Brewery Tray Packer | Automatic Beer Can Packaging Equipment

Automating Brewery Packaging: Autopack Tray Packer from Holland Packaging Handles 430 Cans Per Minute

For growing breweries, increasing canning speeds is only part of the equation. Once cans come off the production line, the secondary packaging equipment needs to keep pace.
Holland Packaging LLC recently installed an our Autopack automatic tray packer at a brewery in New Mexico, providing an efficient end-of-line solution for packaging both 12 oz. loose cans and 4-packs of 12 oz. cans.
The system gives the brewery the flexibility to run multiple package configurations while automating the process of loading product into corrugated trays.

One Tray Packer, Two Popular Beer Can Formats

One of the key advantages of this brewery tray packing system is its ability to handle two common packaging formats:
• Six 4-packs of 12 oz. cans per tray — 24 cans total
• 24 loose 12 oz. cans per tray
Whether product arrives at the tray packer as loose cans or pre-assembled 4-packs, the Autopack system automatically collates the product and loads it into a corrugated tray.
This flexibility can be particularly valuable for breweries producing multiple SKUs and package configurations on the same packaging line.

Up to 18 Trays Per Minute — Approximately 430 Cans Per Minute

Speed matters when selecting automated brewery packaging equipment.
This installation operates at speeds of up to 18 trays per minute. With 24 cans in each completed tray, that represents an equivalent throughput of approximately 430 cans per minute.
Automating this portion of the packaging line can eliminate a significant manual pack-out requirement while providing consistent tray formation for downstream handling, palletizing and distribution.
For breweries increasing filler speeds or looking to reduce the amount of manual handling at the end of a canning line, an automatic can tray packer can become an important part of the overall packaging automation strategy.

Built for Beverage Production Environments

The installed Autopack tray packer incorporates proven industrial components and a design well suited for beverage packaging applications.
Key features include:
Stainless steel construction
The machine’s stainless steel construction is well suited for demanding beverage and brewery production environments.
Allen-Bradley controls
Allen-Bradley controls provide a familiar industrial automation platform for operation and maintenance teams.
Nordson hot melt glue system
A Nordson hot melt system applies adhesive during tray forming to produce securely formed corrugated trays ready for downstream handling.
Large-capacity tray blank magazine
A 300-tray blank magazine provides substantial corrugated capacity, helping operators keep the packaging line supplied while reducing the frequency of tray replenishment.
Together, these features provide breweries with an industrial automatic corrugated tray packing solution designed for dependable day-to-day production.

How an Automatic Tray Packer Works

Instead of having operators manually erect trays and load cans or multipacks, the Autopack system automates the process.
Product enters the machine from the upstream packaging equipment and is organized into the required pack pattern. The machine feeds a corrugated tray blank from the magazine, loads the grouped product, forms the tray and secures it using hot melt adhesive.
The finished trays can then move downstream for palletizing or additional secondary packaging.
Learn more about Holland Packaging’s Autopack Tray Packers and available configurations.

Add a Shrink Bundler for a Complete Tray-and-Shrink Package

For breweries requiring additional product containment and protection, the tray packer can be paired with an optional Autopack shrink bundler.
After the cans or 4-packs are loaded into the corrugated tray, the complete tray can be wrapped in either:
• Clear shrink film, or
• Printed shrink film
The result is an integrated tray packing and shrink wrapping system that can provide additional stability and protection for palletizing, warehouse handling and distribution.
Printed film can also provide additional branding opportunities while allowing companies to retain the benefits of tray-and-shrink secondary packaging.
Learn more about Holland Packaging’s Tray and Shrink Packaging Solutions or explore our Autopack Shrink Bundlers.

Brewery Packaging Automation for Different Production Speeds

Not every brewery or beverage producer needs the same machine speed.
This New Mexico installation runs at approximately 18 trays per minute, making it an excellent fit for the production requirements of this particular application. Holland Packaging can also provide higher-speed tray packing systems capable of speeds up to 50 trays per minute for larger beverage operations and higher-volume production lines.
That allows a tray packing solution to be matched to factors such as:
• Canning line speed
• Pack configuration
• Loose cans versus multipacks
• Tray dimensions
• Production volume
• Available floor space
• Downstream shrink wrapping requirements
• Palletizing requirements
• Future production growth
The objective isn’t simply to install the fastest machine available. The goal is to develop a complete end-of-line packaging solution that matches the upstream production rate while providing room for future growth.

More Than a Beer Can Tray Packer

Although this application handles 12 oz. beverage cans, Autopack tray packing equipment isn’t limited to beer cans.
Depending on the application and machine configuration, tray packers can handle cans, bottles, cartons, multipacks and other containers, making automated tray packing applicable across the beverage, food and consumer packaged goods industries.
Holland Packaging offers Autopack equipment for a variety of secondary and end-of-line packaging automation applications, including tray packing, shrink bundling and case packing.
Explore Holland Packaging’s packaging automation solutions to learn more.

Looking to Automate Your Brewery’s Pack-Out Process?

As breweries increase canning capacity, manual secondary packaging can quickly become a production bottleneck.
An automatic tray packer for beer cans can help bridge the gap between high-speed canning and downstream palletizing by automatically grouping product, feeding corrugated blanks, loading cans or multipacks, forming trays and sealing them for distribution.
Whether your line needs to package loose 12 oz. cans, 4-packs, other multipack configurations or multiple SKUs, Holland Packaging can help determine the appropriate Autopack system for your production requirements.
From standalone tray packers to fully integrated tray packer and shrink bundler systems, Holland Packaging provides solutions ranging from moderate-speed brewery applications to high-speed tray packing systems capable of up to 50 trays per minute.

Ready to automate your brewery or beverage packaging line?

Contact Holland Packaging to discuss your product sizes, pack patterns, line speeds and secondary packaging requirements.