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Explore every stage of the modern plastic bottle and container manufacturing process with our interactive process map. From raw material preparation and preform production through to stretch blow molding, filling preparation, inspection, labeling, and palletizing, every step requires precision, consistency, and rigorous quality control. By clicking on each stage within the diagram below, you…
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Explore every stage of the modern canmaking line with our interactive beverage can manufacturing process map. From coil handling and cupping through to decorating, necking, and palletizing, each step in the process demands precision, consistency, and quality assurance. By hovering over each stage in the diagram below, you can discover the most relevant beverage can…
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Overview Burst strength testing is one of the most widely used methods for evaluating the performance of sealed flexible packaging. It applies controlled internal pressure to a package until failure, measuring the point at which the seal or material gives way. For quality managers, R&D specialists, and operations experts working across flexible packaging production, burst…
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Definition: Wet coating thickness measurement is the process of measuring the thickness of applied coating or paint layer immediately after it has been applied to a metal coil substrate — before the coated product enters the curing oven and dries. This is achieved using non-contact, optical sensor-based technology positioned inline at the point of application. Why it matters: In coil coating production lines, coatings travel at high…
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Color consistency in metal can manufacturing refers to the ability to reproduce a brand's specified colors accurately and repeatedly across every decorated aluminum or steel beverage can - regardless of production run, facility, or geography. In the can-making industry, color is measured using three attributes: hue (the recognized color, such as red or blue), chroma (the vividness or saturation of that color), and lightness (how light or dark the color appears). These are quantified using…
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Our metrology toolkit has been created by specialist experts with in-depth knowledge It offers insight and best practice advice for UK-based manufacturers working with CMMs, arms, height gauges, or master artefacts. Through UKAS-accredited Torus Metrology Services, you can rest assured that your metrology needs are being handled by true specialists with the appropriate knowledge, certifications, and expertise required to deliver results. Our free toolkit offers advice on…
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To ensure that paints and coatings are easy to apply and durable in their nature, oils and additives are required. To know that the addition of these components doesn’t adversely affect the composition of your final paint or coating, you need thorough and efficient viscosity testing. Oils and lubricant additives in paint The addition of…
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Can seaming to achieve robust, hermetically sealed metal packaging is a preferred practice to protect a wide range of types of products across many industries. An effective double seam is crucial to the integrity of a can. The process of can seaming has been around for decades and has undergone some massive transformations over the…
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Key terms Term Definition Can shell The drawn body of a two-piece can, before the end is seamed on. Can end The lid component, often an easy-open end, seamed onto the shell. Double seam The interlocked fold that joins the end to the shell to create a hermetic seal. Opening force The force needed to open an easy-open end, also…
Maintaining consistent quality in beverage and food can production requires a comprehensive set of quality control tests across both can shells and ends. This guide gives an overview of the essential tests and the inspection systems used across modern production lines, so you can build a multi-layered testing strategy with confidence. Why quality control is…
What Quality Control Tests Are Required for Can Shell and End Manufacturing? There is no single quality control test for can manufacturing. Consistent quality across food and beverage cans relies on a set of tests applied to both can shells and ends, because food and beverage cans must meet extremely tight tolerances. Even minor variations can cause…
A Pasteurization Unit (PU) is a unit of measurement commonly used in brewing and beverage pasteurization to quantify the amount of thermal treatment a product receives during pasteurization. It expresses the combined effect of temperature and time on the reduction or inactivation of target microorganisms. Definition In brewing, one PU is defined as the equivalent heat treatment…
A reference glossary of the key terms, units, and concepts used in pasteurization monitoring for the brewing and beverage industry. All entries link to detailed explainers where available. Core Terms Term Definition Pasteurization Unit (PU) A unit of measurement commonly used in brewing and beverage pasteurization, representing the equivalent thermal treatment of one minute at…
Pasteurization is one of the most critical steps in beer and beverage production. It is designed to reduce or inactivate target microorganisms, which may include pathogens depending on the product, while preserving product taste, texture, and nutritional value. But pasteurization only delivers on its promise when time and temperature parameters are accurately achieved and verified. This is…
The neck finish is the topmost section of a plastic bottle or container - including the threads, sealing surface, and opening dimensions. In plastic bottle manufacturing, neck finish quality control refers to the systematic inspection and measurement of these features to verify they conform to specification. Why It Matters The neck finish determines whether a…
Introduction: Small Tolerances, Big Consequences In plastic bottle manufacturing, seemingly minor dimensional variations in the neck finish or body geometry can have significant downstream consequences - from cap incompatibility and leakage to structural failure, line stoppages, product recalls, and lasting reputational damage. As packaging designs become lighter, more sustainable, and increasingly complex, tight, repeatable quality control of…
Key terms and definitions for packaging quality professionals, QA managers, and production engineers working with plastic bottle inspection. Neck Finish The uppermost section of a plastic bottle or container, including the threads, sealing surface, and opening. The neck finish is defined by standardized dimensions including T (thread outer diameter), E (inner diameter), I (inner neck…
