Bottling line
Encyclopedia
Bottling lines are production line
s that fill a product, generally a beverage
, into bottle
s on a large scale.
s are removed from the original pallet
packaging delivered from the manufacturer, so that individual bottles may be handled. The bottles may then be rinsed with filter
ed water or air, and may have carbon dioxide
injected into them in attempt to reduce the level of oxygen within the bottle. The bottle then enters a filler which fills the bottle with wine and may also inject a small amount of inert gas
(CO2
or nitrogen) on top of the wine to disperse oxygen
. The bottle then travels to a corking machine (corker) where a cork is compressed and pushed into the neck of the bottle. Whilst this is happening the corker vacuum
s the air out of the bottle to form a negative pressure
headspace. This removes any oxygen from the headspace, which is useful as O2 can ruin the quality of the product by oxidation. A negative pressure headspace will also counteract pressure caused by the thermal expansion
of the wine, preventing the cork from being forced from the bottle. Some bottling lines incorporate a fill height detector which reject under or over-filled bottles, and also a metal detector
.
After filling and corking, a plastic or tin capsule is applied to the neck of the bottle in a capsular. Next the bottle enters a labelling machine (labeller) where a label
is applied. To ensure traceability
of the product, a lot number, generally the date and time of bottling, may also be printed on the bottle. The product is then packed into box
es and warehouse
d, ready for sale.
Production line
A production line is a set of sequential operations established in a factory whereby materials are put through a refining process to produce an end-product that is suitable for onward consumption; or components are assembled to make a finished article....
s that fill a product, generally a beverage
Drink
A drink, or beverage, is a liquid which is specifically prepared for human consumption. In addition to fulfilling a basic human need, beverages form part of the culture of human society.-Water:...
, into bottle
Bottle
A bottle is a rigid container with a neck that is narrower than the body and a "mouth". By contrast, a jar has a relatively large mouth or opening. Bottles are often made of glass, clay, plastic, aluminum or other impervious materials, and typically used to store liquids such as water, milk, soft...
s on a large scale.
Wine bottling process
The first step in bottling wine is depalletising, where the empty wine bottleWine bottle
A wine bottle is a bottle used for holding wine, generally made of glass. Some wines are fermented in the bottle, others are bottled only after fermentation. They come in a large variety of sizes, several named for Biblical kings and other figures. The standard bottle contains 750 ml,...
s are removed from the original pallet
Pallet
A pallet , sometimes called a skid, is a flat transport structure that supports goods in a stable fashion while being lifted by a forklift, pallet jack, front loader or other jacking device. A pallet is the structural foundation of a unit load which allows handling and storage efficiencies...
packaging delivered from the manufacturer, so that individual bottles may be handled. The bottles may then be rinsed with filter
Filter (chemistry)
In chemistry and common usage, a filter is a device that is designed to physically block certain objects or substances while letting others through. Filters are often used to remove solid substances suspended in fluids, for example to remove air pollution, to make water drinkable, and to prepare...
ed water or air, and may have carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
injected into them in attempt to reduce the level of oxygen within the bottle. The bottle then enters a filler which fills the bottle with wine and may also inject a small amount of inert gas
Inert gas
An inert gas is a non-reactive gas used during chemical synthesis, chemical analysis, or preservation of reactive materials. Inert gases are selected for specific settings for which they are functionally inert since the cost of the gas and the cost of purifying the gas are usually a consideration...
(CO2
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
or nitrogen) on top of the wine to disperse oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
. The bottle then travels to a corking machine (corker) where a cork is compressed and pushed into the neck of the bottle. Whilst this is happening the corker vacuum
Vacuum
In everyday usage, vacuum is a volume of space that is essentially empty of matter, such that its gaseous pressure is much less than atmospheric pressure. The word comes from the Latin term for "empty". A perfect vacuum would be one with no particles in it at all, which is impossible to achieve in...
s the air out of the bottle to form a negative pressure
Negative pressure
Negative pressure may refer to:*negative pressure as opposed to positive pressure*stretched liquid*vacuum*negative gauge pressure, a way of expressing pressure measurements below atmospheric pressure*suction*transpirational pull...
headspace. This removes any oxygen from the headspace, which is useful as O2 can ruin the quality of the product by oxidation. A negative pressure headspace will also counteract pressure caused by the thermal expansion
Thermal expansion
Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change in volume in response to a change in temperature.When a substance is heated, its particles begin moving more and thus usually maintain a greater average separation. Materials which contract with increasing temperature are rare; this effect is...
of the wine, preventing the cork from being forced from the bottle. Some bottling lines incorporate a fill height detector which reject under or over-filled bottles, and also a metal detector
Metal detector
A metal detector is a device which responds to metal that may not be readily apparent.The simplest form of a metal detector consists of an oscillator producing an alternating current that passes through a coil producing an alternating magnetic field...
.
After filling and corking, a plastic or tin capsule is applied to the neck of the bottle in a capsular. Next the bottle enters a labelling machine (labeller) where a label
Wine label
Wine labels are important sources of information for consumers since they tell the type and origin of the wine. The label is often the only resource a buyer has for evaluating the wine before purchasing it...
is applied. To ensure traceability
Traceability
Traceability refers to the completeness of the information about every step in a process chain.The formal definition: Traceability is the ability to chronologically interrelate uniquely identifiable entities in a way that is verifiable....
of the product, a lot number, generally the date and time of bottling, may also be printed on the bottle. The product is then packed into box
Box
Box describes a variety of containers and receptacles for permanent use as storage, or for temporary use often for transporting contents. The word derives from the Greek πύξος , "box, boxwood"....
es and warehouse
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
d, ready for sale.
Further reading
- Brody, A. L., and Marsh, K, S., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 1997, ISBN 0-471-06397-5