Turnkey Can Filling Lines
Our modular can filling systems offer flexible solutions for powders, capsules, granulates, or other larger bulk products. Whether with screw or press-on lids, induction sealing, labeling, or control systems, the systems can be individually configured and flexibly adapted or expanded thanks to their modular design. This allows us to guarantee maximum efficiency, product safety, and adaptability to your requirements—even if these change over time.
- Areas of application: Food and non-food
- Products: powders, tablets, capsules, granules, other granular products
- Can types: Screw-caps and press-on lid cans, end lids (canned goods), tear-off lids, plastic and glass jars
- Modular design: Flexible adaptation and expansion
- Single or multi-lane filling lines for increasing output
- Interconnectivity of multiple filling stations
- Integration of labeling machines and printing systems
- Integration of control systems (checkweighers, camera inspection, metal detectors, X‑ray inspection machines)
- Sealing: Lid pressing station, lid screwing machine, induction sealing, shrink cap
- Operation: Touchscreen, recipe management, quick changeover
- Designs for different can formats
- Short payback periods
Reference speeds of different filling modules
The actual system performance or speed depends on various factors, such as the product, the dosing system (e.g., screw dosing, counting machine, or multihead weigher), the required dosing accuracy, the can size, and the filling quantity. The speeds shown here are therefore only to be understood as approximate values.
Example modules for can filling systems
The can infeed is the first module in every can filling line. It ensures that the empty cans are correctly aligned and fed into the production line one after the other. Depending on requirements, different systems are used:
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Rotary tables
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Cans are placed on a rotating table.
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The table aligns them and guides them in an orderly fashion into the line.
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Advantage: simple, robust, space-saving, ideal for medium production volumes.
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Indexed conveyor belt
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Cans are placed on a horizontal conveyor belt.
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The conveyor belt is synchronized and transports cans step by step to the infeed conveyor belt of the can filling line.
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Advantage: greater capacity compared to rotary table (depending on belt length), good for high-speed series production.
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Can-Unscrambler
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Loose cans are poured into the unscrambler’s infeed hopper.
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The machine automatically aligns and separates them so that they enter the line one after the other.
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Advantage: fully automated, saves time and personnel, suitable for large quantities.
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The filling stations of a can filling system ensure that each can is filled with exactly the right amount of product. Different systems are used depending on the type of product and precision requirements:
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Pneumatic stoppers
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One stopper holds the can in place at the filling point, while another holds back the following cans.
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Advantage: simple, robust solution for medium speeds, easy conversion to other can formats.
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Servo-indexer
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The cans are pushed to the filling station with precise positioning by pneumatic gripper plates.
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Advantage: the container can be placed on a weighing platform so that powders or granules can be measured by actual weight, not just by volume.
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Perfect for powdered products such as protein powder, where high precision is required.
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Rotary star wheel
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Cans are separated on a rotating star wheel and transported to the filling station in a rotating motion.
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Advantage: particularly fast, continuous feeding at high production speeds.
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The foil seal ensures that each can is hygienically sealed and the product stays fresh for longer. Unlike induction seals, the protective foil is applied before capping and is not already contained in the lid.
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After filling, the empty can is guided under the foil station.
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A roll of film or prepared pieces of film are automatically applied to the can lid.
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The film is then pressed firmly and sealed to create an airtight closure.
Advantages:
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High product safety and longer shelf life
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Protection against moisture, contamination, and tampering
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Ideal for powders, granules, dietary supplements, or sensitive foods
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The foils can be embellished with your own designs.
The lid feeder ensures that each can is fitted with a matching lid before it is sealed. There are various solutions depending on production requirements:
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Manual feeding
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An operator places the lids directly onto the cans, which are located on a free station between the filling station and the sealing module.
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Advantage: simple solution for small batches or test series, as no conversion is necessary.
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Automatic cap/lid feeding
Lids are automatically picked up from a magazine, funnel, stack magazine, or elevator and positioned correctly.-
Stack magazine:
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Lids are loaded in stacks and removed from below or above using a vacuum, then placed on the cans.
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Advantage: compact, reliable, ideal for end caps (canned goods), mini buckets (so-called food pails or plastic punnets), and small to medium quantities.
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Gravity elevators with chute:
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The lids are poured loosely and unsorted into a feed hopper.
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The lids are first transported vertically upwards using an elevator.
- Gravity is used to sort out lids that are upside down and drop them into the feed hopper.
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They enter the conveyor line via a chute and are placed precisely on the can using a separation system.
