Liquid Packaging: Complete Guide You Should Know In ...
Liquid packaging systems are able to accommodate a variety of viscosities and characteristics, including carbonation, but theres no one-size-fits-all system.
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The type of liquid packaging solution youll end up with will depend on a variety of factors, including whether you want an automated or semi-automated solution.
If youve set out to find a liquid packaging system, this guide will walk you through all of the important information you need to keep in mind when making your decision.
What is Liquid Packaging?
Liquid packaging refers to the process of packaging up any sort of liquid product, from beverages to cleaning agents. Liquids may be packed in a variety of container types with various seals and caps.
If youre looking for a liquid packaging solution, you may be seeking a machine to rinse the bottles, fill the containers, or cap and seal them after they have been filled. In general, a liquid packaging system refers to the filling machinery itself, but a complete solution will do all of the above.
How do you pack liquid products?
Overflow Filling Machine
Packing liquid products requires extra care because liquids may spill, bubble, or overflow when not handled properly. This requires a smooth conveyor belt, at the very least, but also a liquid filling machine that is able to maintain pressure and temperature to keep the product at the right viscosity. Heres a closer look at all of the factors that need to be controlled.
Managing Fill Temperature
Managing the temperature of a liquid as it is being packaged is important for a few reasons: When dealing with certain beverages, keeping a liquid in a given temperature range is necessary for preserving the taste and freshness of the product. However, temperature also impacts the viscosity of many liquids.
For instance, while some liquids remain easily pourable at a high temperature, they may become thicker and more difficult to work with when cooledand vice versa.
Advanced liquid packaging systems will allow you to control the precise temperature of the product as it is moving through the system and into the containers. This is necessary for controlling both viscosity and quality in many situations.
Controlling Pressure
Pressure must be controlled for a number of liquid products, especially carbonated beverages where pressure differences could cause the product to bubble or foam and overfill the container.
Investing in a liquid packaging system with pressure control is necessary when working with these liquids in order to prevent spills and ensure staff safety and better product yield.
Why Size Matters
When determining the amount of product you would like to package into a given container, you must make the container slightly larger. Failure to leave this room will lead to issues when it comes time to fill and ship your products because natural changes in temperature will cause the liquid to expand.
If you do not account for enough excess volume in the container, product could burst and overflow after being filled, especially during transport or after sitting on store shelves for some time. Factoring this into your liquid packaging solution is a must-do.
Benefits of Using Liquid Packaging Systems
By far, the primary benefit of using a liquid packaging system is that it allows you to produce that much more product. In addition to time-savings, other benefits of using a system include:
- More accurate and consistent filling
- Reduced product loss
- Less manual labor required for production
Should we use automated or semi-automated liquid packaging system?
Liquid packaging systems are able to speed up the production line, especially when they incorporate a conveyor belt to automatically pull the bottles under the filling machine.
From there, the capping process can also be automated, and so can the sealing process. Labeling machines and other equipment can also be incorporated into the production line to create a fully-automated liquid packaging system.
Of course, semi-automated packaging systems are suitable for many operations. With these solutions, a person is often required to place the bottle under the filling machine, place on a cap, and use a manual interface to seal the container. The best choice for your operations will depend on a few criteria.
What to Know Before Packaging
Before packaging any liquid product, you need to think about a few key elements:
- Is maintaining a precise temperature important to quality?
- Is viscosity a concern within a given temperature range?
- Is the liquid prone to bubbling or foaming?
- How many containers would you like to fill per hour?
- How much manual labor will be involved in the process?
If you need help figuring out the answers to these questions, or finding the right liquid packaging system to suit your needs, contact our team of experts. We can help you select the right liquid packaging system for your production line, all while maximizing product yield, minimizing spills, and speeding up the process. Reach out to us today.
Liquid Chemical Packaging Materials Compared
Your chemical products are unique, which means your liquid chemical packaging needs are too. There are a variety of liquid chemical packaging materials and options, and it can be difficult to know what is best for your specific product. Depending on your industry and the product youre packaging, you could require anything from large bulk containers down to small individually filled bottles.
At Royal Chemical, we have the versatility to package both liquid and powder chemical products in sizes 16 ounces and up. In this article, were going to focus on the types of liquid chemical packaging materials available and what you need to consider when deciding what the best option is for your chemical product. Remember, when you partner with a reputable chemical manufacturer, theyll have the expertise to come up with a chemical packaging solution thats customized to your business.
Common Liquid Chemical Packaging Materials
The most common materials for liquid chemical packaging are plastic and metal, and the containers that are typically made of these materials include bottles, pails, drums, totes, bulk tank trucks and bulk rails.
Reference this chart to easily see what type of chemical packaging is available in each material.
Plastic
Metal
Bottle
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Additional reading:
10 Questions You Should Know About Eco-Friendly Packaging Solutions
Pail
Drum
Tote
Bulk Tank Truck
Bulk Rail
Each liquid chemical packaging material has factors to consider as youre determining what the best solution is for your product.
Plastic
Pros:
Durable
Versatile. Depending on the type of plastic you need for your products (high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.), youll likely be able to find a plastic container that can meet its chemical compatibility, temperature and impact resistance requirements.
Lightweight, which means lower transportation costs
Cheaper to produce
Cons:
Environmental Impact: Because plastic is lightweight, it requires less gas and oil to transport than other liquid chemical packaging materials, making it a more eco-friendly option.
Industries That Commonly Use Plastic Packaging: Industrial and household cleaning products
Metal
Pros:
- Can hold flammable and combustible chemicals
- Provides excellent protection for transportation of chemicals. While Royal Chemical does not transport flammable or combustible chemicals, many of the materials for liquids we provide are lined because of the corrosive nature of most cleaning products requiring metal drums.
Cons:
- Can corrode over time
- Must be grounded/bonded to prevent igniting a flammable chemical
Environmental Impact: Metal containers are more chemically reactive than other liquid chemical packaging materials, which means they can corrode, causing the chemical to leech into the environment.
Industries That Commonly Use Metal Packaging: Industrial and metal cleaning
When Does It Make Sense to Use Bulk Packaging?
Many chemical companies today are buying in bulk. The major benefits include cost savings due to having more product shipped less often and flexibility with todays unpredictable supply chain, its wise to have more product on hand than you might need right now. If you are packaging and shipping hazardous materials in bulk, metal and plastic drums, tank trucks and bulk rail are popular options. Learn what chemical manufacturers need to know about bulk vs. non-bulk packaging.
Whats the Best Liquid Chemical Packaging Material For Your Product?
As you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages to using any type of liquid chemical packaging material. Whats most important when packaging your liquid chemical (in addition to blending and transporting it) is safety. Consider the safety of employees, shipping crews and customers when determining a packaging solution for your chemical. You also need to think about what is best for your product and brand. You want to be a leader in your industry and the chemical manufacturer you partner with should help you get there, guiding you through the packaging solution process along the way.
Royal Chemicals Liquid Chemical Packaging Solutions
At Royal Chemical, were committed to finding the liquid chemical packaging solutions that are going to fit each customers individual needs. Our liquid packaging capacities range from 2.5 to 5,000 gallons and our powder/solids packaging ranges from 2,000 to 6,000 pounds. We have bottling capabilities at three of our five locations, with eight bottling lines that can efficiently fill 8-ounce to 2.5-gallon bottles, as well as powder jar-filling and powder pack lines. Download our packaging catalog to learn more.
Are you interested in learning more about Liquid Packaging Solutions? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
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