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Focus on machine flexibility

A bottler and distributor for The Coca-Cola Co., Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company United must be flexible enough to quickly adapt to Coca-Cola’s frequent packaging changes and new introductions. Here, the bottler’s operations manager, Michael Lurker, talks about some of these challenges as they relate to packaging equipment.

Pw 2251 Michael Lurker

Packaging World: Why is flexibility such a huge requirement for packaging equipment at Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company United?

Lurker: As I am sure you are aware, over the last 10 years or so, Coke has been aggressively pursuing lightweight packaging, including PET bottles, aluminum cans, and closures. It makes for a challenge. Not only do we need flexibility in equipment for different bottle types—including different bottle styles and sizes—but it also has to be able to handle continuing lightweighting of the packaging.

What are some of the challenges to handling lighter-weight packaging on the line?

The main challenge is maintaining package integrity. For example, a PET bottle loses carbonation at a much faster rate than a can or a glass bottle. So the lighter in weight you make that plastic bottle, the shorter the shelf life of the product. You have to take that into consideration. For those plastic bottles, we add more CO2 at the point of production, because as soon as they hit the floor, they start losing CO2. You want to maintain x-amount of shelf life for that bottle and still provide a fresh product to the consumer. It adds some idiosyncrasies to your process.

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