Packaging Machinery and Equipment

Busch Machinery is your single source supplier of a full range of packaging machinery and systems including: filling machines, labeling equipment, capping machines, bottling equipment, flexible packaging systems, shrink wrap machines, tablet and capsule counters, and complete packaging lines for the Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic, Food and Beverage industries.

More packaging equipment is available also, such as, bottle unscramblers, bottle rinsers, liquid fillers, labelers, cappers, sleeving machines, horizontal flow wrappers, vertical form, fill, and seal machines, label applicators, cartoning machines, desiccant inserters, powder fillers, tube filling and sealing machinery, conveyors, heat tunnels, turntables, inkjet coders, printers and complete turnkey packaging systems.

Additionally Busch Machinery also has a wide array of End of Line Packaging Equipment including case erectors, case packers, case sealers, palletizers, and stretch wrapping machines.

Whether your company is a small startup operation looking for a semi-automatic packaging machine or a large operation needing high speed packaging equipment, Busch Machinery can offer the right machinery for the job based on over 35 years of actual hands-on applications expertise in the packaging machinery and equipment field. Customer service is our watchword. Call us at any time: 520-777-3360 or toll free in the USA at 800-840-9573.

Filling Machines

Inline pressure filler

The range of filling equipment options goes way beyond a simple liquid filling machine such as a basic pressure overflow filler.  Filling machinery also encompasses powder filling machines of several types such as Net Weight Fillers, Auger Filling machines, and volumetric fillers.  And of course liquid filling equipment has a number of options too such as pressure fillers, siphon fillers, vacuum fillers, piston filling machines, and other types of volumetric filling systems. But even within these types of liquid fillers there are variations such as viscosity of the liquid, its foaming characteristics, or even thick or thin liquids with solids such as salsa, potato salads or fine particulates and abrasives such as hand cleaners.  And beyond powder filling and liquid filling machinery are counting machinery for tablets, capsules and softgels as needed for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, or more specialized counters needed for parts packaging.

Not only are there a dizzying array of types of filling machine, but just as dizzying are the types of packaging that need to be filled.  We often think of filling equipment in terms of a water bottling plant with the basic bottle, cap and label, but there are many other types of containers that need to be filled such as pouches, bags, pails, cups, or other flexible packaging requirements such a vacuum packaging machines (think bacon or hot dogs), stand-up pouches, or cartons.  To learn more about your filling equipment options scoll further down this page or follow this link to our filling equipment page.

Labeling Equipment and Machines

High Speed Wrap Labeler

Just as with filling equipment, labeling machines come in numerous configurations dependent on the type of packaging that needs to be labeled. Busch Machinery offers numerous choices such as top labeling, bottom labeling, wrap labeling, front and back labeling, print and apply labeling, and sleeve applicators in models ranging from benchtop semi-automatic labelers to high speed automatic labeling systems. Among the types of labelers we have available are pressure sensitive labelers, hot melt glue labeling machines, cold glue labelers and shrink sleeve labelers (also known as full body sleevers). No one else can offer you the number of selections of labeling machinery as Busch Machinery with its expertise in the labeling equipment field, in many cases allowing you to choose from several selections to match your budget and needs. For more information about our labeling machines scroll further down the page or visit our labeling equipment page.

Capping Machines

Automatic Capping Machine

Busch Machinery carries several types of capping equipment including cap tighteners, automatic screw cappers, ROPP cappers, snap cappers and lidding machines. Inline screw capping machines are among the most popular models we sell because they are generally easy to changeover without the need for expensive change parts.  However chuck cappers offer much better torque consistency and can be configured for high speed rotary capping applications.  Oftentimes our customers purchase cap tighteners for retorquing caps after induction sealing (which tends to loosen caps), or for various specialty caps like trigger sprayers or pump spray assemblies.  ROPP capping machines use a blank shell and knurl the threading onto the cap after application to the bottle with special chucks that run the threads on the cap while rotating around it. Please scroll down this page or go to our capping equipment page now.  Please give us a call if you have any questions so our experts can go over your application with you.

Specialty Packaging Equipment

Busch Machinery services a number of sectors of packaging machinery buyers including chemical, cosmetic, beverage, food, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical health industries. In each of these sectors there are specialty machines used in the packaging process.  For instance pharmaceutical companies need cotton and/or desiccant inserters, food manufacturers need vacuum packaging equipment, cosmetics often need special soft handling.  All of these various types of machinery are available at Busch Machinery. If you can't find what you are looking for on our website, please give us a call at 800-840-9573 (in the USA), or 520-777-3360, because we do have it available.

