Choose used beverage packing and palletising equipment by matching the container, finished pack, production rate and pallet specification. Check the complete configuration, including infeed, grouping, change parts, conveyors and pallet handling. A headline speed alone does not establish suitability for your project.

This guide covers used packing and palletising equipment for PET bottles, glass bottles and cans, including shrink packers, tray packers, wraparound and case packers, palletisers and depalletisers.

1. Specify the container, pack and pallet

Provide drawings and representative samples where possible. Include:

Container: material, dimensions, shape, weight and whether it arrives filled, closed, dry and labelled.
Pack: container count and arrangement, overall dimensions, weight, orientation and required protection.
Materials: film specification, printed or plain film, cardboard blank or case drawing, board grade, partitions and adhesive requirements.
Production: containers per hour, pack formats, changeover frequency and available accumulation.
Pallet: dimensions, layer pattern, layers per pallet, maximum height and weight, and any layer sheets or top sheets.
Project: layout, utilities, budget, installation location and target start-up date.

Specify the complete format range. A machine handling six 500 ml bottles may need different parts and settings for twelve cans or six 1.5 litre bottles, even where nominal pack dimensions appear similar.

2. Select the required packing method

Shrink-film packing

Shrink packers group containers and wrap them in film before shrinking it around the pack. Depending on configuration, they may produce film-only, pad-and-film or tray-and-film packs. Verify which modes are actually installed.

Confirm film width, thickness, reel dimensions, seal or overlap arrangement and printed-film registration where required. Check that the shrink tunnel and its controls are included and suitable for the pack. Assess heat exposure and stability with the intended container and product.

Tray packing

A tray packer forms or uses a tray around a group of containers. Tray-only output is different from tray-and-film output. Establish whether a separate wrapper and tunnel are required to produce the finished pack.

Check tray drawings, board specification, blank feeding, forming and adhesive equipment. A model offered as a tray packer should not be assumed to include film wrapping merely because a related model supports it.

Wraparound and case packing

A wraparound packer forms a cardboard blank around the container group. A case-loading system places containers into an erected case, with case erection and closing either integrated or provided separately.

Verify the pack construction, blank or case dimensions, partitions, loading method and closing system. A wraparound blank and a conventional regular slotted case are different packaging formats; conversion is not simply a change of cardboard supply.

Combination machines

Some machines support several cardboard and film formats. Confirm the supplied modules, control options, format parts and demonstrated performance for every required mode. Do not infer full combination capability from a machine family name.

3. Calculate capacity in the correct units

Required packs per minute = containers per hour ÷ containers per pack ÷ 60.

At 24,000 containers per hour, six-container packs require approximately 66.7 packs per minute, while twelve-container packs require approximately 33.3. The same filling rate can therefore create very different packer requirements.

Check whether the stated output is per lane or the combined output of multiple lanes. A machine quoted at 60 packs per minute across two lanes does not necessarily produce 60 packs per minute in each lane. Establish the supported pack size and grouping arrangement behind the figure.

A nominal 70-pack-per-minute machine has little headroom above a 66.7-pack-per-minute requirement. Assess demonstrated sustained output, replenishment stops, rejects and line behaviour before deciding whether that margin is sufficient.

For a pallet containing 20 packs per layer and eight layers, there are 160 packs per pallet. At 60 packs per minute, demand is 22.5 pallets per hour and 180 layers per hour. These figures exclude interruptions; assess pallet exchange, sheet placement and accumulation as part of the working cycle.

4. Match palletising and depalletising to the load

Palletisers may handle individual packs, rows or complete layers. Check payload, gripping method, operating envelope, layer formation and performance for the actual pack and pattern. Robot cycle count is not interchangeable with packs per minute or layers per hour.

Confirm pallet dimensions, allowable overhang, pack orientation, layer interlocking and the maximum loaded height and weight. Assess the stability of the complete load, including film, cardboard, layer sheets and pallet condition.

A finished-pack palletiser and an empty-container depalletiser perform different tasks. For a depalletiser, identify whether the load consists of empty cans, glass bottles, crates or packs, and check the supplied handling equipment and discharge arrangement.

