Innovative technology in the retorting process has allowed for retorted drinks to be filled in plastic bottles. Fowler has invested in the designing o bottles and closures to improve the handling and processing of retorted beverages. The purpose of these advances is to make it more enjoyable for consumers to drink their beverage from a re-sealable plastic bottle.
Retorted beverages used to be come with limited container options—steel cans with seamed ends which led to the pop-top ends progressing to aluminum. As time has continued, the ability to provide innovations in the retort room allow for retorted drinks in plastic bottles. These new packages ensure that consumers benefit from easy opening as well as improved tamper evidency. Additional features of using plastic bottles include its light weight and shatterproof material.
Of course, along with the benefits of plastic bottles come challenges. Because high speed beverage lines operate at speeds as high as 1,000 bottles per minute, capping equipment face challenges of keeping up without spilling any product. To address this issue, Fowler developed the Tangential Infeed Capper. This machine allows a straight line infeed of bottles directly into the capping turret. Using the straight line eliminates the change in direction which causes spillage.
To address the challenge of high speeds, Fowler Products created an electronic synchronization system to positively line the position of the filler with the position of the capper. This allows for synchronized operation of the two machines. As bottles exit the filler, they go directly into the pocket of the transfer screw of the capper. The purpose is for absolute control of the empty container until it is filled, capped, and discharged from the system.
Successful capping operation requires innovative bottle handling techniques as well as proper handling and application of closures. Tamper evident bands are on plastic closures are designed so that they remain intact when exposed to the high temperatures of the retort process. TE bands of the plastic bottle caps have specially designed grooves that are attached and molded into the neck of the bottle. By interlocking, a bridge is created between the tamper evident band and the skirt of the closure. An advantage of this design is the strong force for vertically breaking bridges.
However, at the same time, the bridges must be weak for special care in handling the closures throughout bulk feeding, orienting, and conveying of the caps. Consider this: if the caps were applied without being heated, the bridges would break. This means that the capper has to heat the closures to soften the plastic tamper evident band so that it is pliable to pass over the neck finish of the bottle.
While capping retortable plastic bottles is challenging, Fowler understands the intricate needs and offers innovative solutions. Working at high speeds to fill and cap retorted beverages is not only doable, it is simple with the advances in Fowler’s machinery.
Retorted beverages used to be come with limited container options—steel cans with seamed ends which led to the pop-top ends progressing to aluminum. As time has continued, the ability to provide innovations in the retort room allow for retorted drinks in plastic bottles. These new packages ensure that consumers benefit from easy opening as well as improved tamper evidency. Additional features of using plastic bottles include its light weight and shatterproof material.
Of course, along with the benefits of plastic bottles come challenges. Because high speed beverage lines operate at speeds as high as 1,000 bottles per minute, capping equipment face challenges of keeping up without spilling any product. To address this issue, Fowler developed the Tangential Infeed Capper. This machine allows a straight line infeed of bottles directly into the capping turret. Using the straight line eliminates the change in direction which causes spillage.
To address the challenge of high speeds, Fowler Products created an electronic synchronization system to positively line the position of the filler with the position of the capper. This allows for synchronized operation of the two machines. As bottles exit the filler, they go directly into the pocket of the transfer screw of the capper. The purpose is for absolute control of the empty container until it is filled, capped, and discharged from the system.
Successful capping operation requires innovative bottle handling techniques as well as proper handling and application of closures. Tamper evident bands are on plastic closures are designed so that they remain intact when exposed to the high temperatures of the retort process. TE bands of the plastic bottle caps have specially designed grooves that are attached and molded into the neck of the bottle. By interlocking, a bridge is created between the tamper evident band and the skirt of the closure. An advantage of this design is the strong force for vertically breaking bridges.
However, at the same time, the bridges must be weak for special care in handling the closures throughout bulk feeding, orienting, and conveying of the caps. Consider this: if the caps were applied without being heated, the bridges would break. This means that the capper has to heat the closures to soften the plastic tamper evident band so that it is pliable to pass over the neck finish of the bottle.
While capping retortable plastic bottles is challenging, Fowler understands the intricate needs and offers innovative solutions. Working at high speeds to fill and cap retorted beverages is not only doable, it is simple with the advances in Fowler’s machinery.