Fact #1: There are close to a dozen different kinds of capping machines.
Fact #2: Yes, it can get confusing to choose the right one for your own particular needs.
So, in the interest of clearing up any possible confusion, here’s this brief guide that should put you well on your way to getting that perfect capping machine.
First things first. The most important question to ask yourself here (and you’ve undoubtedly already done so) is exactly why you need a capping machine and for what industry. Each industry – from food and beverages to chemical bottling – has its own specific problems that must be catered to. Thus, understanding the problems and peculiarities of your own industry is a critical step you should take before looking at any one capping machine in depth. Here’s a closer look at this.
If your niche is in the chemical industry, consider a hazardous location capping machine. Electrical charges – even minute ones – can spark an explosion in a flammable solvent. Thus, a capping machine that has been specially designed to counter this risk is optimal in this situation.
But what if you need a capping machine for food containers? Bulk foods often come in containers with specific closure sizes, and the caps frequently have to be placed from the top down (instead of screwed on). Clearly, then, this would require a special kind of machine: an automatic cap placer (and not an inline system).
Continuing with the food niche: you could also go with an automatic snap capping machine. The neat thing about this capping machine? Since there aren’t quite so many sophisticated parts, it’s considerably less expensive than its more intricate counterparts.
Perhaps you have small containers (this especially applies to pharmaceuticals or chemicals). Normal inline capping machines won’t work so well here since they don’t have the necessary amount of stability to keep the bottles from tipping over. That’s where the automatic chuck capping machine comes in. This capping machine has highly-specific parts that keep the bottles in place during the capping operation. The drawback? Their more expensive than the inline capping systems.
Now it’s time for you to consider your budget. For fairly obvious reasons, capping machines can get pricey – these beasts have pretty intricate moving parts. Your budget will limit the kind of capping machine available to you. Benchtop capping machines tend to be less expensive than the more elaborate capping machines like the automatic inline capping machine – and handheld capping machines, while requiring definite human presence, are even less pricey. So even if your budget is on the lower end of the spectrum, there are still capping machines that you can take advantage of. Of course, when looking at the different options you can choose from, you should also keep in mind the exact nature of your operation. Do you have many employees or would an automatic system be more advantageous to you in the long run?
Armed with these tips in mind, go forth and conquer with an awesome capping machine that does exactly what you need it to.
