INSIDE Feeding the empty
INSIDE Feeding the empty bottle conveyor by hand at the right moment takes a watchful eye. Precisely calibrated mass flow meters guarantee the same quantity of product in each bottle. The cap with tamper-evident screwed on to the prescribed FILLING WITH MAX Small unit numbers of a wide variety of packages and containers demand maximum flexibility from a production facility. By investing in a further highperformance filling line, MOTOREX is systematically expanding its production capacity for small containers. Maintaining flexible production capabilities in our own plants is a fundamental principle of MOTOREX’s corporate philosophy. Once the actual production process is complete, the ready-to-fill fluids are taken either directly or from the warehouse to the small filling unit. The 15-meter filling line can fill up to 2,000 one-liter bottles per hour. FLEXIBLE FILLING The new filling line can handle unit volumes from 150 milliliters to 10 liters. At present, the line is set up to process small containers with a capacity of five liters or less. Just the right number of containers, caps, labels and boxes are prepared in accordance with the parts list in the production process control system. The 15-meter filling line can then fill up to 2,000 one-liter bottles per hour. It is equipped with four mass flow meters to ensure precise volumes during the filling process. A short, easy-to-drain system of pipes reduces cleaning work and cuts setup time to just 15 minutes. A SECURE SEAL Once filled, the containers are carried by conveyor rollers to the capping line. Caps are fed to the machine from a hopper. The machine places a screw cap with tamper-evident band onto each bottle container and screws it closed to the prescribed torque. Samples of finished 16
and is automatically torque. A robotic labeling system applies labels to the still unmarked bottles. After visual inspection, the containers are packed in cartons and palletized. IMUM FLEXIBILITY containers are taken from the filling line, precisely weighed and inspected in accordance with a test plan. SKILFUL LABELLING Next the still unmarked bottles move to the labeling station, which is specially laid out for a range of applications. Adhesive labels are applied individually and continuously from a roll to the front and back of each container. Precise press rollers apply the labels so that they are free of air bubbles. An inkjet printer also marks each bottle with the date and batch number. Next the finished product moves to the sorting table, where nimble hands pack it into waiting boxes. Finally the boxes are stacked onto pallets according to the production specifications and handed off to logistics. A PERFECT INTERPLAY The coordination of the small filling unit staff is reminiscent of a synchronized gymnastics team – always in the right place at the right moment to keep the production Finally the boxes are stacked onto pallets according to the production specifications and handed off to logistics. process humming along without interruption. A deft hand movement here, a phone call to the forklift operator there. Both the quality and quantity of the result are compelling. • MOTOREX MAGAZINE 101 I APRIL 2014 17
