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Bottle packer brings speed, reduces breakage

Luxco is enjoying the sweet sounds of silence since upgrading its packaging line to technology that almost eliminates bottle breakage while increasing packer speed.

Soft Catch technology reduces the shock experienced by glass bottles.
Soft Catch technology reduces the shock experienced by glass bottles.

Saint Louis-based Luxco is one of the leading beverage alcohol suppliers in the U.S. The company receives bulk alcohol and then blends, packages, and ships its own lines of bourbon, brandy, vodka, rum, and tequila, as well as a range of flavored cordials and liqueurs.


During the installation of a new bottling line being installed to replace a 17-year old system, Luxco sought a bottle packer that would increase speed and offer better and more consistent control of bottles. The search led to a 939 Versatron “Soft Catch” Case Packer, manufactured by Standard-Knapp (www.standard-knapp.com). In addition to increasing speed, the packer significantly reduces bottle breakage. Other benefits include reduced changeover time and easier and more efficient preventive maintenance.


As Luxco plant manager Chris Wieczorek tells it, the need for increased speed was the biggest motivator for replacing the older system. As the firm gradually upgrades its machinery to reflect current market realities that necessitate a faster line, it started shopping around for a packer that would fit in with a complete new line install, from de-palletizer to case packer. “Our old drop packer just didn’t do the job properly,” said Wieczorek. “The bottles had a tendency to drop through the head too hard, which created too high a level of breakage. This has negative effects on our operations, as we have to stop the line and clean up the breakage.”


According to Wieczorek, the company looked at several packer manufacturers and models but opted for the 939 Versatron Case Packer after learning that it had gotten rave reviews from several other distilled spirit manufacturers for handling bottles with minimal impact. The results definitely met their expectations. “The new packer offers better control of bottles and operates extremely consistently,” says Wieczorek. 

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