Smooth running

In the world of food and beverage packaging, can manufacturers face increasing pressure to deliver high-quality, contamination-free products at high volumes and low costs.

To achieve this, equipment reliability and process efficiency are paramount. The heart of this reliability lies in effective maintenance practices to ensure machinery performs consistently, downtime is minimised and that product integrity is never compromised at the cost of line speed.

Lubrication

The right lubricants should help reduce friction and wear to machinery along the line, as well as help avoid fine dust getting trapped in oil residues.

However, lubrication isn’t about high moisture content. Speciality lubricant supplier, OKS, advises choosing a lubricant with “excellent adhesion properties,” to minimise drippage on the production floor, thus preventing accidents including slipping for the can plant employees. In addition to this, the best lubricant is one that is fully food-grade and safety compliant.

Cleaning & sanitisation

Hygiene and safety of course form a critical part of production. Product contamination must be prevented at all costs, with both machinery and personnel adhering to safety standards 24/7.

Clean-in-place (CIP) systems offer peace-of-mind for any fillers of food, beverage or pharmaceutical products. They should work by removing residue, bacteria and other impurities, as well as acting as a sustainable part of the manufacturing process by reducing, saving or re-using water where possible. Sunswell Bottling & Packaging recommends paying “special attention to valves, nozzles and tubing” in this area.

Routine checks should be involved in CIP to verify that sanitation cycles are operating effectively.

Calibration

Regular calibration of sensors, meters and other measuring devices is essential for accurate filling and packaging of cans. Improperly calibrated equipment can lead to under or overfilling, resulting in product waste and compliance issues. It is important to verify the accuracy of machines regularly to maintain consistency and efficiency.

Inspections

As well as audits, inspections assist in identifying potential issues in order to enhance efficiency, output and overall reliability.

Continuous Process Solutions (CPS) is, at the time of writing, offering manufacturers across the UK and Ireland a free production line inspection to help prevent costly downtime, reduce wear and extend the lifespan of steel belts and related machinery.

Managing director at CPS, Jarrod Hunt, said: “Unplanned downtime can have a serious impact on productivity and profitability. Our free line inspection service is designed to help manufacturers take control of their maintenance schedules, identify potential problems before they escalate and ensure their production lines continue to run efficiently. This proactive approach not only protects equipment investment but also contributes to long-term operational stability,” he concluded.

Data & predictive maintenance

In the modern can production plant, data is key. The most successful maintenance programmes are those that evolve. By tracking key performance indicators and overall equipment effectiveness, manufacturers can identify common errors, trends and opportunities for improvement across all operations.

Predictive maintenance uses condition monitoring tools and data analytics to predict when equipment is likely to fail. By employing intelligent technologies, can manufacturers can detect early signs of wear or misalignment before they lead to costly downtime. Sacmi’s Classy-AI is an example of this: it classifies detected defects and displays them in a user-friendly, easy-to-identify format for operators of the platform.

In the case of equipment manufacturer Belvac, a pilot line has been developed at its headquarters in the US, to test containers, tooling and more at normal production speeds and identify errors before an actual production line is even launched, as explained by the company’s EMEIA & Asia integration sales director, Tony Reynolds, at Asia CanTech 2025.

Training & development

The complexity of modern can manufacturing equipment demands a skilled workforce.

As Chinese complete packaging line provider, YCTD, states, a line is “only as reliable as the team maintaining it.” The company recommends regular workshops, training sessions and certification programmes to help “elevate the capacity of in-house teams.” Employees should of course also be briefed on standard operating procedures and safety precautions.

In conclusion

In an environment where precision, speed and hygiene are non-negotiable, maintenance excellence is critical. By combining preventive, predictive and reliability-centred maintenance practices with strong planning, training and continuous improvement, manufacturers will be able to achieve higher uptime, consistent product quality and long term operational success. Ultimately, the best maintenance programmes are not just about fixing machines; they are crucial to building a culture of reliability, safety and performance across an entire organisation or group.