Beer bottling demands isobaric counter-pressure filling, low dissolved oxygen and either flash or tunnel pasteurisation — making it one of the most technically specific segments of the used bottling market. Lines from KHS, Krones and Sidel are common in the industrial segment; Italian and German specialists are frequently seen in the craft-to-mid-scale market.
Standard glass beer line: depalletizer → bottle washer (returnable) or rinser (one-way) → empty bottle inspector → isobaric counter-pressure filler → crown capper → tunnel pasteuriser → labeller → case packer → palletizer. Configurations run from microbrewery scale to industrial breweries; the rated output applies to the specific machine and actual output depends on bottle format, product and pasteurisation.
Technical Buying Guide — Used Beer Bottling Lines
Dissolved oxygen is a primary quality parameter on beer lines; the target belongs to your own product specification. Ask whether dissolved O2 records exist from the previous production run of the specific line, and check filling-valve and seal condition.
Returnable bottle systems (Germany, Belgium, Eastern Europe, Latin America) require a caustic bottle washer. One-way systems use a rinser instead. The two architectures are not interchangeable without major equipment change.
Tunnel pasteurisation is common for shelf-stable lager, with the Pasteurisation Unit target set by the brewer's own specification. Craft breweries often use flash pasteurisation upstream of the filler with cold-chain distribution.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check before buying a used beer bottling line?
Confirm whether the line is built for returnable bottles (caustic washer) or one-way bottles (rinser), the isobaric filler pressure rating and valve condition, dissolved-oxygen records from the last production run, crown cap format, pasteurisation type and the documentation available.
What is the difference between flash and tunnel pasteurisation?
Flash pasteurisation treats beer in a plate heat exchanger for a short residence time before filling. Tunnel pasteurisation applies heat to filled bottles and is measured in Pasteurisation Units. Temperatures and PU targets are set by the brewer's specification and by the machine's configuration.
Can a beer line be repurposed for soft drinks?
Often yes with engineering review. The isobaric filler works for CSD; capping technology and pasteurisation requirements differ. Scope depends on the specific machines involved.