PACKAGING
Designed to be versatile
Featuring an open and modular design, the MicroBottler is
constructed to be exceptionally versatile. It is a semi-automatic
filler that can fill both bottles and cans with either carbonated
or non-carbonated beverages in containers ranging in volume
from six ounces (177 millilitres) up to half a gallon (1.89 litres).
It also offers multiple closure options from crown capping and
corking to twist caps.
The MicroBottler can draw product directly from what-ever
storage vessel the customer is using, such as bulk tanks,
vats, kegs and brite tanks, and it’s a simple procedure to switch
sources midstream. The product is fed into containers using
gravity or pressure, and the machine can also be equipped with
a pump for this purpose.
“We can change out modules for twist caps, flush corks or
crown caps, and provide solutions for custom combinations
like a cork and crown cap,” said Komarony.
“Since our machine is so versatile in the many combina-tions
of filling and closure capabilities, it is valuable for all sizes
of businesses, from the small start-up wineries to large com-mercial
wineries that want to produce small-batch releases or
odd bottle sizes,” he said. “The MicroBottler can prove very use-ful
for wineries that want to venture into other products as well,
such as ciders, fruit juices or kombucha.”
Constructed of stainless steel and other food-grade mate-rials,
the MicroBottler sits on wheels for easy manoeuvring. At
only 81 centimetres wide, the machine fits through standard
doorframes for easy transporting or storage. Changeable mod-ule
options for system changes are available, without affecting
the original footprint of the MicroBottler.
According to its makers, the MicroBottler can be operated
with one person or several, depending on the scale and speed
of the production line where it’s situated, and maintenance
is generally as simple as keeping the unit clean, lubricating it
regularly and using a clean, dry air supply.
DK Advanced Technologies engineer Scott Lufkin says that
because the MicroBottler is designed to be very user-friendly,
set-ups can be completed with a few basic tools. That, and a
standard 110-volt power supply, and access to clean and dry
compressed air and CO2 or nitrogen, are basically all that’s
needed to get the machine up and running.
“Right out of the box, it’s fundamentally set up and assem-bled,
including additional spare parts to replace those that are
commonly needed or misplaced, keeping downtime to a mini-mum,”
said Lufkin.
“Normal wear parts like O-rings and gaskets are standard,
off-the-shelf components. We provide the manufacturer and
part numbers so customers can replace them directly, saving
time and money.”
Superior service
Doug Ernenwein, sales manager for DK Advanced Technologies,
says customers can choose from four different models:
• The MicroBottler gravity fill bottling machine.
• The MicroBottler counter-pressure bottling machine.
• The DKanner counter-pressure canning machine.
• The MicroBottler All-In-One machine which includes
counter-pressure bottling and canning.
Ernenwein says the cost can range between US$15,000 to
$30,000 depending on which machine and options are the best
fit for each customer.
“Pricing depends on the customer’s needs, or options that
make sense now or in the future, their potential growth, their
desire to add canning or bottling, or even a change in their
product offerings from carbonated to non-carbonated bever-ages,”
he said.
Jordan Wood, a technician for DK Advanced Technologies,
maintains that anyone buying a MicroBottler can be assured
they’ll receive quality technical support post purchase to help
avoid costly downtimes.
“If additional support is needed, you’ll always get a live
person on the phone and your purchase gets you our company
number, my number and our engineer’s number,” said Wood.
“For no extra charge, we essentially offer 24/7 phone sup-port,”
Ernenwein said. “We’ll make adjustments to make sure
everyone is taken care of and set up for success. Our customers
are pretty appreciative of our service.”
MicroBottlers have been sold in such far-flung places as
Australia, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, which Komarony says has
been a pleasant surprise.
“The goal when we started this was, I wanted to go nation-wide.
I didn’t think we’d be going worldwide with it,” said
Komarony, adding that quite a few MicroBottlers have been
sold in Canada.
The list of products that are currently being bottled and
canned by MicroBottlers is also quite diverse. It includes beer,
still and sparkling wine, cocktail mixes, cider, juices, soft drinks
and kombucha, and even one unfamiliar product which may
not be that surprising given the current times.
“One of our gravity fill bottling machines is at a local distill-ery
and they used it for bottling hand sanitizer,” said Komarony.
“It was probably over 50,000 bottles.”
“We made a couple more
prototype machines which
we got into local breweries
and started putting the
MicroBottler to the real world
test. From there, it spun
off to where we sell them
all over the world now.”
– Dan Komarony, DK Advanced Technologies
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