Moving to an automated packaging system is a big step for a packager, but one that is often necessary due to product demand. But automation offers a number of benefits beyond just the ability to produce more products in a shorter amount of time.
The automation of the packaging process has created many benefits for packaging companies. There are a number of ways in which automation can improve the packaging process:

1.Higher Speeds of Operation

The most apparent benefit of automatic filling machines is the higher speeds of operation that they offer. Automatic fillers use power conveyors and multiple filling heads to fill more containers per cycle – whether you are filling thin, free-flowing products like water and certain powders, or highly viscous products such as jelly or pastes. Hence, the production is faster when using automatic filler machines.

2.Reliability and Consistency

In addition to speed, automatic liquid fillers offer both consistency and reliability above and beyond what is typically achievable by doing a fill by hand. Whether by volume, fill level, weight or otherwise, the automatic machines are accurate based on the filling principle being put to use. Automatic fillers remove inconsistencies and eliminate uncertainty from the filling process.

3.Easy Operation

Almost every automatic bottle filler will be centrally controlled by an easy to use, touch-screen operator interface. While the interface allows an operator to enter indexing times, fill durations and other settings, as well as turn on and off components of the machine, the Recipe Screen will likely be used more than any other. The Recipe Screen allows all of the settings for a bottle and product combination to be stored and recalled at the touch of a button! So as long as LPS has sample products and containers, automatic liquid fillers can often be primarily set up on the production floor by the touch of a button, about as easy as the operation of a filling machine can get.

4.Versatility

Automatic Filling Machines can be configured to handle a range of products and container shapes and sizes, and can even run more than one product in many cases. The right packaging filling machine offers ease of changeovers with simple adjustments for companies that package multiple products. The versatility of automatic liquid fillers allows a packager to set up one machine to run many or all of the product and container combinations in use.This allows the downtime to be minimised and production maximised.

5. Ability to Upgrade

A big benefit of automatic filling machinery is the ability of the equipment to grow with the company when manufactured properly. In most cases, simply planning for the addition of more heads in the future can allow a liquid filler to grow with the company as the demand for the products grow or additional liquids are added to the line. In other situations, components such as different nozzles, neck guides and more can be added or modified to accommodate changing product lines.
While this is in no means an exhaustive list of the benefits that a packager may find from automating their filling process, these are benefits that will almost always exist when such a move is made. For more information on automatic bottle fillers, the different filling principles or any of the other equipment manufactured by Liquid Packaging Solutions, contact the IVEN to speak with a Packaging Specialist.