Beer Canning Machine: Frequently Asked Questions

With the growing market trend of beer canning industry. More and more packaging manufacturers are looking for better beer canning machines for their beer packaging. This blog will answer some questions that are frequently asked in the beer canning market. Read on and learn basic knowledge before choosing a better canning machine.

#1 How much does a beer canning machine cost?

The cost of quality beer canning machines can range from $20,000 to $250,000. This price depends on the automation level of the machine and the number of cans it can package per minute. If you search for verified suppliers in Alibaba, you can even find cheaper ones starting from $5,000 only. But, the price range we gave is only an estimate. So, it is still better if you contact a trustworthy supplier and request a quote.

#2 How to clean your beer canning machine?

Below are the detailed steps on how to Clean In Place (CIP) your machines in your beer canning line after using them.

Rinse out the beer lines with clean water and rinse the machines next to remove sticky beer residues from their coated surfaces.
Next, clean and sanitize the line with a cleaner that should be gentler compared to caustic. This is because caustic (potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide) is a very harsh chemical that can damage the different materials your line is made of. You can use Cell-R-Master, PBW, draft line cleaners, and other approved cleaners. Run your cleaner through your beer line with your chemical manufacturer’s recommended temperatures and times.
Immerse the filling tubes inside tall cans so that both the inside and outside sections of the tubes will be cleaned.
Use a foaming cleaner to sanitize the rest of your machines because these cleaners can get into crevices and cracks.
Finish by drying and wiping your machines. Put a light tube on the slides of your machines’ pneumatic cylinders then store them clean and polished.

#3 Can you can beer at home?

Yes, you can can your own beer at home. And, of course, you will need a beer filler and a can seamer suitable for home production (usually manual or semi-automatic ones). But, do note that when canning beer at home, you will have to find a way to minimize the amount of dissolved oxygen in your canned beer. Because only bigger machines meant for higher productions have automatic means of purging oxygen from the cans during the filling process.

However, you can find detailed steps on how to can beer at home. The majority of the attached article talked about how to measure the dissolved oxygen and total packaged oxygen in your canned beer. But, it also included some tips when canning your beer at home.

#4 Why can instead of bottle your beer?

Canning is commonly used in the beer packaging industry. A lot of big brewery industries have chosen this method instead of bottling but some also pair these two. Although cans do not carry that traditional aura that bottles have, Cans can be sealed more easily, smarter, and more innovative. This is ideal if you are packing beer aimed at young consumers.

Below are some of the advantages of cans over bottles.

They are more affordable compared to glass bottles.
They bring you considerable savings when it comes to logistics because they occupy less space allowing you can stack them in a single pallet. Cans also weigh considerably less compared to glass you will need less fuel in shipping canned beer.
They preserve the taste of beer better than bottles because of less exposure to light and air. Air cannot enter a sealed beer can, unlike bottles. As for light exposure, it can harm a beer’s quality. That is why bottles of beer are colored green or brown to lessen the light entering the bottle. Cans can eliminate light completely.
Cans are more environmentally-friendly. They can be recycled at a higher rate compared to glass bottles.

#5 What else will you need for your beer canning line to be successful?

Aside from having high-quality beer packaging machines, you should also make sure to have the following:

An air compressor

Buy a quality air compressor and not something you’ve seen on a local store of auto parts. An air compressor dehydrator prevents moisture from going into your canning line.

An experienced canning line operator

Your canning line operator should have a thorough knowledge of electro-mechanical machines.

A cool storage and canning environment

You should operate your line under a cool storage and canning environment. Make sure that your beer cans are cold when they are packaged (about 33° F). The suspension of carbon in your beer stays better under low temperatures and high pressures.

#6 What should you look for when buying a beer canning machine?

Below are the common things you want to consider when purchasing beer canning equipment.

Easy to operate and well-built to minimize maintenance activities.
Does everything to reduce oxygen inside the cans during the beer canning process.
The beer seamer should be fast, produces reliable seams, and does not require regular adjustments. You can also check the ultimate guide to can seamer machines.
Should have emergency switches, can detect problems on-the-spot, and can communicate these problems immediately to the operator.
The cost of ownership of the machine should be practical. Consider the support you’ll get from your supplier aside from the machine’s price.
Can be upgraded for increased production demands.
Can be integrated with other beer canning equipment.

#7 What should you look for when choosing a beer canner manufacturer?

A good beer canner manufacturer should at least have the following:

A good understanding of the entire beer packaging process.
Properly certified machines to ensure they conform to international standards.
A responsive customer support staff before, during, and after sales.
Available in-depth consultation prior to the customization of your machine to ensure that you will have a machine perfectly tailored to your business’ needs.