Dynamic accumulation system for beverage
Sidel AQ solutions
With the AQ-File, AQ-MAX and AQ-HC solutions, Sidel brings accumulation systems that cater to any industrial sector, providing great reliability and large-capacity accumulation. Each system in the range addresses a different combination of line speed, capacity requirement and container type, so production teams can select the configuration that matches their operational needs without over- or under-specifying the equipment.
The AQ range covers accumulation needs across beverages, wines and spirits, liquid dairy products, oil, food, and home and personal care. The systems handle all container shapes and materials - plastic, glass, metal and carton, whether round or non-round - making them applicable well beyond beverage production alone.
AQ-File is a universal single file accumulation solution tailored to absolutely any industrial sector. It operates at low and medium speeds and is suitable for both empty and filled containers, handling every container shape and material in the range.
Maintenance is fully optimised with AQ-File. Its low friction and reduced mechanical constraints bring maintenance costs down to the bare minimum, while full accessibility to all conveyor parts facilitates the process. The system contains only a very small number of wear parts and a limited number of drives, and it shares common parts with the standard conveyor range. All parts are compliant with common mechanical and electrical technical standards.
The AQ-MAX delivers great accumulation capacity within a compact space: nearly 100% of the table surface is used for accumulation, putting efficiency to the fore. It is a pressureless accumulation system, highly flexible and able to handle glass, metal and plastic containers. It is particularly suitable for PET bottles, which do not stick or get out of shape on the table.
AQ-MAX handles round and non-round products without mechanical changes and delivers multi-format operation without changeover settings. Thanks to the compactness and modularity of the table, it can easily be integrated into any type of line, whether new or existing. The system is gentle on products: a natural mechanical regulation of the containers means no significant pressure is exerted on them or on the guide rails, and the proportions and low pressure of the table prevent jamming and abrasion.
The AQ-HC high capacity pressureless accumulation system is adapted to high-speed glass and PET lines and is particularly well suited to large production flow variations, such as high-speed lines and Combi configurations. It runs on a pressureless First-In First-Out (FIFO) principle and ensures optimum responsiveness thanks to its long table size and wide table infeed.
Maximum accumulation potential is guaranteed by the full use of the effective space, the use of all infeed chains for accumulation, and an accumulation-to-surface ratio up to 20% better than the AQ-MAX.
Product care is ensured, as the AQ-HC exerts very low pressure on containers. The system's great FIFO precision, close to that of single-file conveying, also enables strong product traceability. Multi-format flexibility covers round and non-round products with no mechanical changes and no changeover settings required. Only one AQ-HC is needed between a Sidel Combi and the labeller, the system integrates easily into new or existing lines, and it is easy to operate with low maintenance requirements.
Reliability and capacity are the two defining characteristics of Sidel's accumulation portfolio. These systems are designed to maintain consistent product flow between line stages, absorbing speed variations and brief stoppages without propagating disruption across the production line. Across the range, low pressure on containers, optimised maintenance and easy integration into new or existing lines are shared design priorities.
