Canadian manufacturer Cask has unveiled its new system, Micro-Automated Canning System (mACS), which combines a compact footprint and the ability to fill cans of various sizes.

The system can be converted to fill and seam cans of varying heights and diameters — from 5.5 ounces (163 mL) to 19.2 ounces (568 mL) in volume  in less than 30 minutes.  

The mACS also has electric cam-driven seamers, three CO2 pre-purge heads, three fill heads, and a post-fill rinser and dryer.

The new machine measures 7 by 2.5 feet and has a very small footprint of 17.5 square feet.

Its conveyor belt can feeder allows for adding such automated pre- and post-packaging components as a depalletizer, inline date coder, nitrogen doser, pressure-sensitive labeler, shrink sleever and other components.

Elsewhere, the machine’s CO2 pre-purge component evacuates oxygen prior to can filling, while the three-head filler’s unique technology combines fill-level sensors with proprietary foam-control valves.

Those features combine to produce filled cans with extremely low dissolved oxygen pickup of just 5-20 parts per billion — better or comparable to large-scale and much more expensive canning and bottling lines.

Cask founder Peter Love explained: The mACS provides the best automated features of our various machines, along with new package-size flexibility — all in one very compact, mobile and affordable machine. It’s an industry changer.

“With this machine our customers get highly efficient filling and the ability to create new revenue streams and beverages.

“They can quickly shift to new can sizes for current products, or jump from beer and cider to soft drinks and uncarbonated beverages such as cold brew coffee, wine and energy drinks.” 

“Since it can be equipped with an array of automated components, the mACS also enables our customers to scale up the automation of their canning process as they grow and diversify.”