Have you ever wondered how your favorite soda or canned beverage goes from the production line to the can? How does beverage canning work, and what process do canners use to get the liquid into the can, pressurize it, and make it ready to pop and drink? Making a canned beverage can’t occur without the use of an efficient and effective canning line. So, let’s unpack the mystery behind this process.
How Does Beverage Canning Work Step-By-Step Guide
Canned drink manufacturers rely on a combination of manual work and technology during the canning process to get your canned beverage onto store shelves and into your hands. Every step of the process requires exceptional quality control on the batch, producing beverages in 8.4 oz, 12 oz standard or sleek, and 16 oz cans. Let’s dive into the process.
Step #1 – Filling Cans
When a beverage is mixed to perfection and ready for canning, it’s time to put the canning line into operation.
The initial step in the process involves filling the cans with the beverage. The canner loads the aluminum cans onto the conveyor belt, where they’re automatically lined up for accurate, consistent filling.
Most canning lines fill five cans at a time before moving them down the line for lidding. An on-site canning technician overviews the process, ensuring production runs according to plan.
Step #2 – Fitting the Lids
After filling the cans, the conveyor moves them forward, where they receive their 202 LOE can end. The automated machinery places the lid on the can but doesn’t seal it immediately. After lid placement, the canned beverages make their way to the can seamer.
At this stage of the canning process, the machinery lifts and turns the cans, spinning them at high speed while crimping and sealing the lid.
After the seamless sealing of the can lid, the machinery pushes the cans out in a single file for cleaning and inspection by the quality control team.
Step #3 – Cleaning & Quality Control
The quality control team cleans excess liquid from the can while it moves along the conveyor line. The quality control team inspects every can for pressure, weight, and temperature during this stage. After passing quality checks, the cans are ready for bottom-up positioning and lot coding.
Step #4 – Batch/Lot Coding
After being positioned upside down, the beverage cans move along the conveyor line to the lot code printing machine. Another quality control team member observes the canning line to ensure all cans receive lot coding numbers.
Step #5 – Pasteurizing the Batch
After lot coding, the cans move to the next stage of the process, tunnel pasteurization. The cans move into a stainless steel tube where they receive a spray of hot water to kill any bacteria or microorganisms present in the beverage and on the can.
Step #6 – Cooling the Cans
Some manufacturers, but not all of them, finish the canning process with cooling. Cooling preserves the beverage’s aroma, flavor, and color after undergoing pasteurization. After completing the cooling process, the cans are ready for packaging, wrapping, and distribution.
What can Fortress Nutrition LLC do for you?
Rest assured that you’re in good hands with Fortress Nutrition. To learn more about how we tailor our blending, ingredient sourcing, logistics, consumer packaging, and other services to meet customer needs, and find out how we can partner with you to ensure compliance with new GMO laws, contact us today.