For cans that stay tight!

In some cases, inductively measuring the curvature of the lid is no longer sufficient to reliably identify leaky beverage cans. This applies, for example, to new types of PET cans with a “no-label” look or certain lightweight metal containers. Fortunately, there is an alternative for such cases: leakage check of cans using the slim HEUFT squeezer ^II QA will be demonstrated for the first time at the trade show for the beverage industry.

Its servo-controlled belt drive applies gentle, precisely adjustable pressure to the cans. If they are leaking, air escapes from their headspace. At the same time, the internal pressure previously measured by a first sensor decreases. A second sensor detects this drop in pressure – and thus even leaks in this area with a diameter of just 0.15 millimeters, which threaten both the functionality and stability of the can itself and, in particular, the integrity and microbial purity of its contents.

High precision, compact dimensions

In the case of PET bottles, the accuracy of detection can be improved even further by compressing the containers slightly more and comparing the measured fill levels when they are under pressure and when they are not. This is because, in leaky bottles, the internal pressure decreases whilst the fill level rises. For precise fill level checks, various detection methods can be integrated into the compact HEUFT squeezer ^II QA; in the case of opaque beverage cans, fill volumes that are too low or too high are ideally detected using X-ray technology. The Locator function identifies the specific filling valve responsible in the event of a recurrence, thereby enabling early preventive maintenance.

As standard, the HEUFT VISION ^II module uses camera-based technology to check the presence, integrity, brand affiliation, and functionality of lids and closure elements. During PET bottle inspection, it also identifies, among other things, misaligned, oversized, or tilted screw caps, as well as severed tamper-evidence bands. And for a seamless 360° all-around inspection, the HEUFT FinalView ^II CAP can be integrated into the device outlet, allowing even the correct application of asymmetrical tethered caps to be checked without blind spots. Including this intelligent additional optics, the installation length of the linear system is just under 2.25 meters, and without it, only two meters.

Quick product changes, reliable online connectivity

Space-saving and convenient, it can be easily integrated into even the tiniest gaps behind the filling machine. For quick brand and program changes with a wide variety of products, the belt drive and detection units can optionally adjust automatically to the modified container format in a very short time.. The HEUFT NaVi user interface, featuring personalized access rights and comprehensive audiovisual assistance, facilitates the safe operation of the HEUFT squeezer ^II QA, which can check the leak-tightness and integrity of up to 72,000 containers per hour – and more – at a belt speed of up to 1.5 meters per second.

For remote diagnostics and maintenance, as well as for collecting operational and quality data, the network-capable system – based on the highly automated HEUFT SPECTRUM ^II – features a secure online connection – and now detects even the tiniest leaks not only in filled PET bottles but also in beverage cans with a fill volume of 200 to 1,000 millilitres. The market leader in leak detection for filling operations will demonstrate just how well this works in mid-November at BrauBeviale 2026 in Nuremberg at booth 8-220. There, the most compact system of the HEUFT squeezer ^II series will be on display in operation.