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Advantage: no sorting or alignment required, feed hopper offers large capacity for many lids, little manual operation required (occasional refilling of lids), suitable for medium to large production volumes.
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Other variants:
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Vibrating chute: aligns the lids individually and guides them to the can.
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Swivel or gripper systems: pneumatic or servo-controlled grippers place the lid precisely on the can.
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Capping is the module in which the can is sealed with the appropriate lid after the lid has been placed on top. Different systems are used depending on the lid type and production requirements:
1. Screw-on caps
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Inline system with pneumatic holders:
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The can is held in place while the screw cap is put on and screwed down with a defined amount of force.
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Advantage: high precision, ideal for sensitive products or can sizes with tight tolerances, well suited for small to medium batches.
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Rotary star wheel:
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The cans are separated on a rotating star wheel, and the lids are quickly unscrewed.
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Advantage: very high speed, suitable for medium and large series production.
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2. Press-on lid / snap-on lid
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Inline system with pneumatic holders:
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The can is secured in place and the press lid is pressed down with controlled pressure.
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Advantage: also suitable for narrow and tall cans, suitable for low speeds. Good adaptation to different can sizes.
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Inline system with lid press top conveyor belt:
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- The can runs on the conveyor belt while an overhead conveyor belt lowered from above pushes the lid open.
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Advantage: uncomplicated, adapts well to different can sizes, suitable for low to medium speeds.
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Rotary star wheel:
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Cans are transported individually on a rotating star wheel while the lids are quickly pressed on.
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Advantage: high throughput for standardized products.
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3. End caps on canned goods (seamer/double seam)
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Traditional cans are sealed using a double seam process.
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The end cap is placed on top and mechanically crimped around the edge of the can to create an airtight seal.
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Advantage: very durable, tamper-proof, necessary for long shelf life of food.
Induction sealing closes the can hygienically and without contact using an aluminum layer embedded in the lid. This process is often used for food, dietary supplements, and chemical products to ensure freshness and product safety.
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After filling and placing the lid on top, the can moves under the induction coil.
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An electromagnetic field heats the aluminum layer and bonds it firmly to the can opening.
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The result is an airtight, tamper-proof closure that maximizes shelf life and hygiene.
Advantages:
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No direct contact with the product – very hygienic
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Protection against moisture, oxidation, and tampering
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Ideal for powders, granules, capsules, or liquid products
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Fast and reliable, suitable for high-speed lines
The shrink cap application ensures that cans are additionally sealed, tamper-proof, and visually appealing. A plastic shrink cap is placed over the lid and then tightened using heat.
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After capping, the can is guided under the shrink station.
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A plastic cap is automatically placed over the lid.
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Hot air, infrared, or ultrasound shrinks the cap to fit the can perfectly.
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Result: a secure, tamper-proof closure that protects the product from moisture, dust, or tampering.
Advantages:
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Additional product protection and hygiene
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Tamper-proofing for the end user
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Improved appearance of the packaging
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Compatible with screw-on or press-on lids
Labeling modules reliably apply product information, logos, or codes to each can. There are various systems available depending on requirements and product type:
1. Round labeler or side labeler
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- The round labeler reliably applies labels around the entire can and ensures even, precise placement.
- Side labelers label the cans on the side (corner wrap labeling is also possible).
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Uniform all-round labeling at high speed, flexible adaptation to different can and label sizes.
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2. Labeling from above or below
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Top: Label is applied to the lid, e.g., for logos or expiration dates.
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Bottom: Label is affixed to the bottom of the can, e.g., for batch numbers or barcodes.
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Advantages of the labeling modules
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Precise and consistent label placement
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Flexible for different can shapes and sizes
- An integrated or external thermal transfer printer can be added as an option to print best-before dates, batch numbers, or barcodes directly onto the label, enabling product information and individual codes to be combined without having to pre-print the labels.
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High speed, no manual work required
Control systems ensure that every can leaves the production line completely correct and safe. Depending on requirements, various technologies are used:
1. Checkweigher:
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Each can is placed on a dynamic scale and checked for the correct weight.
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Cans that are too light or too heavy are automatically rejected.
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Advantage: precise weight monitoring, no manual spot checks required under the Prepackaged Goods Regulation, production quantities automatically transferable to ERP systems such as SAP
2. Metal detectors
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Cans are inspected for metallic foreign objects that could get into the product during production or packaging, for example.
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Automatic rejection of contaminated cans protects the end consumer and brand quality.
3. X‑Ray inspection
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X‑ray systems detect foreign objects such as glass, stone, or metal in the product.