Flexible Packaging Machines

Flexible Packaging System

Flexible Packaging machinery also encompasses a wide array of products and industries but the common characteristic is that the package is soft (flexible) such as bags, pouches, drink cartons and other collapsible type of containers. Generally it means the container is formed from a single or double web and that it is also filled and sealed during that same process. Vertical Form Fill and Seal (VFFS) is the most common type of machine used.  You see its products in the form of snack packages, lotion samplers, loose candies, nuts, powdered goods (often inserted into cartons as in cereals, brown sugar, etc.), and even parts like bolts or other hardware items.

Another common type of flexible packaging machine is the horizontal flow wrapper.  Horizontal flow wrappers are used to package solid products individual packages like candy bars, health food bars, brownies, or even packages holding a notepad or electronic parts.

There are horizontal pouch machines that also work from a continuous web as well as specialty resealable standup pouches that are preformed individually and then loaded onto the filling and sealing machine from a magazine feed.  Whatever your need for flexible packaging equipment, Busch Machinery more than likely has the machine you need.  Give our staff a call today or send us an email.  We are here to serve you!

End of Line Packaging Equipment

Automatic Uniform Case Sealer

After individual packages have been made the next step is getting the products ready for shipment. End of Line packaging machines do all of that including automatic and semi-automatic case erectors, case packers, case sealers, bundlers (also known as sleeve wrappers), palletizers, pallet wrappers, plus all of the conveyor systems needed to transport the products. Oftentimes additional accessory equipment is used at the end of line phase such as Print and Apply Labeling Machines, or Inkjet coders to print right on the box.

Uniform Case Sealers

Case sealing machines are among the most common end of line machines, even for the small shipper.  There are several types of carton sealer available. The most basic type is what is known as a semi-automatic case sealer.  A semi-automatic case sealing machine requires the operator to close all of the flaps prior to pushing into the machine.  At that point the conveyor belts drive the box through the machine while it tapes both the top and bottom at the same time (or top or bottom only).

Automatic case sealers can also tape the boxes on the top and bottom, but automatically close all of the flaps including the leading, trailing and side flaps before taping. This machine and the semi-automatic carton sealer described above are what is known as a Uniform case sealer, meaning that the machines are designed for production runs of cases of the same size (uniform), and then physically readjusted (usually only taking less than a minute) for the next sized box.

Random Case Sealers

Semi-Automatic Random Case Sealer

Random case sealers are used when each box size can vary randomly, such as in order picking warehouses. In this situation the carton sealer automatically adjusts to the size of the box as presented.  Random box sealing machines run much slower than Uniform case sealers and cost quite a bit more, due to the extra mechanisms and time required so that the machine can self-adjust to the carton size. 

Edge Sealing Machines

Edge sealing machines seal all four edges of the carton after the initial center seal is made with one of the case sealing machines above.  Edge sealing is sometimes required for extra protection of the contents. An edge sealer is available in automatic and semi-automatic versions as well as Uniform and Random edge sealers.

Sleeve Wrappers and Bundlers

Sleeve wrappers are an alternative to case packing where the product is bundled together for shipment.  A common application is in water bottling where the bottles are wrapped in plastic and sealed, then shrunk in a heat tunnel.  The most obvious distinction of this type of wrapping is that there are two unsealled openings on either side of the product, often called "bullseyes".  For water bottling this is actually an advantage when  lifting a 24 or 30 bottle bundle as it provides natural "handles" to lift with.

Case Erectors and Box Forming Machines

Automatic Case Erector

Case Erectors form up boxes from the lay flat position and close and seal the bottom flaps of the carton with tape or optionally with hot melt glue. Most often they are used in conjunction with automatic case packers (below) but can also be used for hand packing products into the box.  A case erecting machine can be made in several formats including vertical and horizontal depending on which configuration is best suited for the product that will be inserted.

Case Packers

Case Packing machines are available from for a wide range of packaged products and manufactured goods.  Models are available for horizontal, vertical and robotic case packing.  Examples of the types of goods that can be automatically packed in boxes are bottles, cans, shelving units, bags such as snack foods, TV's, sewing machines, cabinets, and really almost anything packed in a carton. There are numerous ways to accomplish these applications and the best way to discover your options is to call us at 800-840-9573 (US) or 520-777-3360 (Intl).

Palletizing Equipment

Once your products are ready for shipment the next step in automation is an automatic palletizer.  Palletizers are available in several formats depending on your specific application ranging from low table to high table styles or in some cases robotic.  Palletizers are capable of more than just loading boxes onto pallets but can also load large bulk bags, tires, cabinets or many other products.  Again the options are many, so we recommend that you call or email us about your specific application.

