Climax Packaging profiles craft brewery packaging equipment

Craft beer makers have experienced huge jumps in market share while the overall beer market size has shrunk. The Census Bureau announced that the number of breweries in the United States doubled in five years – an increase largely due to craft beer. On average, over the past two years, 1.2 craft breweries opened each day, contributing to a total of 15.6 million barrels of beer last year and Climax Packaging Machinery has been there from the beginning.

As new and experienced craft brewers navigate the vast options of packaging machinery, it is important to look at reliable and affordable machinery over time. An investment in sub par packaging equipment can leave a brewery in a hole that would be tough to climb out of. So, where does a craft brewery start?

For Climax Packaging Machinery, it’s about creating high-quality machines to provide case packing and uncasing solutions. Climax highlighted several of its products for craft brewers.

Package uncasers

Climax Packaging has built more than 1,200 uncasers in it’s almost 100 years in business. There are multiple different models to choose from. Speeds range from one to 60 cases per minute.

Strate-Line Uncaser: This compact uncaser was designed specifically for the craft beer, wine and liquor industry. With speeds up to seven cases per minute. This sturdy and reliable machine is sure to get a new brewery up and running by uncasing HSC, RSC, tray or tab lock cases.

Climax EUI Series Uncasers: At one time, this uncaser was in every beverage industry facility across North and South America. Many of these uncasers are still in production. This proven design can be configured in two through six head options. Speeds of this model are up to 36 cases per minute.

Case packers

Strate-Line Case Packer: Climax Packaging designed this machine for applications where space is at a premium and volume is up to seven cases per minute. This machine can also be built as an Uncaser so you can put one at both ends of your line and only stock one set of repair parts.

Climax DP-4 Drop Packer: The Climax Packaging DP-4 is the most heavy-duty case packer in the industry. If you have a heavy payload, this is the machine for you. This is the only drop packer that uses a solid aluminum casting for the elevator instead of a weldment. There are drop packers in the field that are still running after 27 years of continuous service. If you want reliability and durability, the DP-4 drop packer is the machine for you.

Can cartoners

Climax Packaging Semi-Auto Can-DO: The Can-Do Semi-Automatic Can Packer is ideal for breweries or beverage companies with small runs. This semi-automated machine requires hand loading, but completely automates the gluing operation at 22 12-packs per minute. Because it is hand loaded, it can also be configured to create variety packs of assorted flavors. It’s a minimal cost machine that requires manual effort but offers total flexibility.

Climax Packaging Can-Do Can Cartoners: The Can-Do Automated Can Packer is a continuous motion packer that loads suitcase style cartons at up to 360 cans per minute. This machine can accommodate all patterns from 2×4 to 4×6 cans and easily handles 12- to 16-ounce standard cans.

Variety pack systems — “Rainbow Systems”

With the ever-growing popularity of variety packs, Climax developed the Rainbow Solution to meet the demands of today’s market. The Climax Rainbow Solution is a fully integrated system of product conveyors, uncasing, single-filing conveyors, lane dividers, star wheels, dividing wheels, packing and sealing equipment.

The Rainbow Solution can produce variety packs of bottles or cans consisting of two, three, four, five or six individual flavors/types into a 12-pack or 24-pack, or most any other combination that may be required at speeds up to 25 cases per minute.

If you don’t need that kind of speed, Climax also has two other designs that can produce up to seven or 16 cases per minute that are a little easier on your budget as well.