Step By Step To A Capping Solution

Choosing the right capping machine can add efficiency and reliability to the sealing portion of a packaging project. For any project, more than one solution will exist, but answering just a few questions can lead a packager to the best solution for any given project.

1. Bottle & Closure Type?

The bottle and closure type will almost immediately eliminate certain types of capping machines. Bottles without threads will not be a match for spindle cappers or chuck capping equipment, which work with screw on type caps. Corks will also not be screwed in to a bottle and will require a bartop corking machine. Wide mouth containers may use a closure that is pressed into place, guiding the packager toward a snap capping solution. However, even once the correct type of machine is identified, there will likely exist several different options.

2. Production & Other Needs?

Some packagers will prepare thousands of pieces of product per day, while others might not hit that number for a month! Capping machines can be manufactured to handle high, medium and low production projects. Automatic machinery can be built to roll right up to a conveyor and continuously cap bottles and containers as they move along the conveyor system. Semi-automatic equipment and even manual cappers can be built to not only assist with speed, but with consistency in applying caps to avoid loose caps, overtightened caps and worker fatigue or repetitive motion injuries. While speed is often the main motivating factor for a project, these other benefits should not be overlooked and figuring out the specific needs for the project will help identify the best solution.

3. Company or Product Growth?

While production may be low when a capping machine is first sought out, a packager should also consider the direction of the company when choosing equipment. Will sales remain local or regional? Is there high growth expected in the near future? Capping machines, like most packaging equipment, can be manufactured to allow for future upgrades. For example, a semi-automatic spindle capper may be manufactured on the same frame as an automatic version of the machine. While a company may use labor to place caps prior to growth, the machine can be upgraded to run automatically when the rates outgrow the ability of manual labor. By considering growth, a company can find a solution that will last by growing right along with the company.

4. Other Machinery?

Finally, a packager should consider the other machinery currently in use or machinery that will be put to use along with the capping machine. Purchasing a handheld capper to work alongside an automatic filling machine will not optimize the production process. Similarly, purchasing an automatic capper to run with a process that uses labor to hand fill containers may be overkill. Note, however, that this will sometimes occur when a packaging facility builds up to a fully automatic process over time. By looking at the entire process and all of the machines, a packager can figure out when adding automation to the capping aspect of a project makes sense.

Of course, there may well be other considerations on a project-by-project basis, but answering these simple questions will help to identify the best capping solution for almost any project. In addition, Liquid Packaging Solutions' Packaging Specialists are always available to discuss capping projects to ensure the best solution is identified and put in place.