Carbonated Beverage Production Lines
Counter-pressure filling for cola, flavored soda, energy and sports drinks and tonic water — in PET bottles, glass bottles and cans, with the carbonator and warming tunnel around them.
Filling principle
Counter-pressure
isobaric filling
Fill temperature
3–5 °C
improves CO₂ solubility
Containers
PET · glass · can
Line extras
Carbonator
and warming tunnel
How a Carbonated Beverage Line Works
Carbonated beverages include cola, fruit-flavored drinks, energy and sports drinks and tonic water. The filling machine fills them into bottles or cans by counter-pressure filling.
Filling principle. The pressure in the filling tank is higher than atmospheric pressure. CO₂ is fed into each bottle until its pressure equals the tank pressure, and then the drink flows into the bottle by gravity.
Foam control. Foaming comes mainly from filling-valve quality, a high syrup ratio and a warm drink. The liquid runs down the bottle wall through a diverter umbrella, and at the end of filling the CO₂ in the bottleneck is released slowly to relieve the pressure.
Discuss your project →
From Water Treatment to Palletized Cases
Each station is synchronized by a central PLC. Your line may add or skip stations, depending on your drink, container and output.
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1
Water treatment
Clean, treated water is the base of every soda. Softening or RO is sized to your raw water.
Read the water treatment guide → -
2
Syrup preparation & mixing
Water, sugar or other sweeteners, flavor elements, colorings and preservatives are dosed and mixed according to your recipe.
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3
Cooling & carbonation
The mixture (around 60 °C at mixing) is cooled by a plate heat exchanger to below 4 °C and then mixed with CO₂ in the carbonator.
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4
Counter-pressure filling
Rinse, fill and cap under counter-pressure. For cans: depalletizer, can rinser, then a filling and seaming machine.
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5
Warming tunnel
Drinks leave the filler at about 5 °C. Warm water sprays bring them gradually to room temperature, so no condensation forms before labeling and packing.
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6
Labeling & coding
Shrink or OPP labels for plastic, self-adhesive or printed labels for glass; ink-jet or laser date printers (fiber laser for cans).
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7
Packing & palletizing
Shrink film or cartons, a grab-type cartoner for glass, and a case palletizer.
- Get a Line Proposal →
Your line may look different
Tell us your drink, container and output — we confirm the flow and the machines for your project.
Equipment in a Carbonated Beverage Line
Every machine is built in our own workshop. You choose the stations you need — we quote a complete equipment list for your project.
Softening or RO, sized to your raw water.
Mixes water, syrup and CO₂ in proportion after cooling.
PET bottle blow molding machine
OptionalMakes bottles from preforms. Skip it if you buy ready-made bottles.
Counter-pressure rinse-fill-cap monoblock for plastic bottles.
Counter-pressure filling with bottom-support bottle handling and crown or aluminum caps.
Counter-pressure filling and seaming for aluminum cans.
Takes empty cans off the pallet onto the line.
Warming tunnel
CoreBrings cold drinks to room temperature before labeling.
Label and code plastic, glass or metal containers.
Packing machine
CoreShrink-film packer, carton packer or grab-type cartoner.
Case palletizer
OptionalAutomatic stacking of finished cases onto pallets.
Not sure which machines you need?
Send us your product and target output — we quote the complete equipment list.
One-Time Filling or Double Filling?
Soda can be produced in two ways. Your formula decides which one fits.
| One-time filling | Double filling | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | One-time fillingSyrup and carbonated water are mixed in proportion first, then the finished mixture is filled in one go. | Double fillingSyrup is filled into the bottle first, then carbonated water is filled on top. |
| Two ways to mix | One-time fillingBatch: mix syrup and water in a tank, cool it, then carbonate. Continuous: syrup and water flow into the carbonator and are proportioned by a valve, chilled and mixed with CO₂ — stable ratio, high accuracy and little foaming. | Double filling— |
| Best for | One-time fillingMost carbonated drinks — now the mainstream method. | Double fillingSoda containing pulp: pulp tends to jam the carbonator nozzle, and is hard to clean. |
| Watch out for | One-time fillingWith the batch method, the mixed drink must be chilled, carbonated and filled promptly to prevent bacterial growth. | Double fillingAn older method: syrup and carbonated water are often at different temperatures, and filling can stir up a lot of foam. |
Not sure which option fits? Send us your project details and our engineers recommend the configuration.
Matching Machines
Linho Machine Series for This Line
Bottle lines for soda are configured to your project — tell us the drink, container and output and we propose the machines. Soda in aluminum cans is covered by the Can series.
Carbonated Beverage FAQs
Straight answers to the questions buyers ask most before ordering. More in our general FAQ.
What containers can this filling machine handle?
How do I avoid foaming when filling carbonated drinks?
Why fill at 3–5 °C, and how is the drink cooled?
How is the syrup mixed?
What is the warming tunnel after the filler for?
Get a Carbonated Beverage Line Proposal
Tell us your product, container and target output. Our engineers reply within 1 working day with a preliminary line proposal and equipment list.
What to send us
Your product
Beverage type and recipe. For water lines, your raw water source too.
Target output
Bottles or cans per hour, and how many shifts you plan to run.
Container samples
At least one bottle, cap and label (or can and lid). We build the machine to the samples.
Workshop & utilities
Workshop size, plus your voltage, frequency and number of phases, water and compressed air.
Prefer to chat? WhatsApp us or write to info@linhomachine.com.