Obtain an itemised list covering pallet magazines, pallet conveyors, layer-sheet handling, grouping tables, gripper heads and any pallet wrapping or strapping system. These items are not automatically included with the main machine.

5. Verify format parts and line integration

Check included change parts and recipes against each required format. Depending on the equipment, these may include:

Container grouping: lane guides, dividers, metering components and change parts for different container diameters and shapes.
Pack forming: film guides, forming sections, cardboard tooling, vacuum components and glue application equipment.
Case loading: grippers, heads, partition handling and container support arrangements.
Pallet handling: gripper or layer-transfer equipment, pattern programs, pallet positioning and sheet-handling components.

Review the interface with the filling line and labelling equipment. Confirm conveyor direction, heights, speeds, pack transfers, accumulation, controls and stop/start signals.

Lightweight PET bottles, wet containers, unstable groups and soft film packs may require particular handling arrangements. Test the intended package rather than assuming that equipment suitable for one container material suits all others.

6. Inspect condition and finished-pack quality

Where possible, inspect the equipment running with relevant containers and packaging materials. Record sustained output, stops, rejects, changeover time and material consumption under agreed conditions.

Assess film shrink, seal or overlap integrity, tray or case squareness, adhesive bonding, print registration where applicable and container damage. Check pack strength and stability against your handling and distribution requirements.

Inspect chains, belts, bearings, grouping components, cutting assemblies, heaters, tunnel airflow, glue systems and sensors. For palletising equipment, review grippers, transfer mechanisms, layer formation and pallet exchange, along with maintenance records and relevant component condition.

Check guarding, interlocks, control hardware, drawings and software backups. Include the complete safety arrangement for robotic cells and access points in the installation assessment. Confirm parts support for the exact model and generation.

For dismantled systems, establish completeness, labelling of connections, storage conditions and the work needed for reassembly. A short video of a machine cycling does not establish consistent finished-pack quality or complete-line performance.

7. Compare total installed cost

Include missing conveyors, format parts, tunnel, adhesive system, pallet handling, guarding, controls integration, repairs, dismantling, transport, installation, commissioning and initial spares. Check electrical load, air requirements, ventilation and service access against the new layout.

Compare film and cardboard consumption, adhesive, tunnel energy and changeover losses for the same finished pack. Account for pallet exchange and consumable replenishment when estimating labour and output.

Obtain a conversion quotation before buying equipment for a new format. A low purchase price may be offset by missing modules, unavailable tooling or insufficient sustained capacity. Agree acceptance criteria for the required packs and pallet loads.

Frequently asked questions

How fast must my packer run for 24,000 bottles per hour?

For six-bottle packs, approximately 66.7 packs per minute before allowing for operating margin. For twelve-bottle packs, approximately 33.3. Confirm the actual format and sustained capability of the complete packing system.

Can a film-only shrink packer also produce tray-and-film packs?

Only if it includes suitable tray forming or feeding equipment and the required controls and format capability, or can be economically converted. Confirm the installed configuration and conversion scope.

Can one machine pack PET bottles, glass bottles and cans?

Possibly, within its handling, weight and format limits. Check grouping, transfer, tooling and packaging materials for each container, and validate finished-pack quality at the required speed.

Can an existing palletiser run a new pallet pattern?

Possibly, if its grouping system, gripping equipment, payload and working envelope support the new load. A program change may be sufficient for some patterns; others require mechanical changes or different tooling.

Are the shrink tunnel and pallet wrapper included?

Only when expressly listed in the offer. Confirm each machine, conveyor, cabinet, utility connection and accessory rather than assuming the main machine includes the complete installation.

Discuss your packing and palletising requirement

Send PETmachinery your container drawing, pack specification, required container output, packaging-material drawings and pallet pattern. Include the available layout, installation location, budget and target date.

Email sales@petmachinery.com to discuss suitable configurations, or browse our used packing and palletising equipment. Technical suitability and current availability are assessed separately for each enquiry.

For the wider project, see our guide to choosing used PET and beverage production equipment.

Technical references

Manufacturer resources explain packing modes and pallet-handling configurations. Verify specifications against the particular used equipment and intended format.

How to Choose Used Beverage Packing and Palletising Equipment