Handling systems supplied and integrated
December 1st 2004

Astec Conveyors has recently completed the integration of two major liquid filling and packaging lines at Coca-cola Enterprises.

Working with main machinery supplier, DS Smith Packaging Systems, Astec was involved in the design, manufacture and integration of all handling systems.

For ‘bag in box’ carton handling of 10 and 20 litre units, Astec supplied a modular mattop side flexing belt conveyor that operates at line speeds of 25 or 20 cartons per minute. A specially designed one-to-two lane divider transports empty cartons to feed two online filling machines.

Once filled, the cartons are discharged on chain driven clutched roller accumulating conveyor and Astec’s Symmetric Merge unit – a specially designed roller ‘Y’ merge.

The other part of the Astec solution handles the specially designed MegaBox – a tamper-proof, returnable bulk packaging system for syrup. To convey these containers, which can carry 250 litres, Astec designed a heavy duty, stainless steel twin chain pallet conveyor.

Once they have been filled, a right angle chain/roller conveyor transfers two units off the main conveyor line, positioning them side by side ready for transfer via forklift.

As well as supplying all the mechanical hardware and integrating the systems with electrical controls, Astec acted as project managers, liaising with all parties throughout, helping ensure the project was delivered on time and to budget.

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