FOUR HEAD FUNCTIONAL FILLER FOR THE FRIARY - 04/02/2009

Such has been the success of Frome-based Friary Vintner’s range of liqueurs that the company needed to increase its filling capacity without taking on extra staff. The company asked Universal Filling Machine Company to design a system which could be operated by one person, but undertake all the functions required.

Such has been the success of Frome-based Friary Vintner’s range of liqueurs that the company needed to increase its filling capacity without taking on extra staff. The company asked Universal Filling Machine Company to design a system which could be operated by one person, but undertake all the functions required. Ernie Jeffery of Friary Vintners explains, “We needed a packaging line which could fill four different sizes and shapes of bottle with the ability to cap with three different types of ROPP and, for good measure, with only one person to operate the entire process, including changeovers.” Universal’s answer was to configure a four head POSIVAC filling machine combined with a single head ROPP capper. The company designed a compact racetrack system consisting of two parallel conveyors with the filling machine on the out-feed section and the capper on the in-feed section. Space was provided for automatic placement of caps which means a single operator standing in position can load empty bottles ready for filling and unload the filled and closed bottles. The system is now successfully handling containers between 50cl and 750cl. Jeffery commented, “The packaging line has now revolutionised the production capacity of this small family business. The most practical aspect of this equipment is the ability to do very short runs and change over to another size of bottle and cap very quickly. The team has now got this process down to 10 minutes and are still improving!” PPMA – “Machinery Update” magazine – Jan ‘09

Back