain products will warrant custom construction material when the product itself will cause undue wear and tear on the stainless steel normally used to manufacture a liquid filler.

 

Another subtle difference that can help a filler perform to the specific needs of the packager are the nozzles used on the machine.  Overflow nozzles can ensure that bottles are filled to a specific level.  Some nozzles may include a postive shut off valve to protect against drips or strings.  Other nozzles may help control foaming or the forming of cavities in the bottle or container.  Again, each of these simple differences can help us to build the ideal packaging machine for the specific packaging project.

The biggest factor considered when building a capping machine is, of course, the type of cap or closure that is being used on the package.  Once the type of capping machine is chosen, there are many different ways to customize the different capper types.  Spindle capping machines may use two, three or four sets of disks to tighten the caps, with some machines adding clutches to the last set of spindles for greater torque control.  Even the spindle disks themselves may be made differently (or with different materials) for different containers and caps.  Automatic capping machines may use different belts, fingers or other means to stabilize both the cap and the bottle.  Again, subtle changes to the packaging machine can make a world of difference as to performance when running a specific cap and bottle combination.

 

So while we love the challenge of a truly custom packaging project, and designing and building completely new packaging machines, we pride ourselves on building custom machines for each and every customer, manufactured to meet their needs specifically.  To learn more about all of our packaging machinery, simply click on the machine category that interests you on the above left sidebar.