Food Packaging Equipment

Purchase the right commercial food packaging equipment for your company at the right price
By Christine Reeves, Writer Making a profit in food production relies heavily on commercial food packaging equipment. The right food packaging machinery is efficient and inexpensive to run. To protect your bottom line, you want to find the simplest, most reliable food packaging equipment for your business.

Commercial packaging equipment is available from a number of different manufacturers, and used packaging equipment can also be purchased. A reputable vendor can show you various commercial food packaging systems. Some of these commercial food packaging systems are rather complex and expensive. In contrast, used packaging machines can be an inexpensive alternative.

Some food packing systems clean and fill bottles. Depending on the food product you are producing, you can buy food packing machinery or used packaging equipment to complete as much or as little of the packing process as you like. Some places to shop for a food packing machine are:

1. Food packaging equipment manufacturer’s websites
2. Classified listings for food packaging machines in trade magazines
3. Food production facility auctions

Check with food packaging equipment manufacturers

See what type of food packing machine you can buy from the manufacturers. Shopping the manufacturers first for new equipment will show you the various possibilities.
Try:  Serpa Packaging Solutions features photos, easy to understand descriptions and specs for their food packaging machines on their website.

Find a manufacturer that specializes in liquid packaging

Food packing systems are designed to package everything from dry foods to beverages. There are food packing machines that build the cartons, fill the cartons and place the labels. If you are packaging a liquid food product, you'll want to shop vendors who specialize in liquid packaging equipment.
Try:  Busch Machinery shows a complete line of liquid packaging equipment on their website. Check out the labeling machines, as well, since bottles have different shaped surfaces to label.

Compare used food packaging equipment prices

Compare equipment you've found on manufacturer's websites and at local food packaging equipment vendors with what is available in the used market. When comparing prices, be sure you're looking at equipment with comparable features. Shopping the used market may help you redefine what features your food packaging systems really need to have.
Try:  Loeb Equipment and Appraisal Company features an online catalog of used equipment. They also specialize in used equipment appraisal.

• When buying used food packaging equipment, be sure you are dealing with a reputable seller and get some sort of warranty on the equipment, if possible.
• When calculating the benefits of food packaging equipment, remember that it will create a more consistent packaged product and cut down on your labor costs.
• Food packaging machinery can be a drain on the bottom line if it requires a lot of maintenance. When food packaging machines break down, money can also be lost in unfilled orders and lost customer confidence. Be sure to do your homework before investing in food packaging equipment.