KHS said its Innofill DRV is suitable for filling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles with carbonated products, fruit juices, mineral water, and still soft drinks.

Reducing maintenance and downtime, and improving accuracy are some measures that can help processors meet increasingly challenging performance targets.

The DRV precisely fills up to 80,000 containers per hour because the non-contact, adjustable filling volume measurement uses an electromagnetic inductive flowmeter, which reduces spillages, claims the company.

Transmitting filling pressure to the neck ring holder via expansion bellows means only two pneumatic functions are used during the whole process, reducing the number of machine components in operation.

The force of counter-pressure is also used to press bottles against the filling valve, with no additional lifting equipment required, as with competing products, the company claims.

Fewer moving parts during filling reduces the wear and tear on the system, which in turn requires less maintenance, claims KHS.

The stainless steel construction with reduced edges, corners and niches ensure improved filling hygiene, while allowing for the robust washdowns increasingly required by regulators, claims the manufacturer.

KHS claims DRV requires a short conversion time for product and bottle changeovers, while sequences are automated and reproducible. PC-based software not only controls the operations, but can also provide performance information to assist plant management.

KHS is a global manufacturer of packaging equipment for the beverage industry.