Spindle capping machines
Compare the main automatic, compact and semi-automatic capping routes.
Bottle stability
Why do bottles spin during spindle capping?
Troubleshoot bottle spin before changing torque settings.
Direct answer
Why do bottles spin during spindle capping?
Bottles spin during spindle capping when the tightening force overcomes the grip and support holding the container. Common causes include side belts set too wide, unstable bottle geometry, a low or shifting fill level, poor guide contact, slippery decoration or a cap fault that increases resistance before the thread has started correctly.
Check the bottle before increasing capping force
| Check | What it proves | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Side-belt contact | Whether the belts support the body without squeezing or marking it. | Gap, height, belt condition and the lightest filled pack tested. |
| Bottle base and label area | Whether the container can resist torque without rocking or sliding. | Base shape, label position, surface finish and fill level. |
| Cap start | Whether the thread starts cleanly before final tightening. | Cap placement angle, cap height and thread engagement photographs. |
| Conveyor pressure | Whether upstream bottle pressure pushes the pack out of alignment. | Infeed spacing, accumulation and stop/start behaviour. |
When a different handling route may be needed
Tall, light, flexible, tapered or highly decorated bottles can need wider contact support, extra guides or a different capping route. The practical answer depends on the finished filled pack rather than the empty bottle alone.
Send representative filled samples, not only drawings, when stability is uncertain. Lancing can then assess whether the capper, guide path, belt contact and feed method are suitable for the project.
Related guidance
Continue the specification
FAT checklist
Plan evidence for sample testing, acceptance and handover.
Ask Lancing to review the pack
Send bottle, cap, samples, target output and any known fault evidence.