Technology evolves fast. What seems state-of-the-art today can become obsolete tomorrow. When investing in a bottle unscrambler or any packaging automation equipment, it's critical to ask: Will this machine adapt to my needs in 10 or 15 years?

Even the best bottle unscrambler or packaging automation equipment is only as good as the people running and maintaining it. One of the most overlooked factors during the buying process? The skill level of your internal maintenance and operations teams.

When production stops, every second counts. And while many buyers focus on the mechanical design and automation features of their bottle unscrambler or other packaging technology, one critical factor is often ignored until it’s too late: the quality of the operation manual and troubleshooting documentation.

When investing in packaging automation, there’s a natural attraction to high-tech, fully automated solutions packed with robotics, sensors, and complex software. But when it comes to bottle unscramblers, sometimes simplicity is the real game changer.

In the world of packaging automation, every minute of unplanned downtime translates to lost production, wasted materials, and frustrated production teams. Yet, too often, critical maintenance-related factors like MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) and MTTR (Mean Time To Repair) are overlooked when selecting a bottle unscrambler or other packaging machinery.

When choosing a bottle unscrambler or any other packaging automation equipment, it’s tempting to focus only on your current bottle formats. After all, that’s what you need to run today, right? But limiting your focus like this could lead to major operational headaches, and unplanned capital expenses, sooner than you think.

When it comes to buying a packaging machine, most decision-makers immediately focus on the obvious factors: production speed, capacity, automation level, footprint, energy efficiency, safety features, customization options, and of course… cost. These are the traditional checklist items that fill every RFQ (Request for Quotation) and supplier meeting.

But here’s the thing: This blog is not about any of those.

Before investing in a bottle unscrambler, it is essential to analyze several technical and operational aspects that will make a real difference in the performance of your line. It is not just about speed, but also about reliability, flexibility, and the ability to adapt to the specific needs of your product and industry. This guide outlines the key criteria that will help you choose the most suitable system and supplier, keeping in mind both current efficiency and future challenges.

In high-speed packaging environments, air conveyors systems are a common solution for transporting lightweight plastic bottles—especially those made from PET or HDPE. These systems use pressurized air and guiding mechanisms to move bottles efficiently from one process stage to another. Selecting the right system involves evaluating several technical and operational factors that can impact performance, maintenance, and long-term flexibility.

In the highly demanding world of rigid packaging, equipment durability is both a promise and a challenge. While bottle unscramblers and orienters that operate reliably for more than 25 years are a strong asset, ensuring consistent performance over decades requires more than robust engineering: it demands a global service strategy that evolves with the machine, the packaging market, and the people who run them.

The industrial machinery manufacturing sector is entering a new era of regulatory change. The well-known Directive 2006/42/EC, which has been the key legal framework for machinery safety in the European Union, will soon be repealed and replaced by the new Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, coming into force in January 2027.

 Lubricant and chemical packaging often involves:
• Asymmetrical bottles with grips or angled necks.
• High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other rigid plastics.
• Custom-molded designs for brand distinction.

These factors mean that some conventional bottle unscramblers deliver inefficient results, causing misfeeds, orientation errors, frequent stops, and costly downtime.