Pallet Wrapping Machines

Stretch Wrapping Machine

Pallet Wrappers are pretty much the last stage of the packaging process.  To ensure that your goods stay in place during shipping the most common system for this are pallet wrapping machines. Pallet wrappers come in many forms from simple pallet wrapping tools, to semi-automatic machines, and on to fully automatic machines that can index the pallet into position, wrap it, and move it on to a shipping area of storage. There are several types of pallet wrappers to choose from including rotary table, overhead arm, orbital wrappers that work from a horizontal feed, and many speciallty wrappers for cabinets, doors, tires, etc. Give us a call today!

Printers, Coders, Print and Apply Labeling Machines

Busch Machinery also carries a complete line of ancillary packaging equipment such as Hot Stamp Coders for printing expiration dates and/or lot numbers on labels, inkjet coders for printing expiration dates and/or lot numbers directly on bottles or cartons, high resolution large character ink-jet coders for printing barcodes, graphics, and text on cartons, and a wide array of print and apply labelers for labeling bottles, cartons and pallets with high resolution graphics text and bar-codes while printing all of that variable data on the labels just before it is applied. Additionally Busch carries full color printers for printing your labels in full 2600 dpi color.

Packaging Machinery Applications:

Filling Equipment:

Siphon Filling Machine

Siphon Filling Machine

Siphon Fillers are the simplest type of semi-automatic filler available and are very affordable (under $3,900) systems for bottling free flowing liquids. Since this filling system operates by siphon it is impossible to overfill a bottle since the level in the bottle is set to the level in the tank. All stainless steel contact parts and tank makes this usefull for a variety of products such as water, chemicals, non-carbonated beverages as well as a variety of cosmetic products like lotions and light shampoos. Siphon filling machines are so simple all you need to do is gravity flow your product into the float valve level controlled tank, adjust the bottle stand to the right height, start the siphon, and start producing. Fills 4 oz to 1 gallon containers easily and faster than you might think.

Piston Fillers - Check Valve Type

Another simple filling system is a check-valve operated piston filling machine for product consistencies ranging from light liquids to lotions. An attractive feature of this style of piston filler is that it is self priming for most products. In other words you simply drop a hose into your product and the piston filling system will pull the product up on each stroke than dispense the volume of product you set the machine for into your container. Accuracy of plus or minus one-half of a percent is typical for this kind of machine. CIP (clean in place) for many products and easy no tool disassembly/assembly for thorough cleaning. Great as a single head or two head tabletop filler, or can be ganged together for fully automatic filling operations.  Systems run completely on air so check-valve piston fillers are great for hazardous areas or full washdown environments.

Piston Filling Machine - Rotary Valve Style

Rotary Valve Piston Filling Machine

Another type of filling machine is the rotary valve piston filler. This type of filler differs from the check valve type in that it is not self-priming but instead is fed from a hopper above. In betwen the hopper and discharge is a rotary valve that opens between the hopper and cylinder on the intake stroke, then rotates 90 degrees between the cylinder and dispense tube for the discharge stroke.  The big advantage of a rotary valve piston filler is not only its ability to fill thick pastes but its ability to also  fill products with suspended solids such as potato salad, salsas or any other chunky product. As with most piston filling machines accuracy is within 1/2 percent, plus or minus.  A rotary valve piston filling machine can be purchased as a single or double headed benchtop model, or configured as a multiple head automatic piston filling system. Easy no-tool disassembly using triclamp fittings, rotary valve piston fillers are great for chemicals, foods, cosmetics and any number of other thick or suspended solid formulations.

Volumetric Pump Fillers - An alternative volumetric filler

A volumetric pump filler is another alternative means of filling a wide range of products from thick to thin and even products that have smaller particulates such as found in a chunky peanut butter. The biggest advantage of this type of liquid filler over a piston filler is that it really has an almost unlimited amount of fill capacity where a piston filler is pretty much restricted to an 8-10 to one ratio per cylinder and piston set. However, as a practical matter a volumetric pump filler has limitations. For instance if you fill primarily gallon bottles but also want to fill one ounce bottles the size of pump required to fill gallons quickly would preclude accurate filling of one ounce bottles.  However, if one primarily filled one ounce bottles and had an occassional need to fill one gallon bottles, a smaller pump can be used for accuracy on 1 oz., but still be used to fill one gallon bottles ocassionally, albeit slowly. As always we highly recommend that you go over your applications thouroughly with our sales engineers to make sure your new purchase will meet all of your needs.

