The Satellite Review Magazine The Satellite Review Magazine Vol 2 | Page 27

Grab ‘N Go Beverage (cont.)
pattern might fit 16 bottles, whereas when incorporating an
offset pattern, a dairy can now fit up to 22 bottles per case.
Creating these offset patterns for smaller-sized round
bottles and multi-tier loading has challenged case packing
machine designers to not only maximize the number of
bottles per case, but also maintain operating speed and line
efficiency. Offset patterns can be created either outside or
at the caser loading zone. The difference is related to cost
and speed. Creating an offset pattern outside the load area is
more expensive, but delivers greater speed in case packing
operations.
How to create the offset load pattern
The creation of an offset load pattern is best done in two
stages. First, the bottles need to be guided into multiple
lanes as they arrive from the bottle filler. The number of
lanes is dependent on the bottle diameter and the load pattern required. The second stage involves removing the lane
guides and forming the offset pattern for either drop load
or load head case loading. Some round bottle caser designs
provide the option of creating the offset pattern outside of
the loading area and using a robot to load the bottle group
into the case.

includes automated systems and software that provides
producers with turnkey-modular solutions to help increase
speed, efficiency and provide end users with a consistent
quality product.
To ensure that our clients are always receiving the most cutting-edge solutions, Westfalia makes an effort to continually
review our current offerings and invest in improvements
based on industry best practices and trends in customer
needs. We are always striving to continuously improve
the quality, value and integrity of our product lines. Our
latest improvement to the round bottle casers allow for the
creation of offset patterns to optimize the number of bottles
that can fit within a plastic case.
All of our Westfalia DEAM case packing and handling
systems are key components to the beverage industry
consumer who is looking to increase the reliability of their
products.

As the trend toward smaller bottles with unique shapes and
sizes continues, beverage and especially dairy companies
will need flexible case packing systems to maintain reliable
and efficient operations. Fortunately, new generation round
bottle casers with servo controls provide one touch HMI
size/pattern selection to help solve the challenges faced
when loading these small bottles. These flexible
case packing systems today, make change-overs
to different package sizes, and pack configurations remarkably easy with minimum down
time.
As such, we are seeing a trend
moving toward case packing and
handling equipment that is adapted
to the consumer on-the-go. There
is an increase in the use of integrated material handling systems
to help manufacturers and distributors adapt to the changing needs
of retailers and consumers alike.
This material handling equipment

www. WestfaliaUSA.com

The Satellite Review

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