Canning and Bottling: How Do They Differ?

Canning and Bottling: How Do They Differ?

When buying drinks, you'll notice they come in different types of packaging at the grocery store, such as cartons, glass and plastic bottles, and cans. Particularly in sectors like craft beer, beverages are typically available in glass bottles or cans. But what sets canning apart from bottling, and is one superior to the other?
To decide which option suits your business best, grasping the distinctions between canning and bottling is crucial. Let's explore the processes of both canning and bottling and highlight their key differences.

What is the Canning Process?

To initiate the canning procedure, you have the option to use either pre-labeled cans or plain ones. Initially, these cans lack lids and are automatically placed onto a conveyor belt of a canning apparatus. They undergo a rinsing process with water, sanitizer, or ionized air. Subsequently, carbon dioxide is used to expel oxygen from the cans. Any residual oxygen could potentially impact the beverage's flavor stability in the future.
After being thoroughly cleaned, the cans continue along the production line where they are filled with beer. Once filled, lids are affixed as carbon dioxide is simultaneously injected to eliminate any remaining air, minimizing headspace.

As the cans travel down the production line, they arrive at the seamer. At this stage, a motor spins each can swiftly, forming a crimped seam that ensures a tight seal. After sealing, the cans are externally rinsed, checked for proper fill levels, date-stamped, and then prepared for sale. Sometimes, after filling, the cans are pasteurized.
If the cans are pre-printed before being filled, they are ready for immediate packaging. However, if they are filled as blank cans, labeling is done after they have dried and before they are packaged for sale.

Cans can be grouped into packs of four or six using a plastic ring or top for secure holding, or they can be packed into larger boxes. Afterward, these cans are placed on pallets and prepared for shipment.
The canning operation may be conducted by hand, semi-automatically, or fully automatically, utilizing different canning technologies. For beverage companies of various sizes, automatic canning systems have the capability to fill, cap, and seal anywhere from 50 to more than 2,000 cans per minute.

What is the Bottling Process?

The initial step in the bottling process involves depalletizing, where empty bottles are taken out of their original pallet packaging provided by the manufacturer. This allows for individual handling of the bottles.
Afterward, the bottles are rinsed with water, and carbon dioxide might be injected into them to lower the oxygen content inside, akin to what is done during canning.

Afterwards, the bottles proceed to the filling station, where they are filled with beer. The narrow opening at the top necessitates a slow filling process to prevent overflow and spillage. Following this, a brief burst of carbon dioxide is introduced above the liquid to eliminate any residual oxygen. Alternatively, some automated bottling systems pass the bottles under a high-pressure water jet to create foam, which helps expel the remaining oxygen and replace it with carbon dioxide.

To prevent oxygen from re-entering, bottles are immediately sealed with a cap or, in some cases, a cork and cage. Once sealed, the bottles are labeled using a labeling machine and then packed into boxes for storage and sale.
There is a variety of bottling equipment available. Liquid level machines ensure each bottle appears uniformly filled. Volumetric fillers dispense an identical volume of liquid into each bottle. Overflow pressure fillers are widely favored, whereas gravity fillers offer a more economical option. Similar to canning, bottling machinery varies in automation levels but typically demands more manual involvement.

Why is Canning Better Than Bottling?

Upon examining the methods of canning and bottling, numerous factors suggest that canning is the preferable option.

Filling Time and Fill Levels

The broad opening of a can allows for a quicker filling process compared to bottling, where the flow is slowed to precisely pour into the narrow neck. Over time, this significant difference in filling speed results in substantial savings in both cost and time. Additionally, cans can be filled to the brim, resulting in less headspace than bottled beverages.

Human Operation

Canning involves fewer human operators compared to bottling, allowing talent and resources to be allocated elsewhere or enabling a reduction in the number of employees needed.

Storage

Cans take up less room in a warehouse because they are uniformly sized and made of the same material, allowing them to be stacked efficiently. In contrast, storing bottles often necessitates additional materials such as boxes for stacking, which increases the amount of space required.

Shipping and Transportation

Just as with storage, cans occupy less space in a truck, allowing for more cans to be loaded at once. Because cans weigh less than bottles, this leads to lower transportation and shipping expenses, which also decreases the carbon footprint of transporting goods.

Durability

Cans are sturdier compared to glass bottles, which makes them a safer option for transportation and consumption. They minimize the chances of damage from breakage, offering greater portability for consumers to enjoy both at home and outdoors.

Environmental

Transporting cans results in a lower carbon footprint because they are lighter, and producing an aluminum can generates considerably fewer emissions compared to manufacturing a bottle. In fact, creating enough glass to contain a liter of beer produces emissions that are approximately 1.5 times higher than those for making an aluminum can for the same volume.

Freshness

One major benefit of opting for cans is that they help prevent oxidation, ensuring your drink stays fresh for a longer period. Oxidation happens when oxygen comes into contact with the liquid. During the filling process, cans have less headspace compared to bottles, reducing the chance for oxygen to enter. Additionally, bottles are more prone to improper sealing, which allows air to gradually leak in over time. Light exposure can also impact the beverage's freshness; glass bottles allow varying levels of light through depending on whether they are made of clear, brown, or green glass. In contrast, aluminum cans block all light from entering.