Pressure Filling Equipment - Overflow Fillers

Overflow Pressure Filling Machine

Pressure filling machines are characterized by the fact that product is pumped directly from the supply tank into the bottle which than fills to the set level and then overflows back into the tank. Upon completion of the fill cycle the pump is turned off, allowing the remaining excess product to drain back to the tank, and in the case of many plastic bottles, to allow the swelled bottle to relieve the built up pressure. The big advantage of using a pressure filler is that it fills to a liquid level in the bottle as opposed to dispensing an exact volume as with a piston filler.  Since bottles often vary somewhat volumetrically, a liquid level filler allows bottles on the shelf to look uniformly filled, even with slight variation of fill volume. An overflow filler works great with pure liquids, lotions and shampoos so long as they do not contain particulates. Great for water bottling, non-carbonated beverages, lotions, shampoos and a wide variety of other products. Pressure filling machines can be configured for inline filling up to 12 heads, or as rotary filling head for higher speed operations up to 72 heads.

Counter Pressure Fillers - For Carbonated Beverages

Rotary Rinser-Filler-Capper for Carbonated Beverage

Counter pressure filling machines are specially designed for carbonated beverages, although they can also be used for non-carbonated products as well if there is need of a dual purpose machine such as soda and water bottling. The big difference between counter pressure filling machines and regular pressure fillers is the addition of a third filling tube to inject CO2 into the bottle while filling which helps reduce foaming while the carbonated mix is introduced into the bottle and to help maintain CO2 levels within the bottles. Busch Machinery has a full line of monoblock systems known as Rinser-Filler-Capper combinations with production speeds of between 3,000 and 30,000 bottles per hour. Call us today at 800-840-9573 (US) or 520-777-3360 for complete line quotations including Blow Molders, CIP systems, Mixing machines, labeling, chillers, bottle warmers and much more.

Vacuum Filling Machines

Vacuum fillers are not much used anymore with the disappearence of glass bottles, but they still have their uses for products like nail polish or other products with small neck openings that are packaged in glass containers. These are usually custom built machines, but we do have them available if needed.

Powder Filling Equipment - For powders and granules, and assorted other products

Net Weight Powder Filling Machine

Net Weight Powder Fillers

Net weight fillers are generally the most accurate fillers because they weigh the product before dispensing into your package.  The general format of a net weight filler is as follows: Product if filled into a hopper that can have an optional vibrator on it, the product is then fed down a vibrating trough that feeds out into a gated weigh bucket that is mounted to a load cell. At first the product is fed at high speed to fill the bucket as fast as possible, but then switches to a dribble feed as it approaches the preset weight. Once the weight is reached the dribble feed cuts off and is ready to be dispensed into the package. Opening the gate allows the product to flow into your container.  The big advantage of a net weight filler is its accuracy, for some products to within 1/10 of a gram. The disadvantage is that it is relatively slow, perhaps no more than 20 containers per minute for a single head net weight filling machine. But like many machines, a net weight filler can be made as a tabletop model or arrayed into multi-head versions for higher speeds or better weight control.  Net weight fillers can be used for more than just powders. For instance shrimp, cauliflower and other larger items can be filled more accurately by setting up an array of 10 buckets set up for about one half of the desired weight.  The system can then scan the two buckets that contain the most accurate final weight and dump them for the fill. This helps save product where in many cases a whole extra shrimp might have otherwise been given away.  Net weight filling machines are also useful in other industries as well, most anything that is weighed and is transportable can be filled, like nails, potting soils, etc.

Auger Fillers

Auger Filling Machine for powders

Auger Fillers are another popular method for dispensing powders and granules.  Rather than weighing the product augers (screws) turn within a close fitting cylinder attached to a hopper. By very accurately keeping track of the revolutions of the auger can very accurately repeat volumetric accuracy, which is in turn (for most products) accurate in weight. The biggest advantage of an auger filling machine is that they are generally twice as fast as a net weight filler. Another big advantage of an auger filler is that it is relatively a much more closed system than a net weight filler which makes it the best choice for very fine powders like talcs and flours so that dust does not accumulate as much in the work area and air.

Volumetric Cup Filler

The best way of thinking about how a cup filler works is to think of measuring a cup of ground coffee, dip in the measuring cup, level it off and you have the picture of what a cup filling machine works like.  Basically it is simply a rotary table (or in some cases a cup on a slide) with cups located to the underside of the table which run under the hopper and gets wiped down to the level of the table.  Then the cup rotates 180 degrees around to the drop hole on the plate that the cup rotates over. Volumetric cup filling machines are great for granules and products like ground coffee.  The big advantage is that this type of filler is relatively cheap if you are only running one size fill,  or a couple of fills that are very close in size.  The big disadvantage is that finely ground products are a bit messy.  Granules or coarsely ground products work fine.

