How to Choose a Better Leak Detection System

If the leak detection system your company uses isn’t working correctly, you could face any number of problems. The worst scenario: Shipping a large number of bottles to a customer only to discover that all of them have leaks. That would cost your business a lot of money and put its reputation at risk. When it comes to leak testing bottles, you need a system that’s 100 percent reliable.

 

Using the Best Blow Molding Equipment

In certain instances, the manufactured product can cause issues with a leak detection system. For example, to make uniquely shaped bottles, manufacturers rely on the reheat stretch blow molding process. That yields a quality finished product that’ll pass leak testing without any problem.

For this blow molding process, trying to use a different machine would lead to disaster. Most notably are defects or weaknesses in the finished product. The same rule applies to devices used as part of leak testing bottles. If currently using outdated machinery equipment not properly maintained, it could allow products to pass instead of rejecting them.

To avoid problems, the designer and engineer should carefully review the product’s drawings together. That way, they can determine upfront the appropriate type of blow molding equipment required to ensure the bottles can sail through leak testing.

 

Additional Factors to Consider

To choose the best equipment for leak testing bottles, you need to consider several different things. Here are a few key points:

For a seamless operation, you want a leak detection system that works with other processes down the production line. In other words, you want to align this system to the blow molding equipment as well as other downstream equipment.

Not only should the detection system coordinate well with other machinery, but you also have to factor in the amount of available space. Remember, by understanding the machines currently used as part of your manufacturing process, you can then choose the most efficient and effective leak detection system.

Even the shape of the bottles made using the standard or reheat stretch blow molding process matters. The reason is that some bottles are much easier to handle than others. For instance, you don't want to backlog reverse taper products as they could easily tip over. On the other hand, tall and skinny bottles need a backlog to minimize the risk of them tipping.

There's also the type of conveyor your company uses to consider. For accurate results, bottles tested on conveyors must remain stable while under the test head. This is why a vacuum conveyor typically works the best, especially when there's a leak detection system involved.

 

The Bottom Line

Just as you can't afford to take shortcuts on blow molding equipment, you can't take shortcuts on leak detection systems. To get the best of both products, you can always count on us at Pet All Manufacturing Inc.