LPS Packaging Machinery for Craft Distillers

For several years now, craft distillers have been one of the most popular packagers to inquire about machinery to prepare their product. Halfway through 2016 it appears that the industry continues to boom, with new and unique beverages and distillers starting up across the country. One of the attributes of many craft distillers or the distillers just starting up, is typically a lower production rate or production demand. In other words, not every craft distiller immediately requires a fully automatic inline packaging system.

For distillers starting or staying with local or regional markets, tabletop and semi-automatic packaging equipment will often be a much better choice than fully automatic equipment. Semi-automatic machinery allows for quicker production than hand packaging while also improving consistency and reliability. Several semi-automatic machines can be used to create complete packaging systems, or semi-automatic equipment can be combined with automatic machinery where one aspect of packaging consumes more time than others. From an operating perspective, the difference between the semi-automatic and automatic equipment comes down to operator interaction.

Automatic machinery basically lets an operator set up the machine and then simply monitor production as cycles run automatically. Semi-automatic packaging machines will require operator interaction with each cycle run. For example, an automatic rinsing machine, once set up, will work with a power conveyor to move bottles into the rinse area, perform the rinse and move bottles to the next packaging machine. Semi-automatic bottle rinsers, however, will require an operator to place bottles on the rinse nozzles, initialize the rinse cycle, and remove the bottles once the rinse is complete. The same general process will be required for semi-automatic filling machines, capping machines and any other semi-automatic machinery. Though some labor is still required, the semi-automatic machines ensure the bottles are rinsed, filled and capped in the same manner with each cycle, a consistency tough to match will hand rinsing, filling or capping.

However, the principles or processes for the equipment remain the same for both types of automation. This means, for instance, that distillers can fill bottles using the fill to level technique of an overflow filler or the volume principle of the gravity filler, regardless of the level of automation. Furthermore, while tabletop equipment may suffice for some craft distillers, semi-automatic equipment can also be manufactured on the same frames as automatic equipment, allowing room for growth for those distillers who expect to expand their operations.

Whether preparing thousands of bottles a day or thousands of bottles a month, LPS manufactures packaging equipment to fit each distiller's unique needs. For more details on any of the equipment available, browse Distilled Spirits under the Industries Tab on the website or call to speak with a Packaging Specialist today.