Used beer bottling machines include isobaric counter-pressure fillers, crown cappers, bottle washers for returnable systems, empty bottle inspectors, tunnel pasteurisers and complete beer bottling monoblocks. KHS, Krones and Sidel are common in the industrial segment; German and Italian specialists are frequently seen in the craft-to-mid-scale market.
Beer equipment is highly specific — an isobaric filler, a crown capper matched to your cap format and, for shelf-stable lager, pasteurisation. Rated pressures, cap sizes and PU capability are stated per machine and should be checked against your own specification.
Buying Guide — Used Beer Bottling Machines
The isobaric filler is the most critical machine in a beer line. Check the rated CO2 working pressure shown for the machine, counter-pressure valve condition, CIP circuit design and oxygen pickup against your own target. Ask whether fill-accuracy and dissolved O2 records exist from the previous production run.
Tunnel pasteurisers deliver cumulative heat treatment measured in Pasteurisation Units (PU). Check zone temperature uniformity, PU-control system accuracy and conveyor speed control. The PU target itself belongs to the brewer's own product specification.
Frequently asked questions
What is dissolved oxygen and why does it matter for beer?
Dissolved O2 in finished beer accelerates staling and degrades flavour, so breweries keep pickup at the filler as low as possible. Worn filling valves and seals raise oxygen pickup, which is why measured records from the last production run are worth requesting.
What is a Pasteurisation Unit (PU)?
A PU is the standard measure of cumulative thermal pasteurisation. The PU target for a given beer is set by the brewer's specification, and the pasteuriser must be able to hold it consistently.