Tablet Counters - Filling Machinery by the count method for tablets, capsules, soft-gels and other products

Not all products can be weighed, filled to a level or measured volumetrically. Tablet counters are a type of filling machine that actually counts the number of parts before dispensing into a container. There are basically three types of counters on the market today: rotary table tablet counters, slat counters (which we do not sell) and a sort of combination machine known as a multi-lane tablet counter.

Rotary Disk Tablet Counter

Rotary table counting machines are available as semi-automatic or automatic tablet counters.  The basic method by which a rotary table tablet counter works is that product is loaded into a hopper and the tablets are fed via a vibrator onto a rotary disk (generally made of glass).  Once on the disk, guidrails and wipers are used to line up the tablets or capsules in a single line to the outer edge of the disk. The tablets or pills are then discharged off the edge of the disk where a high speed counting eye actually counts the soft gels as they fall. Just below this eye are solenoid activated diverters that switch the moment a count is reached and accumulates the next batch of tablets in a holding area until another bottle is present at which time the tablets are released into the bottle and any remaining count goes directly into the bottle until count is reaches and the diverter switches over to the opposite holding area. The big advantage of this type of tablet filling machine is that it is very easy to change over to a number of different tablets, capsules, and soft gels and are relatively lower priced.  The big disadvantage is that they are not particularly fast if you need high production rates, although three machines can be arrayed together to reach speeds (depending on count, pill size, neck opening) of up to 60 bottles per minute on a 30 count.

Slat Counters

Slat counters are another type of tablet counting machine that can offer high speed productions rates but is not changeover and cleaning friendy. The method by which this works is that sectioned plastic slats slide under the tablets and fill in the rows as this plastic chain link moves toward the discharge area. The rows of tablets have a known number of tablets and so the slats discharge one row at a time until the count is reached. These machines can achieve very high production rates and as far as we are concerned they are great machines, if you are not required to do changeovers on a regular basis.  However today's marketplace calls not only for production rates, but more verification and easy changeover and cleaning.  For this reason Busch Machinery does not offer slat counters.

Multi-Channel Tablet Counting Machine

Multi-Channel Tablet Counting Machines - Easy Changeovers, Fast, Accurate

Multi Channel tablet counters offer the extreme accuracy of count, easy changeover, and the speeds required for today's demanding pharmaceutical and nutraceutical requirements. Soft gels, capsules and tablets of all shapes and sizes can be filled accurately with channel counters. Available in 12 channel increments with production speeds of fifty bottles per minute per 12 channels is possible. Changeovers and cleanup can be completed in less than 15 minutes without the use of tools. Store up to 50 product counts and settings into memory for instant startup.

Capping Machines - Inline Screw Cappers, Snap Capping, Chuck Cappers, ROPP Cappers, Lidders

Inline Screw Capping Machines

Inline Screw Capping Machines

Inline screw cappers are by far the most popular machines for capping most products that take a screw cap. Changeovers are easy with a wide range of bottle and cap sizes. There are also several variations of cap sorters available for flat caps, barrel caps and specialty caps using floor level elevator/sorters, centifugal feeders, and vibratory feeders. Caps are tightened with 3 or 4 pairs of side tightening disks (depending on the model) that spin the cap on as the bottle is driven through the disks with side drive hugger belts that keep the bottle stable through the tightening process. The big advantage of an inline capper is its ease of changeover and simplicity of design.  The disadvantage of an inline screw capper is, despite improving clutch control options, that torques applied to the cap can be relatively uneven compared to a good chuck capper, and particularly so when higher torque requirements must be met.

Inline Cap Tighteners and Retorquers

Inline Cap Tightener or Retorquer

Basically an inline cap tightener is the same machine as an inline screw capper, except it does not include a cap chute and cap sorting system (which is about half of the cost). These are great machines for smaller operations where the operator simply starts a cap on by hand and then lets the machine do the torquing of the cap. These are also great machines for operations that require spray caps or trigger sprayers that are hard to sort automatically.

Another great application for a cap tightener is as a retorquer. In today's tamper evident and spill proof environment many products are now induction sealed (where the aluminum foil liner of the cap is melted onto the top edge of the bottle neck).  One of the problems of induction sealing (which is done after the cap is tightened on in the capping operation) is that it tends to loosen the cap. This is where the inline cap tightener crosses over to become a cap retorquing machine.

Snap Cappers - For products that press the cap on

Snap capping machines work much like an inline screw capper does except instead of screwing the cap on with side tightening disks an overhead belt the presses the cap in place.

