Filling Systems and Lines for PET bottles

PET bottles are plastic bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a widely used thermoplastic material commonly used for packaging, especially beverage bottles. PET has many advantages: PET bottles are significantly lighter than glass bottles, making them easier to transport and handle, and saving money. They are also strong and unbreakable, making them less likely to be damaged. PET bottles are cheaper to produce than glass bottles, both in terms of material costs and production processes.

Another advantage of PET is that it is 100% recyclable. Many countries have established recycling programs for PET bottles, helping to reduce the environmental footprint. The clear and transparent nature of PET bottles allows consumers to see the contents, which is particularly beneficial for beverages. PET bottles are often fitted with screw caps that allow for easy reclosure, extending the freshness and shelf life of the contents.

PET is chemically inert and does not react with most foods and beverages, preserving the taste and quality of the contents. PET can also be produced in a variety of shapes and sizes, offering great flexibility in design. Due to these advantages, PET bottles are widely used in the beverage industry and other sectors and have established themselves as one of the most popular packaging solutions.

AUTEFA Solutions supplies complete lines for bottling plants such as dairies, juice bottlers, sauces or other liquid products - from material receiving to fully automatic storage systems with integrated dispatch preparation. Depending on the requirements, multi-axis high-performance machines are used for depalletizing, packaging, palletizing or stacking. Fully automatically adjustable gripper heads and feeders streamline the process by significantly reducing setup times. In case of customer-specific requirements or special space conditions, the machine is adapted to provide an optimal solution for the respective application.

PET bottles are used in a variety of industries and are a popular choice due to their versatility and numerous benefits. The main application areas are:

  • Beverage Industry:
    • Non-alcoholic Beverages: Water, soft drinks, juices, and iced teas are frequently bottled in PET.
    • Alcoholic Beverages: Light alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and spirits are increasingly being offered in PET bottles.
    • Dairy Products: Some dairy products, including drinking milk and drinkable yogurt, are bottled in PET.
  • Food Industry:
    • Oils and Sauces: Edible oils, vinegar, and various sauces are often packaged in PET bottles.
    • Spices and Dressings: Liquid spices and salad dressings are commonly packaged in PET bottles due to their shatter resistance and cost efficiency.
  • Cosmetics and Personal Care:
    • Shampoos and Conditioners: These products are often bottled in PET to ensure an attractive and robust packaging design.
    • Shower Gels and Liquid Soaps: These products are also packaged in PET bottles.
  • Household Goods Industry:
    • Cleaning Agents: Liquid cleaners, fabric softeners, and other household cleaners are bottled in PET.
  • Personal Care Products: Products such as hand sanitizers and liquid soaps are bottled in PET.
    • Pharmaceutical Industry:
    • Liquid Medicines: Syrups and other liquid medications are packaged in PET bottles to ensure safe and hygienic storage.
    • Dietary Supplements: Some liquid dietary supplements and vitamins are bottled in PET.
  • Chemical and Agricultural Industry:
    • Pesticides and Fertilizers: Liquid pesticides and fertilizers are often offered in sturdy PET bottles.
    • Chemical Solutions: Various chemical solutions and industrial cleaners use PET bottles due to their chemical resistance.

Blow molding machines - From PET preforms to bottles

The Serac Blow Linear (SBL) PET blow molding machines are the ideal solution for mid-sized bottlers who want to control their transportation and storage costs while optimizing the quality of their bottles. These machines are versatile and can produce formats ranging from very large 5 liter edible oil containers to small 50 ml bottles for samples or premium products.

The output range of the SBL machines extends from 4,000 to 18,000 bottles per hour, allowing flexible adaptation to different production requirements. The SBL series is characterized by innovative design, user-friendliness and safety with maximum production availability. The machines are easily accessible, which facilitates maintenance. The machine is equipped with numerous openings and two sliding doors for easy and effortless changeovers.

Depalletizing with VacuGrip

The PET or plastic bottles can either be blown on site or fed into the line as bulk material via a bottle unscrambler.

It is more gentle to the product if the bottles are depalletized and loosened in layers at the beginning of the line. The VacuGrip, specially developed and patented by AUTEFA, is ideal for this process. With the VacuGrip, the PET bottles are precisely gripped layer by layer and separated row by row or by pressureless merging over a storage table. This advanced technology not only ensures efficient handling of the PET bottles, but also minimizes wear and contributes to product integrity. The targeted use of the VacuGrip thus ensures high-quality and gentle processing of the PET bottles on the production line.

Filler

The Serac range of weight-measured (net weight filler) filling technology offers precise dosing and also allows the realization of ultra-clean or aseptic filling lines. Serac offers rinsers, fillers and cappers that together meet the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

To ensure optimal sterilization, Serac uses several highly effective solutions. These include the use of hydrogen peroxide, pulsed light, peracetic acid and the innovative BluStream® process for containers and closures. 

The combination of Serac's precise weighing technology and advanced sterilization processes enables the creation of state-of-the-art filling lines that meet the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. 

Bottle transportation

The transport of PET bottles and containers is supplied and controlled by AUTEFA. This means that our customers have a single point of contact for the realization of a complete line and the certainty that all system components are optimally coordinated. We suggest additional units from partner companies or integrate the customer's preferred suppliers. AUTEFA Solutions coordinates all interfaces between the suppliers and offers complete lines based on the respective specifications and performance data.

Labeling machine/ Sleever and shrink packer

The dried bottles are fed in a single lane to the labeling machine or sleever, where they can be labeled or sleeved according to individual design requirements. We leave the choice of labeling machine or sleever manufacturer entirely up to our customers. AUTEFA Solutions is responsible for the bottle transport interfaces. 

The decision for a wrap-around packer/shrink packer is made in close consultation with the customer. The variety of products to be packaged is carefully considered to ensure the optimum system for the specific requirements. This customization ensures that the selected packaging system provides the best possible efficiency and flexibility for the customer's production.

Container/ bundle conveyor

The container transport is supplied and controlled by AUTEFA. This means that our customers have a single point of contact for the realization of a complete line and the certainty that all system components are optimally coordinated. We suggest additional units from partner companies or integrate the customer's preferred suppliers. AUTEFA Solutions coordinates all interfaces between the suppliers and offers complete lines based on the respective specifications and performance data.

Palletizer

AUTEFA offers 2-, 3- or 4-axis modular gantry robot systems for palletizing cartons, trays, shrink-wrapped packs and similar packs, efficiently handling single packs, rows or entire layers. It is also possible to palletize individual containers directly on intermediate layers or in large trays, providing a high degree of flexibility in handling different pack formats.

Feeding to the palletizer is either single or multi-lane, depending on the output, to meet the specific requirements of the production environment. Empty pallets and intermediate layers are automatically fed to ensure a continuous workflow. Finally, the pallet is securely fixed with a wrapper, strapper, or shrink hood to ensure stable and safe preparation of the palletized packs for shipping. These fully automated robotic systems provide an efficient solution for accurate and reliable palletizing of a wide variety of pack shapes in industrial production processes.

Contact Our Team

AUTEFA Solutions Germany GmbH
Paul-Lenz-Strasse 1 b
86316 Friedberg . Germany
T: +49 821 2608 0
germany@autefa.com

For any inquiries or additional information, please feel free to contact us. Our team will get back to you promptly.

Contact Our Team