Liquid Packaging: Complete Guide You Should Know In ...
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.
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 MachinePacking 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.