Chuck Capping Machines - Cappers with very precise torque control and high speed as rotary cappers

Rather than tightening from the sides as in an inline screw capper a chuck capper has a chuck that firmly grasps the cap and spins the cap onto the bottle from above and therefore the clutching mechanism can be set very accurately to control cap torque. Chuck Capping machines are available from single head to multiple head high speed machines. The big advantage of a chuck capping machine is its scalability for high speed operation and of course its precise torquing of the cap.  The disadvantage of a chuck capper is that each bottle size requires change parts and if the cap sizes change all of the chucks also have to change (not to mention the possiblity that sorting and cap conveying might also require change parts). When considering a chuck capping machine, one should seriously consider using the same caps for all bottles on the line, as bottle change parts are relatively inexpensive to changing chucks for a variety of caps.

ROPP Capping Head Forms Threads to Conform to Bottle Threading from outside the shell

ROPP Capping Machine - A capper that forms the threads while sealing

Many customers ask us what ROPP is and the simple answer is Roll On Pilfer Proof closure.  Simply put it is an unthreaded aluminum shell that is placed on and pressed down onto the bottle neck while thread forming wheels spin around the shell and press against it to conform to the existing threads of the bottle and locking ring. In many respects a ROPP capper resembles a chuck capper although since it is not torquing a cap there is no clutch mechanism required.  ROPP capping machines are available  as a single head to multiple head high speed rotary systems. The big advantage of a ROPP capper is that it is sealing the product at the same time it is providing tamper evident security. The big disadvantage is that it is expensive to run more than one size cap. The neck and threads of the bottle must also be hard enough to withstand the pressure required to form threads such as glass or hard plastic.

Lidding Machines - Press on lids such as seen on deli containers

Lidding machines are another sealing system that is commonly used on deli type containers. Product is driven to pick up the lid from the escapement chute and then runs under a belt or rollers to press the lid on. What separates a lidder from a snap capper is primarily the sorting system where stacks of already oriented lid are placed into a magazine instead of an sorting system to orient caps. Lidding machines can be separate units on a line or are integrated as part of cup filling machine monoblock system. 

Labeling Equipment - Types of labeling machinery

There are many kinds of labelers depending on the surface or surfaces to be labeled, the labeling accuracy required, and production needs. For ease of explanation we group labelers in several categories including: Semi-Automatic Labeling Machines, Label Applicators, Automatic Labeling Systems, Full Body Sleeve Labelers, and Print and Apply Labeling

Semi-Automatic Labeling Machines

Semi-Automatic Wrap Labeler

Pressure Sensitive Wrap Labelers for Round Products and Bottles

Busch Machinery carries a full line of semi-automatic wrap around labelers for applying pressure sensitive labels to round bottles or other products. A hand crank tabletop model is even available for those who produce less than 500 bottles per day (ADL-301). A second tabeltop model is available with powered rollers for those with higher production needs (ADL-302). Our premier semi-automatic labeleing machines come on a portable cart to make it easy to move to the work area where needed. Our ADL-300 and ADL-310 models feature automatic label feed when bottle is placed in the cradle and have other options available such as registration relative to the handle on gallon bottles, front and back labeling (labels printed front followed by back on the same roll), and a Hot Stamp coder option. The ADL-300 is capable of running up to 20 bottles per minute and the ADL-310 with its unique push through feature is capable of speeds up to 40 bottles per minute.

Semi-Automatic Hot Melt Glue labelers for round products, bottles, cans and pails.

Another type of wrap labeler is our Hot Melt glue series. Each wrap labeling machine features a unique skip gluing system that applies glue to the leading edge and trailing edge (also known as the lap end when the trailing edge wraps over the leading edge of the label) of the label. Hot Melt wrap labelers work only with sheet cut labels that are loaded into a magazine on the machine. 

Three versions of Hot Melt labelers are available: ADL-200 for standard bottles and other round products, ADL-201 designed especially for paint cans with ears where the label is registered so that the ear holes can clear the ears on the can, and the ADL-205 Pail labeling machine that features automatic registration of the label between the lugs.

Semi-Automatic Tamp Labeler

Tabletop Semiautomatic Tamp Labeling Machine - for labeling boxes, flat products and ovals

Benchtop tamp labelers are built for labeling boxes, flat products (including layflat boxes), and rectangular or oval bottles. Die cut pressure sensitive labels are driven onto a vaccum plate and once in position the label is pressed onto the product that is held in a fixture or jig. If front and back labeling is desired, labels can be printed alternately on the same roll and product can be labeled on one side then flipped to accept the second label. Typical speeds are up to 20 per minute  for one sided labeling and 10 per minute for front and back labeling applications.

