Varioline: beverages in target-group-responsive packs

With its Varioline packaging system, Krones offers a flexible solution for multi-stage packaging processes, particularly for beverages. Depending on the machine’s customised configuration, primary, secondary or even tertiary packages can be created. Loose containers like glass bottles, PET bottles or cans in multipacks and/or multipacks in plastic crates, folding cartons or wrap-around cartons can all be handled.

Different modules are deployed for this purpose, depending on the range of products being handled:

• cartoning module for feeding, erecting and gluing carton blanks 
• feed module for spacing and grouping loose containers, and for inserting them in cartons as a primary package 
• basic module for inserting multipacks in cartons as a secondary package or as a closing unit for wrap-around cartons
• closing module with gantry robot and a glue applicator unit

Products are positively transported in the primary package between the individual modules using a shuttle system featuring one, two or three transport routes. The secondary package is conveyed through the modules on another transport system, which can be controlled independently of the other tracks.
The Varioline is designed for an output of 40,000 containers an hour, or 9,000 primary packages (3x2 multipacks) an hour. The output required in each case is achieved by combining the appropriate number of identical modules.

The packaging spectrum that this packaging system can handle, for example, includes the following primary packages:

• wrap-around cartons
• folding cartons slotted-type boxes 
• trays
• multipacks, sealed top/bottom
• over top open (cluster)
• basket
• over top partly closed
• neck through
• on top open (clip, top-carrier).

The secondary packages created include the following:

• wrap-around cartons, e.g. with partitions 
• folding cartons as American Box, RSC
• plastic crates as carriers for six-packs
• special pallets as quarter-pallets for baskets

Individualised design of the packaging for beverages has become even more flexible with this packaging system, so that each product can be focused even more accurately on the preferences of the target group concerned.