Manufacturers are constantly on the look out for improved bottle packing machinery, as health conscious consumers are turning away from carbonated drinks, often sold in aluminium cans, in favour of the PET-bottled water of fruit juice. Accord to manufacturers Standard-Knapp, the new Positron machine can pack carbonated, non-carbonated or hot drink-filled PET bottles in corrugated or iron trays. "The Positron has a proven track record of handling many different bottle styles and offers a quick, simple changeover," the company said. Powered by two 1-horsepower motors, the machine automatically adjusts to different processing speeds, reducing the need for supervision, the company said. "The machine's continuous motion ensures gentle product handling, while the stainless steel frame, shafts and hardware reduce maintenance," it added. Other Standard-Knapp inventions designed this year to help bottled beverage manufacturers include a new "beaded guide", that allows multiple items to run side-by-side without bottle necks, and so reduces both costs and damage to the product. The company also manufacturers packing machines for other products, such as the 989 PakMore, which is capable of putting bottled soft drinks, beer, wine, food, and household products into cases. US-based Standard-Knapp is a manufacturer of packing machinery for a variety of industries including beverage, food, and other industries. The company provides packaging solutions including tray packers, tray loading machines, case packers, shrink wrappers, and bottle packers.
