Choosing a suitable bottle case packer entails more than simply looking at machine speeds. The shape of the bottle, the type of packaging, the way the bottles are handled, and the manufacturing needs determine the performance of the system. What may work for one bottle may not work for another without modification.

For those who manufacture beverages and other types of products that are bottled, the ideal choice should be a machine that will work with current production needs and future product changes.

The first thing you need to do is to specify what products the packaging machine will have to pack. The bottle materials, sizes, shapes, weights, and other parameters may affect the packaging process.

Glass bottles usually need extra care in order to prevent any possible impacts and damage to them. Plastic bottles tend to be light but have some special features that may affect the way they should be grasped.

Potential buyers need to know the possible bottle sizes, the number of bottles per carton, and the packing pattern prior to the purchase of the machine. It helps to make sure that the proposed machine can pack these products without additional manual settings.

In a bottle case packer machine, the gripping system is critical since it needs to grip the products firmly during transfer and precisely release them to the cases.

Vacuum grippers can be effective when used with bottles with proper surface contact areas, but others may need different methods depending on the bottle's characteristics and packaging. It is crucial to choose the best method based on the bottle shape, type, and surface, as well as the placement of the products during packaging.

Matching the gripper will assist in achieving consistent handling and minimal displacement. Inquiries about testing should be made to the suppliers regarding the actual bottle specifications. For example, twin-axis case packing robots can be evaluated based on the bottle specifications, gripping requirements, and intended packing format.

The case size influences machine setup as well as the packing process. Before buying the machine, it is advisable to verify the carton size, bottle placement pattern, bottle orientation, and number of bottles per case.

The machine should position bottles properly and put them in their right places without much contact. The quality of the carton used is also important. Poor-quality cartons with uneven sizes and poor edges may disrupt the loading process.

Where there are many case sizes that the production line operates with, buyers should be aware of the machine’s capabilities for each size and how it adapts from one to another.

High nominal speed of packing does not guarantee increased productivity. It may depend on the distance between bottles, reliability of product feeding, case placement, and the work of downstream equipment.

This is why buyers need to review the whole process of packing, and not just the speed of the robot. The designed system must ensure adequate speed of operation of the production line and at the same time have reliable product feeding and case packing.

It may be helpful to define the expected operational speed for each particular bottle and case. It may depend on the size of the product, the way it can be gripped, and the state of the equipment.

Companies producing a variety of bottle sizes or packaging should take into account how quickly the machine will be ready for changeovers from one production run to another.

An efficient system should give a straightforward process for changeover regarding the necessary settings, grippers, and case types. Choosing the recipe and setting parameters may allow minimizing mistakes at the setup stage; however, potential buyers must find out what features are offered in a particular configuration.

In addition, it is vital to understand whether changeover processes can be conducted by operators or must involve a professional technician.

A case packer for bottles is not usually run alone. In some cases, it may be necessary to integrate it with a conveyor for bottles, case formers, carton sealers, and the palletizing system.

Prior to installation, buyers should examine the space available for the machine, the flow of products, the case transfer mechanism, the control and communication needs, and the infeed and outfeed capacity of the equipment that should match the output of the packing machine.

When choosing the equipment, one should bear in mind how it will run in normal production conditions. For a practical example of integrated robotic packaging, see this robotic case packing system case study from Rockwell Automation.

Prior to purchase confirmation, there are some points that buyers need to verify with the machinery vendor:

Offering some samples of bottles, cartons, and production needs would make it easier for the vendor to evaluate the application and offer the right configuration.

Selection of a case packer for bottles requires the matching of the equipment with the product itself, package type, required throughput, and the rest of the production line. Factors such as handling and gripping of bottles, case location, need for changeovers, and integration into the overall production line should all be considered when selecting equipment.

Identification of the factors mentioned above will help manufacturers select the right equipment for their manufacturing processes, since choosing equipment is not just about picking the equipment with the highest rated speed.

Manufacturers looking for integrated robotic packaging and end-of-line solutions can review the available options based on their production requirements.