For small craft breweries, to automate your packaging line can feel like an expensive leap. But the reality is, small changes can make a big impact on efficiency, output, and labor allocation—without breaking the bank. Investing in cost-effective automation solutions can help you keep up with demand, minimize downtime, and create a safer working environment for your team.
From metering out cans for precise filling to seamlessly inverting them for rinsing or coding, simple automation upgrades can revolutionize your production. Let’s explore a few practical solutions that small breweries can implement today to improve efficiency and streamline operations.
Twist Blocks: Simple, Effective Can Inverting
Whether you need to invert cans for rinsing or code dating, manually flipping each container is tedious and inefficient. Twist blocks [also known as can inversion blocks or can inverting blocks] offer a compact, cost-effective solution to streamline this process.
These small but mighty tools guide containers through a controlled twist, requiring no additional power—just the geometry of the block and the container. If you run multiple can sizes, quick-change mounting allows for effortless changeovers in seconds.
Benefits:
✅ No Power Required – Uses physics to invert containers without motors or electricity.
✅ Compact & Space-Saving – A small footprint leaves room for larger applications.
✅ Fast Changeovers – Easily swap out blocks to accommodate different can sizes.
Timing Screw Drive Units: Precision in Motion
Need to manipulate your cans or bottles before they reach downstream equipment? Timing screw drive units provide a simple, effective way to control spacing and movement on your line. For example, if your 12 oz sleek cans require precise metering for filling, a timing screw drive unit spaces them out with pinpoint accuracy. This automation helps to eliminate inconsistent manual handling, increases efficiency, and allows your workforce to focus on more critical tasks.
Benefits:
✅ Versatile Functionality – Helps meter, turn, group, or feed containers ahead of key applications.
✅ Easy Retrofitting – Seamlessly integrates into existing packaging lines.
✅ Optimized Fill Placement – Containers are properly positioned under fill heads, reducing waste and product loss.
Replacement Screws: Stay Up and Running
Worn-out timing screws can cause inconsistent container handling, slow down production, and even lead to product damage. Replacing them at the right time is key to maintaining efficiency and protecting your containers.
If your original timing screws were purchased from Morrison, getting a replacement is easy—just provide the reference from your previous order, and we’ll quickly manufacture an exact match to minimize downtime.
Not sure where your original screws came from? No problem. Even if we weren’t the original manufacturer, we can replace your screw—including the precise steelwork. If you don’t have a reference number, simply reach out to our team, and we’ll help you determine the exact specs needed for a seamless fit.
Benefits:
✅ Fast Turnaround – Minimize downtime with quick manufacturing and delivery.
✅ Seamless Fit – Whether your screw was made by Morrison or another supplier, we can replicate it precisely.
✅ Expert Support – Our team can identify your screw specifications, even without an original reference.
Gravity Fed Twist: No-Power Can Inversion
Looking for the simplest, most cost-effective way to invert cans? Gravity-fed twist systems are an easy win for breweries looking to automate without adding complexity. These systems use a specially designed track to gradually turn containers upside down as they move along the conveyor—perfect for rinsing, draining, or coding applications.
With zero need for external power or moving parts, gravity-fed twists provide a low-maintenance, budget-friendly solution that keeps your line moving.
Benefits:
✅ Completely Mechanical – No motors, sensors, or external power needed.
✅ Seamless Integration – Can be installed on existing conveyors with minimal modifications.
✅ Reliable & Low-Maintenance – Fewer components mean fewer potential breakdowns.
Elevate Your Brewery’s Efficiency
Automation doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. By integrating smart, cost-effective solutions like timing screw drive units, twist blocks, and gravity-fed twists, small breweries can improve efficiency, reduce waste, and free up labor for more valuable tasks. Ready to take your packaging line to the next level? Let’s talk about how simple automation upgrades can boost your brewery’s productivity without the hefty price tag.
