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When Should a Brewery Upgrade Its Packaging Line?
PACKAGING DESIGN
ABOUT THE SERVICE
Almost every brewery starts the same way: a few people, a lot of cans, and packs assembled by hand. It works until it doesn’t. The question is knowing when it’s time to invest in equipment.
Start by hand. For taproom runs, seasonal beers, and test batches, a can carrier hand applicator keeps things simple and affordable while you’re still finding your volume.
Step up gradually. When hand-packing starts slowing your team down, a low speed can ring applicator such as the CB350 is a sensible middle step.
Scale with demand. Once you’re packaging at serious volume, the high speed can ring applicator CB450 is designed for that pace. You can also compare every model on our high speed can ring applicators page.
Not sure where you fall? Browse the full range of can carrier applicator options and match the machine to where your brewery is today, not where you hope it’ll be in five years.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Hand-packing makes sense when volumes are small or unpredictable: taproom runs, seasonal beers, test batches, and limited releases. If packing doesn’t hold up your team or delay orders, there’s no urgent reason to spend on equipment.
For small batches, yes. A hand applicator speeds up the job and gives you consistent packs without a big investment. It stops being enough when volume grows and packing starts taking up too much staff time.
Watch for missed deadlines, staff pulled off brewing or sales to pack, overtime spent on packing, and orders you hesitate to accept because of the workload. If any of these keep happening, packing has become a bottleneck.
It’s positioned as a low speed applicator, which suits breweries between hand-packing and high-volume production. Check the specifications against your output and can sizes, or ask the supplier to confirm it suits your line.
Costs vary by machine and setup. Ask for a full quote that covers the equipment, installation, training, spare parts, and maintenance, and compare it with what hand-packing currently costs in labor and lost time.
These answers were provided directly by Earthrings. Last updated Yesterday
Information is owner-confirmed
Last updated Yesterday
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