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In addition, the fill quantity can be checked and incomplete or damaged cans can be detected.
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Advantage: high level of safety, especially for sensitive foodstuffs or pharmaceutical products.
4. Visual camera inspection:
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Cameras check, for example, lid position, film sealing, shrink caps, or labels.
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Automatic ejection of cans with faulty labeling or incomplete lids.
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Advantage: fast, non-contact quality control at high production speeds.
Advantages of all control systems:
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Maximum product safety and hygiene
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Automatic ejection of defective cans
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Combination of multiple technologies for the highest quality
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Flexibly adaptable to different products and production speeds
After filling, capping, sealing, labeling, and quality control, the finished cans must be collected and prepared for further packaging. Various modules are used for this purpose:
1. Buffer table with conveyor belt
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The cans run on a central conveyor belt into the buffer table.
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Side table surfaces provide space for storing the finished cans or for placing boxes for outer packaging.
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Advantage: Buffer capacity combined with cardboard storage space for convenient manual repackaging.
2. Rotary tables
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Cans are fed onto a rotating table that collects and sorts the products as necessary.
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Advantage: compact solution, easy to use, takes up little space.
Advantages of the collection modules:
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Orderly transfer to the secondary box packaging
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Buffer function for even material flow
Examples of applications for can filling systems
Our modular can filling systems are suitable for a wide range of products – from food and pet food to chemical-technical products. Thanks to flexible filling and sealing technologies, a wide variety of consistencies and formats can be packaged safely, efficiently, and hygienically.
A typical area of application is animal feed: snacks such as treats, pellets, or dried lung cubes are filled just as reliably as high-quality supplements in powder or tablet form.
In the food industry, for example, nuts, dried fruits, pickled olives, spices, and superfood products such as chia seeds and matcha tea powder are reliably filled into cans. Small portion sizes of snacks, candies, or muesli mixes can also be packaged just as efficiently.
Veterinary medicine also benefits from our solutions—for example, in the packaging of vitamin preparations, mineral mixtures, or powdered feed supplements for dogs, cats, or horses.
In the field of nutritional supplements, our systems cover all dosage forms. These include powders such as whey protein or creatine, as well as capsules (e.g., magnesium, MSM, vitamin D, or omega‑3) and tablets (e.g., vitamin drops) in a wide variety of formats.
Even nutritional cosmetic supplements and lifestyle products—such as hyaluronic acid capsules, collagen powder, or bath salts—can be safely filled and packaged ready for sale.
Another area of application is smoking products: oral tobacco (snus), pipe tobacco, and cannabis products can be packaged in various container sizes and, if desired, provided with tamper-proof seals.
In addition, our plants are suitable for cleaning and household products such as toilet tabs, dishwasher tabs, and crystalline cleaning salts.
Last but not least, the systems offer safe solutions for filling various other products, such as fertilizers and gardening products.
Thanks to their modular design, our filling systems can be configured precisely to the respective product requirements—whether powder, granules, capsules, or tabs.
Design and operation of can filling systems
Can filling systems are modular systems that enable fully automatic processing of cans – from feeding, filling, closing, sealing, and labeling to the collection of finished cans. Cans can be fed via turntables, synchronized conveyor belts, or unscramblers, which align and separate loose cans. Elevators with gravity chutes ensure that lids or cans are positioned correctly.
Filling stations for powder, bulk, or piece goods can be flexibly integrated, from rotary star to pneumatic stopper to servo indexing systems, and also enable multi-lane lines, such as dual systems, to increase output quantities. The lid feed operates manually or automatically via stack magazines, vibratory chutes, grippers, or elevator chutes. Screw caps and press-on caps can be pressed on or screwed on inline or via rotary star systems. Additional seals, such as foil or induction sealing, as well as shrink caps, offer tamper resistance and hygiene.
Labelers apply information to the can from above or below, with the option of an integrated or external thermal transfer printer. Control systems check weight, foreign objects, or visual characteristics and ensure that only flawless cans are forwarded. At the end, buffer tables with side shelves or turntables collect the finished cans and prepare them for outer packaging.
The hinged conveyor belts are made of plastic or stainless steel and can be fitted with enclosures for dust protection. Frequency converters enable flexible control of the conveyor speeds, while the line layouts can be designed as single-track, multi-track, or in I, L, or U shapes, depending on the space requirements. Connection options can be provided at the filling stations for external central dust extraction systems.
The can filling machines are easily adjustable for use with multiple can formats and different working areas, and are also available in special designs.
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