Keep on moving! Gebo launches beer bottle conveyor

The guide rail’s low contact point allows for bottle stability, which can handle all bottle formats and the profile height of 110mm avoids potential damage to labels.

The K110 system hit the market this month but was shown at Drinktec trade show last year.

Gebo said cross-triangulation and optimized weight distribution allows for smooth, symmetrical conveying.

Beer bottle conveying​

Vincent Piron, product manager, said the system represents a step forward in beer bottle conveying capabilities.

“At the same time, the superb flexibility and durability of this unit shows the extent of Gebo’s expertise: brewers will now have can, glass and plastic products across all categories, capable of delivering excellent results in any conditions.”​

PEHD 1000 M-Slide plastic was used for optimal thermal and mechanical stability, said the firm.

The conveyor has been designed with no visible threads on the guide supports and potential fluid retention zones kept to a strict minimum to meet hygiene demands.

Gebo said it allows for bending on-site, allowing beer manufacturers to tailor the installation to the layout constraints of their production facilities.

Heavy duty crate conveyor​

Gebo’s heavy duty crate conveyor has also been introduced this month after being shown at Drinktec 2013.

It has a single or double chain format, with 5mm vertical and flat strips and can be adapted for straight or curved transit.

The crate conveyor’s open design leaves no chance for dust retention - a cause of corrosion and breakdowns faced by beer packaging lines, where dust, sand and glass particles are an issue.

V-Tech Engineering expansion​

Meanwhile, V-Tech Engineering is adding more manufacturing space to accommodate recent business growth and the company’s plans for further expansion

The firm, headquartered in Bluffton, Indiana, said the facility began operation at the start of the month and expanded manufacturing space by 125%.

It plans to add more robotics for sheet metal handling and welding processes and fabricating equipment and robotics are being installed over the next few weeks.

The site will manufacture tunnel ovens, acting as the final assembly point and the 21,000 square foot facility will be equipped with sheet metal forming and fabrication equipment.

“The success of our tunnel ovens, spiral conveyors, and conveying systems we manufacture have fueled the need for a larger and more efficient manufacturing space,”​ said Bo Alstoft, President of V-Tech Engineering Inc.

V-Tech Engineering designs and manufactures food processing equipment primarily for the baking and snack food industries.