Label Applicators - Labeling Heads that can added to lines or packaging systems

Label Applicators are stand alone labeling heads for pressure sensitive labeling that can be mounted on an optional floor stand or integrated into other packaging systems or applications via the universal U-bracket mounting. Additionally various options for application are available such as blow-on modules, tamp applicators, smart tamp, or wipe-on which comes as standard. For higher accuracy requirements there is also an encoder option available.  A label applicator has many uses such as applying promotional stickers, box labeling, sheet labeling or any number of other applications. While a label applicator is lower priced than a labeling system, customers should understand that applicators are not meant to be a cheap way around labeling systems that have integrated control systems, product handling, and designs that offer much higher label placement accuracy. Instead customers should understand the limitations of a label applicator, while also realizing that an applicator properly integrated into other machines can also offer very high accuracy.  As with all machinery purchases, we recommend that you discuss your project with our sales engineers to make sure the system you purchase will satisfy your needs.

Automatic Labeling Systems - Labeling Machines with integrated controls and product handling

Automatic labeling systems are a step beyond simple label applicators because the labeling heads can be integrated fully with the controls and product handling so that much higher label application accuracy can be acheived. In fact many of the systems we offer have fully integrated digital control systems which allows for even greater accuracy, easy setup, and fast changeover.

Examples of some standard labeling systems are: Vertical Wrap Labelers, Front and Back Labelers, Front-Back-Wrap machines, Horizontal Wrap Lableing Machines, Top and Bottom labelers, Top Labelers, and Bottom Labelers, all of which are for pressure sensitive labeling applications.

Vertical Wrap Around Labelers - Pressure sensitive labelers for round products

Vertical Wrap Labeler

A vertical wrap labeling machine is designed to wrap labels around round bottles and other cylindrical products that are stable when standing vertically. Vertical wrap labeling systems are available in several formats depending on production requirements.  For instance a simple three roll wrap labeler is a great machine for speeds of 40 bottles per minute and under, or for front and back labeling when both labels are printed on the same roll.  Another type of vertical wrap labeling system is more of a continuous motion machine where bottles are spaced and labels are dispensed as the bottle meets up with the label dispense point and the bottle is captured between a pressure pad assembly and a belt that spins the bottle at the same rate of speed as the label dispense speed.  This type of labeler is driven by either a stepper motor or servo drive motor depending upon speed requirements. A third type of  wrap labeler is for speeds in the 150-275 bottle per minute range where the pressure pad is replaced with a powered roller system to trap the bottles and keep them square during the labeling process.

Top Labelers - Labeling for caps, tops, or many other products including boxes, magazines, lay flat cartons

Top Labeling Machine

Top labeling mahines are among the most versatile of all labelers available with the ability to place stickers on the top of boxes, bottle caps, clam shells, bakery goods, magazines, lay flat boxes, flash chips or any number of other parts or products. These machines are very simple to use and have very good accuracy.

Bottom Labeling Machinery

Bottom labeling equipment works much like a top labeler except that the labeling head is mounted underneath a split belt conveyor. With great accuracy and ease of use bottom labelers can label the underside of a wide range of products.  If the product is too small to effectively bridge the split in the belt, a hugger belt system is used to carry the product accross the gap, or in some cases totally replaces the split belt conveyor. As with any machine purchase, customers are encouraged to call our sales engineers to make sure that the machine fits the application.

Top and Bottom Labeling Equipment - Labels the top and bottom of your product at the same time

If a product needs to be labeled on the top and bottom, top and bottom labelers can do both jobs on one very compact machine. Normally most products can be run on a split belt conveyor, but we do have the hugger belt options (see bottom labelers above) for smaller or unstable products. The great thing about top and bottom labelers is that both labels can be applied in a very compact amount of space on a wide variety of products.

Front and Back Labeling Machine

Front and Back Labeling Systems for Ovals and Rectangular Products

Front and Back Labeling machine apply labels to both sides of a bottle at the same time. A typical front and back labeler consists of several components including a spacer wheel, alignment system, top hold down belt (to stabilize the product), two labeling heads, and a powered roller to wipe down the label. Front and Back Labeling Machines of this type work on rectangular and oval shaped bottles, but can also be modified for three and four panel wrap applictions. There is even an option that allows a plug in wrap station to be inserted to add capability for wrap labeling of round bottles, commonly called a Front/Back/Wrap labeling machine.

Front and Back Labeler for Round Products

Standard front and back labelers like the one above have a hard time pressing the label down at the edges so another type of labeler is available that can wrap two identically sized labels onto a round bottle utilizing what is known as a three roll system.  Three roll systems are not blazingly fast, topping out at about 40 bottles per minute, but are relatively inexpensive and work well for many installations. Call Busch Machinery to find your best solutions.

