Packaging machinery giant Krones has been finding success in the beverage industry with its Varioline system.
More than 30 of these machines have been commissioned within two years, and Krones claims this is due to their flexibility in end-of-line packaging.
Often, individual containers have to be first placed in multipacks, and these then packed in an appropriate sales or outer package.
Since both the multipacks and the end-of-line packages are subject to changing consumption trends and will vary for different target groups, consumption occasions, or export nations, maximised flexibility is imperative, according to Krones.
With Varioline, a single machine replaces up to six conventional individual machines linked by conveyors.
With a combination conjuror, packaging processes involving up to three stages can be handled by just a single machine.
The logical consequence is space savings, reduced maintenance work, and fewer operators.
The modularised Varioline kit consists of three modules, which can be combined to form a customised packaging system.
These three units, the cartoning, feed and basic modules, feature an identical basic construction to create a modularised design concept that ensures flexibility for the future.
The machine can handle up to 52,000 containers per hour.
The Varioline packaging systems can also be block-synchronised with other machines, so that besides carton packaging pure and simple the packs can also be wrapped in film.
