A stage, a station and a tank are not the same thing
A stage describes a process purpose. A station is a physical bottle position, and a tank is part of a liquid circuit. Several positions may repeat one operation or share one tank. Ask each supplier to mark its terminology on the sequence drawing before comparing a six-stage and a ten-stage offer.
- Count distinct process functions separately from bottle positions
- Identify repeated operations and shared tanks
- Show movement and drain intervals as well as spray positions
- Confirm whether external brushing is inside or outside the quoted count
Classify incoming bottles first
Separate normal return soil from bottles that should be rejected. Record old caps, labels, dust, internal residues, odor, deformation and route history rather than using only new bottles.
- Normal return sample
- Worst acceptable sample
- Reject sample
- Bottle material and age
- Route and storage condition
Give every stage a function
A stage may loosen soil, wash, sanitize where required, rinse or provide a final qualified-water rinse. Avoid repeated stations that have no stated process purpose or acceptance point.
- Pre-wash purpose
- Wash purpose
- Sanitizing purpose where selected
- Rinse purpose
- Drain and carryover control
Check time, coverage and recirculation
Stage count alone does not define cleaning. Spray-nozzle coverage, contact, bottle drainage, solution monitoring, tank access and refresh rules matter to the result.
- Nozzle position
- Bottle rotation or indexing
- Tank and pump condition
- Recipe adjustability
- Final-rinse separation
Resolve a faster machine rate against the same wash program
On an indexing machine, a change in cycle timing can affect spray, contact, movement and drainage intervals. A higher nominal BPH should therefore be checked against the approved stage schedule, not selected independently. Ask the supplier to explain how the required program is retained and document any changes to positions, circuits or timing.
- The rate used in the program trial
- Exposure and drainage basis at that rate
- Allowed adjustment range and control responsibility
- Exceptions that require a new technical agreement
Validate the final program
Final cleaning parameters must be confirmed according to bottle condition, local regulations and the selected machine configuration. FAT checks the built sequence; site validation confirms the operating program under local conditions.
- No universal chemistry
- No universal concentration
- No universal temperature
- No universal contact time
- Documented local approval
Information needed for a quote
Send the bottle and cap basis, required BPH, bottle path, factory and utility information, destination and any module or support requirement. Unknown items can remain marked “to be confirmed.”
Request a Configuration-Based Proposal