Hi,
I would like to find companies that manufacter food processing
equipment for small businesses. Specifically I want to find machinery
or processing equipment that will Jar and Label my homemade pasta
sauce in small batches.  I searched the Thomas Register, but they only
have companies that manufacter equipment for large quantities. I need
a machine that will Jar pasta sauce in small quantities.

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Clarification of Question by al45-ga on 11 Feb 2003 17:34 PST

I would like to find a company that makes equipment for jarring and
labeling pasta sauce in small quantities.

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 11 Feb 2003 21:25 PST

al45...

I'm not sure what benefit you hope to accrue via the use
of machinery to produce small batches. I work in the honey 
business, and we tend to sell small batches on a regular
basis. We have found it quite functional to bottle 3-4
cases of each size at a time, and do the bottling and 
labeling by hand, and I can't conceive of any machine
process which would improve the speed and quality of
production for such small batches. Our cases hold 12 jars.
Perhaps you have a different definition of 'small'?

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Clarification of Question by al45-ga on 12 Feb 2003 04:30 PST

To sublime1-ga

I am in the process of opening up an Italian Deli.  I want to jar my
pasta sauce with my own label.  What I am lookimg for is a machine
that can perhaps jar about 10 - 20 cases per day and vacuum
seal/sterilize at the same time.  Does such a machine exist?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 12 Feb 2003 17:25 PST

Hi there,

Have you considered the services of a co-packer.  These are companies
that specialize in packing private label foods such as your sauce. 
They have the equipment on-site, and experience with local markets
(and they can probably give you a few references of other local food
processors they work with).  They will work with you to make the sauce
to your exact specifications.

If you're interested, I can post here the names of a few co-packers
for you to consider.  Just let me know where you are located.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 13 Feb 2003 13:08 PST

Hi there,

There aren't many co-packers in Rhode Island (it *is* a small state)
and the one's I have listed don't handle pasta sauce.

However, here are two suggestions.  (1) Take a look at a recently
answered questions here at:

http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=158421

as it includes a list of co-packers in an around Massachusetts.  And
(2) get in touch with a woman by the name of Catherine Tufts at the
Rhode Island Dept of Agriculture.  She has a lot of contacts in the
specialty foods business, and could perhaps give you some leads closer
to home.  Her number is 401-222-2601.

Good luck.  If you strike out, post a Request for Clarification here
and I'll see if I can get you some more info.

al45...

From what I've been able to determine, it appears that such
machinery is specialized, and you would need to purchase
separate machines that accomplish the tasks of filling,
capping/sealing, and labeling (vacuum sealing seems to 
result naturally, as a result of capping the liquid at
warm temperature. When the liquid cools, it produces a
vacuum). The machines are usually set up in some sort of
assembly-line fashion, with people performing quality
control tests along the way. Machines which combine the
functions you state are more often found in larger
machines, designed for mass-production.

One smaller-capacity filling machine is the:
"ENOLMASTER 4 head Stainless steel filling machine"

"the 'Enolmaster Professional' is a vacuum filling machine
 for the filling of approximately 600-800 bottles an hour."

"This equipment can be used with wine, oil, tomato sauce,
 spirits, fruit juices and thick products."
From the iBrew.com website, in Australia:
http://www.ibrew.com.au/html/equipment/fillingfiltering/fillingfiltering.html

You can ask for a quote on this machine here:
http://www.ibrew.com.au/html/contact/quoteframe.html


The Weir & Harrod website, also out of Australia, lists
some of their machinery on the following page. Note the
separation between bottling and capping machines. Their
contact information is at the bottom of the page:
http://www.weirandharrod.com.au/Web%20Pages/Company_Markets/foodbev.htm


Another filling machine, featured on the website of the
Japan Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association (JPMA),
is the:
MODEL No.5PB-300 HIKARI AUTOMATIC FILLING MACHINE
which fills 20-40 pieces/minute.
http://www.jpmma.or.jp/mguide2002/mach-e2.htm

A picture is available here:
http://www.jpmma.or.jp/mguide2002/12604ex.htm

You will find separate capping machines on the same page,
as well as machines that combine the two processes, but are
most likely out of your range, at 60-120 pieces/minute,
such as the MODEL 2F-2I-2CD UNIT MACHINE on that page.

Contact information for the manufacturers of these machines
is found below each item.

A complete list of Japanese manufacturers of liquid filling
machines, with contact information, is on the JPMA site, here:
http://www.jpmma.or.jp/kikai/2-3m-eng.htm

Labeling machine manufacturers are listed here:
http://www.jpmma.or.jp/kikai/6-1m-eng.htm

A full list of available machine types is here:
http://www.jpmma.or.jp/kikai/machine_menu-eng.htm

JPMA's English homepage is here:
http://www.jpmma.or.jp/english/engidx.htm


I'm posting this as a comment, since most of these
machines would seem to exceed your needs, and the
smaller ones do not combine the functions you desire.
If this satisfies your needs, however, or if a brief
clarification or addition would do so, let me know,
and I'll be happy to post an answer.

sublime1-ga


Searches done, via Google:

sauce bottling machine
://www.google.com/search?q=sauce+bottling+machine

Thank You, I would appreciate a list of co-packers in my area.  I am
located in Providence, Rhode Island.