With over 30 different brands and varieties, the world's leading beer manufacturer Molson Coors caters to the tastes of consumers worldwide. For a highly flexible end-of-line packaging solution, the development team from machine manufacturers KHS and Schubert has combined the expertise of both companies in an optimum solution: the Innopack TLM packaging machine fulfils three tasks at once.
For its new production site in the Canadian British Columbia the brewery needed Molson Coors a new, highly flexible system for the production of filled Glass bottles fully automated packaging. The different types of beer were to be packaged in a variety of different formats while ensuring maximum adaptability to future product and format changes. „It was very important for us to find a solution that would ensure flexibility so that we could react quickly to new market requirements,“ recalls Connie Jones, Senior Project Manager at Molson Coors.
„Each of the companies has contributed its core expertise: KHS is one of the most innovative and internationally leading companies in the filling industry, and Schubert has been shaping the global packaging industry for over 50 years.“
Sebastian Mayer, Sales Group Manager at Schubert.
Up to 720 bottles per minute in six formats
The challenge was to find three individual Packaging processes seamlessly into a high-performance packaging machine. The key to this was the Innopack TLM, a state-of-the-art system for the packaging of Glass bottles, jointly organised by KHS and Schubert was developed. Both companies have pooled their expertise to develop a space-saving system with high performance that fulfils the KHS bottle packer seamlessly integrated into the TLM packaging system from Schubert.
The Innopack TLM offers a smooth process with minimised Changeover and start-up times. „Conventional production lines are usually linked together by conveyor belts. In contrast, the Innopack TLM integrates the individual modules into a single line and thus offers a significantly higher degree of flexibility,“ explains Max Schwaiger, Product Support at KHS.
The new Packaging system for Molson Coors packs six different formats at an impressive output of up to 720 bottles per minute: six-packs in Cardboard trays, packs of 12, 15 and 18 in cartons as well as six-pack baskets in boxes. RSC cartons or Wrap-around cartons. Bottle sizes of 341 and 355 millilitres are currently packaged, other sizes are possible.
Seamless integration with the Transmodul
The Packaging system combines three main functions: the Straightening of the packaging blanks, the Filling of the packaging formats with the bottles and the Locking of the filled packaging. The TLM packaging machine from Schubert handles the erecting and closing processes, while the KHS bottle packer fills the cartons with the beer bottles.
The Transport robot Transmodul from Schubert enables the interface-free combination of both systems: it conveys the bottles and packaging within the entire line. The machine has two transmodule lines with several transmodules per line. Each individual transmodule is equipped with an easily exchangeable format plate. The customisation of these format plates offers the customer a wide range of options and a high degree of flexibility. The block solution of the components from KHS and Schubert eliminates the need for long transfer systems as well as separate infeed and outfeed systems. Outfeed belts away. This reduces wear, maintenance costs and energy consumption. The compact system only requires one machine operator.
Machine technology with maximum flexibility
The Schubert erecting station includes two F2 robots for erecting RSC cartons and four F2 robots for the baskets or wrap-around cartons. In addition, two F3 robots are used for destacking the carton blanks. The erected cartons are placed on the Transmodules. Two Transmodules per line travel into the KHS bottle packer, which fills them with the beer bottles. In contrast to this, the blanks for packing baskets are first erected and then placed in an RSC carton. The KHS unit then fills the RSC carton with the bottles. The moulds for the system components of all three modules can be changed quickly and easily at any time. Format changeover of the system is therefore possible without any problems.
After filling, the transmodules reach the capping unit, in which there are two F2 capping robot are located. The sealed RSC cartons then leave the system. The wrap-around cartons are either also unloaded or placed in previously erected trays by two F2 transfer robots and then placed on the outfeed conveyor.
The high-performance Innopack TLM system enables Molson Coors to continue to fulfil the growing market requirements and consumer expectations and to stay one step ahead of the competition.
[infotext icon]World-famous brand started in 1786
Since its beginnings in 1786, the Molson Coors Brewing Company has developed into one of the world's largest and most successful beer producers. The company's leading brands are recognised by beer lovers all over the world. With a total of seven production sites and 3,000 employees, Molson Coors is made up of the companies Molson Coors Canada, MillerCoors, Molson Coors Europe and Molson Coors International.
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