What is a Basic Automated Packaging System?

For those that have browsed the Liquid Packaging Solutions website, the phrase "basic automated packaging system" may look familiar. A number of the complete turnkey solutions for different industries and products listed on the website include the basic automated system as one option. But what exactly makes up such a system?

For most packagers automating their processes, the three key components will be filling, capping and labeling. In addition, the system will include conveyors to move bottles and containers from one machine to the next and some type of loading and accumulating equipment. This, in its most simple form, is a basic automated packaging system, able to run without an operator activating each process. For example, a system for distilled spirits may use a loading turntable, power conveyors system, overflow filling machine, bottle corker and front and back labeler.

Once bottles are loaded on the turntable, they will move automatically through the filler, capper and labeler before being gathered at the end for packing and shipping. While a single machine may be automated, the above is referred to as a "basic system" because it allows for complete preparation of the product with little operator intervention. However, it is also called "basic" because many packagers may choose to add other machines to the system to meet their specific packaging needs.

To illustrate, we will start with the system mentioned above for distilled spirits. However, let's assume that the distiller has square bottles, which will make the turntable difficult to use effectively. Rather than a loading turntable, a laning conveyor will be used to more efficiently move bottles to the main conveyor and the first step of the packaging process. Additionally, the distiller may want to clean or rinse the inside of the bottles before introducing product.

The line now includes a laning conveyor and rinsing machine. The liquid filler remains the same, as does the corking machine, but this distiller will also add a capsule, which means the corking machine will be followed by a capsule spinning machine. While the labeler also stays on the line, the distiller may also decide to add a coding machine to include batch numbers, expiration dates or other information on the label or the bottle. Finally, the accumulating turntable can still be used even with the square bottle at the end of the line.

So, while the basic automated packaging system - load, convey, fill, cap, label, accumulate - will work for a great many number of packagers in a wide variety of industries, it is really just a starting point for finding the best solution for any given project. Those familiar with packaging machinery may know exactly what they want, while those unfamiliar may not even realize all of the options available to them! For this reason, LPS offers the basic automated systems as both an actual solution and also as a starting point to identify other solutions for individual, unique packaging projects.