Aug 05, 2025
The Challenge of Glass on Beverage Production Lines
Transparent containers like glass bottles pose significant challenges in beverage production lines as traditional sensors often fail to detect them, risking downtime and operator safety. ReeR Safety addresses this critical issue with innovative solutions—Micron, a measuring light curtain with diaphragm lenses for reliable detection during case packing, and Safegate
Transparency that deceives: the challenge of glass on beverage production lines and ReeR Safety's solution.
In modern beverage industry bottling lines, transparent containers, such as glass or plastic bottles, are standard practice. However, transparency can present challenges in automated processes: traditional optical or infrared sensors may fail to correctly detect transparent objects, which can have critical consequences for productivity and safety.
In environments where speed, precision and reliability are key elements, failure to detect can result in machine downtime, line slowdowns, handling errors and, in extreme cases, compromise operator safety.
The solution is clear: use technology that can detect everything, even what the human eye or conventional sensors might miss.
The two critical areas in beverage lines: case packing and transfer
The areas most exposed to risks of this kind along the line are the pick & place station and the transport phase on pallets between safe and hazardous areas.
During case packing operations, it can happen that some bottles are not gripped correctly, so a system capable of detecting their presence and position on the belt is essential. However, if the containers are made of glass or a transparent material, standard sensors risk seeing through the object and failing to detect it.
At ReeR Safety, we are well aware of this critical issue and have developed the most effective solution: Micron with diaphragm lenses, a measuring light curtain designed to reliably detect transparent objects. When installed horizontally, it monitors the entire passage area, identifying any bottles that have not been detected and enabling the machine or operator to intervene automatically, thereby preventing downtime and production losses.
In the second scenario, involving the transport of pallets between hazardous areas, safety becomes an even more crucial aspect. If the transparent load is not detected, the barrier will not activate and the hazardous area will remain exposed, which could put the operator at risk.
This is why we designed Safegate with TRX G muting sensors, the safety light curtain that guarantees full reliability, even in the presence of transparent materials. Thanks to its parallel-beam muting arms with various configurations (e.g. 'L'-shaped at the exit, as shown in the photo) and optimised retro-reflective sensors, Safegate can detect loads precisely.
In the world of bottling, nothing can be left to chance. When working with glass or other transparent materials, you need solutions that can see what is invisible to the naked eye. With Micron and Safegate, ReeR Safety provides a certified technological solution that turns potential problems into competitive advantages.
Contact ReeR Safety and find out how you can improve your performance, even with difficult materials such as transparent bottles.
https://www.reersafety.com/en/contacts/contact-us/
Visit ReeR website and contact us to learn more about our full range of safety solutions.
https://www.reersafety.com/en/contacts/contact-us/