Full Body Sleeve Labelers - Labels that are formed as a tube and shrunk on the bottle

Full Body Sleeve Applicator

Another type of labeling machine that has become very popular over the last decade are full body sleeve applicating machines that cut and apply labels that are made in a tube shape (both seamed and unseamed) and then laid flat in roll form. The labels are advanced by a drive that stops according to the registration marks that are printed on the film, cut with various types of knives, and then opened and placed over the bottle, then shrunk onto the bottle in a heat tunnel.  Machines speeds vary according to the model of machine from 30 - 600 bottles per minute. A big advantage of a full body sleeve applications is that the cost per sleeve is substantially lower than a pressure sensitive label of similar size plus there is no waste material which is yet another added bonus in our environmentally sensitive era. The disadvantage is that while printing technologies have made significant strides in recent years, the quality and printing options are not up to the level of pressure sensitive labels - yet.

Print and Apply Labeling Equipment - Prints Labels and/or Variable Data, then applies to your product

Print and Apply labelers are utilized in a number of different applications where pre-printed labels just are not worth the trouble of inventory or in situations where the data fields are constantly changing (such as serialized products).

Direct Print and Apply Labeling Head

These systems generally have the ability to print barcodes, graphics and text on what are called OEM print engines that are incorporated into the application system. At the present time most of these printers are only capable of printing in one color but can do so in 203 - 600 dpi resolution.  We often see customers use a base label that is preprinted with company logos, etc., and then print the variable data onto the label.

There are two types of print and apply labeling systems: direct print and apply and loose loop printing.  Direct print and apply means the label that is printed is the same label that is applied to the product. But direct print and apply has speed limitations that are based on the thermal transfer printer print speed and the size of the label (although most printers can now print up to 12"/second (203 dpi). Direct print and apply also is slower becauce the actual application time has to be deducted from every cycle.  Loose Loop print and apply systems on the other hand are much faster because the printer can run more or less continually without losing application time because the printed labels feed into a separate application labeling head that can run faster than the 12"/second print  speed, but has time in between applications that allow the printer to keep printing. Both types of print and apply labeling machines are availabe at Busch Machinery.  Give us a call to help you get the right system for your needs.

Flexible Packaging Equipment

Flexible packaging equipment is comprized of products that are packaged in soft packages such as bags and pouches. Busch Machinery offeres three types of machines in this category.  Vertical Form, Fill and Seal (VFFS) is the most common and familiar machine as they can package a wide variety of products such as seeds, snack foods, powdered goods, and liquids. A second type of machine is known as a flow wrapper or horizontal forming machine.  Horizontal flow wrappers are used to package individual (and sometimes multiple) pieces such as candy bars, health bars, and a varied assortment of other products. The third type of machine is a standup pouch filling and sealing machine where the bags are premade.

Vertical Form Fill and Seal Packaging System

Vertical Form, Fill and Seal Machinery (VFFS)

Vertical form, fill, and seal machines are useful for a wide array of products from small individual, single use packages (also known as sachet packaging machines) to large bags for potting soils  or in-between sizes like potato chips.  Most machines are configured for the common fin seal seen on the back side of bags, but many smaller bags can be made with three or four sided seals and no back fin. Additionally many of these machines are also capable of making twin packs such as a combination of shampoo and conditioner. Yet another variation of VFFS machine is a stick packer which can form up to 10 bags from a single roll of film (printed or unprinted)).

Horizontal Flow Wrapper

Horizontal flow wrappers are great machines for packaging individual items such as candy bars, cards, electronic boards, etc.  There are also versions that can handle heat shrinkable films. For some applications 3 or 4 sided seals are available in addition to the standard fin seal.

Standup Pouch Filling and Sealing Machines

Another type of pouch is the standup  pouch which is very useful for displaying on the shelf much like bottled products. However instead of forming from a continuous web as VFFS and Flow wrappers do, stand up pouches are premade as individual bags and fed into the filling and sealing machine via a special conveyor magazine. It is possible to fill powders, granules or liquids into the pouch .

Shrink Wrapping Equipment includes an L-sealer and Heat Tunnel

Shrink Wrapping Equipment and Heat Tunnels

Shrink wrapping machines are available from semi-automatic to high speed automatic machines.  The basic system is comprisesed of an L-sealer, and shrink tunnel.  Common products that can be sealed can  range from cartons to combo packs.  Busch Machinery carries a full range of shrink wrappers and heat tunnels to meet your specific needs.

At Busch Machinery our number one priority is customer service