Capping Machines for 2022 Packaging Projects
As we move into 2022, there has been a slight shift in the popularity of capping machinery in the past couple of years. Though the spindle and chuck cappers for screw-on type caps remain the most popular capping machinery manufactured at Liquid Packaging Solutions, more ROPP cappers and corking machines have been hitting the production floor. As capping machines for any given project will be manufactured for the specific type of closure being used, these trends are pushed by more packagers using ROPP type closures and by the growing popularity of certain industries, such as distilled spirits, that use corks more often than screw-on type caps. As we move into 2022, LPS expects to build just about every type of capper available, with the following four being the most popular.
SPINDLE CAPPING MACHINES
For automatic lines, spindle cappers are probably the most popular type of capping machine. This is in part due to the fact that despite the gaining popularity of ROPP caps and corks, continuous thread or screw-on type closures remain popular across almost all industries. From bottled water and other beverages to household cleaners, soaps, shampoos and more, these caps can take many forms. Bottled water uses a simple flat cap, while other products may use sports caps, trigger sprayers or pump type closures, all of which screw on to the bottle to create a seal. Automatic spindle cappers use a cap delivery system to deliver one closure to each bottle. Once the cap is on the bottle, the combination moves down a conveyor and through sets of matched spindle disks. These disks contact the cap to spin it tightly down onto the bottle creating a consistent and reliable seal for each container.
CHUCK CAPPING MACHINES
Chuck capping machines also remain popular for tightening screw-on type closures. Automatic chuck capping machines also use a cap delivery system to place caps on top of each container. However, rather than using spinning disks to tighten the cap, the chuck capper uses a capping head that descends over the bottle and closure combination to apply torque. The choice to use an automatic spindle capper or an automatic chuck capping machine will depend on several distinct factors for each project. However, the method of capping used by the chuck capper allows efficient manual and semi-automatic machinery to be built for packagers with smaller production demands. From handheld chuck cappers to tabletop semi-automatic cappers, these machines are more likely to be seen as part of a semi-automatic packaging system than the semi-automatic spindle capper.
ROPP CAPPERS
ROPP cappers use aluminum blanks to create threads on a bottle and offer the packager tamper-evident sealing of bottles and other containers. Popular for quite some time in the wine and distilled spirits industries, these types of closures are gaining momentum in a variety of other industries as well. ROPP capping machines can be manufactured, just like all other cappers, to work in a semi-automatic or automatic fashion. Semi-automatic machines will typically require the operator to either pre-load a chute with the aluminum blanks or place a blank on each bottle prior to capping. The automatic machine also uses a cap delivery system to deliver the blanks to the bottle, removing the need for the operator to interact with the machine on a regular basis. Automatic machines can also incorporate multiple capping heads to help speed up the packaging process and keep up with other automatic equipment such as rinsers, fillers and labelers.
BOTTLE CORKING EQUIPMENT
Bottle corking machinery saw an increase in production at LPS when regulations surrounding the distilled spirits industry started to relax. These machines allow for quick and consistent insertion of corks, T-corks and other cork-like closures into bottles. Just like the ROPP capping machine, the semi-automatic version of a bottle corker will require an operator to routinely load a chute or place corks into the bottle for sealing. Though they remain popular in the wine, distilled spirits and olive oil industries, a few other products have also incorporated corks as a way to stand out from competition and add aesthetic value to a product. While not the most popular capping machine overall, it does remain at the top of the list for these industries.
Of course, other products may use snap-on type caps, unique closures or even incorporate heat shrink sleeves or capsules on their closures. Liquid Packaging Solutions manufactures custom capping machinery for unique projects and works with every packager to find the best solution for the specific application at hand. To learn more about all of the capping and sealing machinery manufactured by LPS, browse the website of call LPS to speak with a Packaging Specialist about your project today.