A guide to buying the right automatic capping machine
In today’s highly digital world, new capping machines with advanced technologies are entering the market. And due to the many models and styles that all promise exemplary results, making the right choice can be daunting.
Whether you need a bottle capping machine for your small-, medium-, or large-scale production, you can always find the right one for your unique needs. Below are the six major factors to consider when choosing an automatic capping machine.
Degree of automation
Bottle cappers come with different levels of automation. Semi-automatic capping machines are cheaper but less efficient than fully automatic machines. The right level of automation will often depend on the current and future production levels, available staffing, and budget.
A fully automatic machine is less laborious and quite economical in the long run. Some automatic capping machines also come with clean-in-place technology, meaning you don’t need to manually clean them after use. This offers added convenience and minimises the chances of contamination. That said, a semi-automatic bottle capper could be your ultimate choice for small to medium-scale production.
Types of lids
The right choice of bottle capping machine will work with different types of lids to meet your production needs. The more the types of caps the machine can handle, the more flexible it is. However, this almost always means paying a bit for the added functionality and convenience. Before making up your mind, take some time to choose what works well for your products and budget.
Similarly, consider your current and future production plans. Do you plan to grow the production facility and perhaps handle different types of products? If yes, then it might be worth investing in an automatic capping machine that handles various types and sizes of lids.
Electrical eequirements
There are different types and designs of capping machines in the market. Some have special power requirements and may mean rethinking your existing power supply. To make things easier, you want to choose a bottle capper compatible with the current electrical circuitry.
That said, the electrical requirements of any machine often depend on its size and production capacity. Similarly, the design standards may vary depending on the country of origin or the region it’s designed to operate in. For instance, most European appliances run on 220 volts, while American machines run on 110 volts.
Factory size and production capacity
Before buying a bottle capping machine, you want to consider the size of the machine and the available factory space. Some machines are smaller and more compact than others, yet they have the same production capacity. The more modern machines may be expensive, but they can fit in space-constrained areas.
The right choice of the bottle capper will often depend on the available floor space and the required production capacity. By paying attention to these two factors, you will avoid the additional costs of expanding/renovating your space.
Price and warranty
The best bottle capping machine isn’t necessarily the most expensive. And the least expensive isn’t necessarily the poorest quality in the market. Even so, your budget will always limit you to choosing one product and not the other. After considering all the key features, next is to compare the pricing of bottle cappers from different manufacturers.
Once you have found an affordable option within your category, be sure to check the warranty. Any machine that’s not covered is always a red flag. A two to five-year warranty period for automatic bottle cappers should be the minimum duration.
Technical support
Last but not least, always check the availability of technical support. Some high-end manufacturers offer technical support while the machine is still covered under the warranty terms. That means you’ll benefit from free installation and regular maintenance services.
Depending on your production needs and the total investment put into the machine, choosing a manufacturer that offers technical support could be a great idea. This is especially true when you don’t have an in-house team of expert technicians yet.
Another thing to consider is how concise and comprehensive the user manual is. Or the availability of free online resources such as technical videos, FAQs, etc. The best manufacturers also offer on-site training of personnel and even toll-free numbers for instant/real-time help during emergencies.
Conclusion
Now that you know the things to look for when choosing an automatic capping machine, you should do your own research before settling on that one product. Where possible, you should first compare the manufacturers against the factors identified above. That way, you can easily sort the best products from the average.
From here, you can proceed to do further research, such as checking the manufacturers’ website and social media pages. You may also want to get testimonials from past or current clients, so you know exactly what you are getting into. This entire process will help you avoid making the wrong choices, especially picking a product that doesn’t meet your unique production needs.
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