The food supplement market encompasses a wide variety of products, including capsules, tablets, powders and oils packaged in small bottles. This diversity is directly reflected in packaging requirements. A solution suitable for tablets will not necessarily meet the needs of a liquid food supplement, and the equipment required will vary depending on production volumes.

However, packaging food supplements is not simply a matter of choosing a counting machine, filling machine or labelling machine. Hygiene requirements, traceability, batch identification and consumer information must also be taken into account.

In Europe, food supplements fall under food legislation and are subject to specific requirements regarding their composition, presentation and labelling. Manufacturers must also ensure product traceability.

For manufacturers, the challenge is therefore to find the right balance between accuracy, hygiene, traceability, consistency, flexibility and the desired level of automation.

Why is packaging such an important issue for food supplements?

Packaging involves several stages: counting or dosing the product, capping or screw-capping the container, followed by labelling. Each of these operations has an impact on the consistency of the finished product.

The choice of machinery should therefore not be based solely on production speed. It should also take into account:

• the form of the food supplement;
• its physical characteristics;
• the type and format of the container;
• the materials that come into contact with the product;
• cleaning and changeover requirements;
• the type of closure;
• the type of label to be applied;
• marking and traceability requirements;
• the number of products or formats to be packaged;
• current production volumes and expected future growth.

This overall approach makes it possible to determine which machine or packaging solution is most appropriate.

Hygiene and packaging: why does equipment design matter?

Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 requires food business operators to implement appropriate measures to control identified risks. Premises, equipment and materials must be designed and maintained in a way that helps minimise the risk of contamination of foodstuffs.

For packaging machinery, this means paying particular attention to cleanability, the materials used and the reduction of unnecessary handling. These considerations are especially important when our R&D team designs our packaging machines. Product changes and formulation changes must be carried out under appropriate conditions, with the cleaning and control procedures required by the production process.

Our C-Pills Auto has been designed with particular attention to cleanability, helping to facilitate product changeovers. The machine is designed for the automatic counting of capsules and coated tablets.

Capsules and tablets: the challenge of accurate counting

For food supplements supplied in capsule or tablet form, the first packaging stage is usually counting.

This operation requires consistency: each container must receive the specified number of units. For smaller production runs, a semi-automatic counting machine such as the C-Pills can help mechanise this stage while maintaining a high degree of flexibility.

As production volumes increase, manufacturers can move towards an automated solution. Our C-Pills Auto is an automatic counting machine designed for capsules and coated tablets. It uses a vibrating hopper and a laser curtain counting system. The machine features a stainless-steel structure, with product-contact parts made from materials suitable for this type of application, including POM-C plastic.

Counting can then be combined with other packaging operations. We offer a line combining the C-Pills Auto, VS 2000 and Ninon 2500 to carry out counting, capping and labelling successively.

This approach is particularly useful when the aim is to reduce handling between the different stages of the process. This type of line is suitable for the pharmaceutical, food, veterinary and food supplement sectors. Additional solutions, such as marking systems and infeed tables, can also be incorporated.

Liquid food supplements: adapting filling technology to the product

Food supplements can also be supplied in liquid form. There is no universal dosing technology: viscosity, product behaviour, filling volume and container type are all parameters that need to be considered when selecting a filling machine.

For a company starting out or producing in small batches, a semi-automatic solution such as the K-One can provide a suitable first step. Conversely, higher production volumes may require an automatic filling machine such as the K-Line S integrated into a complete packaging line.

Our range of filling machines makes it possible to consider different configurations according to the product and production requirements. The choice of dosing system must be based not only on the production process, but also on the hygiene and cleaning requirements associated with the product.

Capping and screw-capping: ensuring continuity throughout the packaging process

After filling or counting comes the container closure stage. Depending on the type of closure, this may involve capping, inserting or screw-capping the closure. Our machines are designed to accommodate different types of closures.

For food supplement bottles, screw-capping can be automated to reduce handling and improve consistency. Our VS 2000 is an automatic screw-capping machine that feeds closures onto containers before applying and tightening them.

Labelling: securing information and supporting traceability

For food supplements, the label plays a particularly important role. It is not simply used to display the brand and product name to consumers. Regulations require specific information to be provided for food supplements, including the recommended daily portion, certain warnings and information relating to the nutrients or substances that characterise the product.

The chosen equipment must provide consistent label positioning while being suited to the shape and format of the container. For smaller production runs, for example, the Ninette Auto Mini is a semi-automatic labelling machine designed for small cylindrical products.

When production volumes increase, an automatic labelling machine such as the Ninon 2500 can be considered. It is designed for high production volumes and can accommodate different formats.

Traceability is also a fundamental requirement of food legislation. For this reason, a packaging line can incorporate marking systems alongside the labelling station to apply information such as batch numbers, dates, barcodes or other traceability data.

Monobloc or complete packaging line: which approach should you choose?

The choice between individual machines, a complete line and a monobloc system depends primarily on the product and the specific requirements of the project. A monobloc combines filling, capping and labelling operations within a single machine. For certain liquid products packaged in bottles, this 3-in-1 configuration can be particularly relevant.  A complete packaging line offers greater flexibility in terms of configuration between the different stations. It can also allow an installation to evolve progressively, with additional equipment added as production requirements increase.

Our experts support manufacturers throughout these different stages of development, helping them select a solution that matches their current needs while taking future requirements into consideration. The best equipment is not necessarily the equipment that automates the greatest number of operations. It is the equipment that genuinely meets the manufacturer’s requirements, hygiene constraints and future development plans.

Capsules and tablets require an appropriate counting solution, while liquid food supplements require careful consideration of the most suitable dosing technology. In both cases, capping, screw-capping and labelling must then be integrated coherently into the overall process. Packaging must also form part of a broader approach to food safety and process control. Equipment cleanability, reduced handling, product changeovers and batch identification are all factors that we take into account when supporting our customers with their packaging projects.

Looking for a solution to automate the packaging of your food supplements? Tell us about your project and we can work with you to identify the configuration best suited to your requirements.

FAQ: Food Supplement Packaging

Which machine should be used to package capsules or tablets?

For capsules and tablets, the packaging process generally begins with counting. This can be carried out using a semi-automatic counting machine such as the C-Pills or an automatic solution such as the C-Pills Auto.

How can the packaging of a liquid food supplement be automated?

The first step is to analyse the characteristics of the product, particularly its viscosity and behaviour during dosing, as well as the required filling volume. These factors help determine the most appropriate filling technology.

Can the capping of food supplement bottles be automated?

Yes. Depending on the type of closure and container, suitable capping or screw-capping solutions can be integrated into the packaging process to reduce handling and improve consistency.

Is it possible to automate only part of the food supplement packaging process?

Yes. A manufacturer can start by automating counting, filling or labelling, and then develop the installation progressively according to its production requirements.

Which labelling machine should be chosen for small food supplement bottles?

The choice depends on factors including the bottle format, label type and required production speed. For smaller production runs, a solution such as the Ninette Auto Mini may be suitable, while higher production volumes can be addressed with an automatic labelling machine such as the Ninon 2500.

Is a complete packaging line only suitable for large companies?

No. The level of automation should primarily reflect the manufacturer’s actual requirements. A complete line can be relevant when several operations need to be automated and coordinated, while a growing company may initially choose individual machines and progressively develop its installation as production increases.

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