Bottling Line Financing

Throughput on a bottling line is measured in bottles per minute, and every minute the line runs short of its rated speed is lost revenue that cannot be recovered. We finance bottling lines from rinser through filler, capper, and labeler, whether you are standing up a new facility, replacing aging filler heads, or scaling from 200 BPM to 600 BPM to meet a new retail contract. Our minimum is $50,000, the sweet spot is $100,000 to $150,000 and up, and we fund in about one to two weeks from approval.

Bottling line projects often involve more than a single machine. A complete line can include a depalletizer feeding empty containers, an air rinser or inverter, a volumetric or gravity filler, a capping or crowning station, an inline checkweigher, a labeler, and a case packer at the discharge end. We structure transactions around the full project, not just the most expensive asset in the list, so your changeover tooling, guarding, and integration costs can roll in with the main iron.

What Goes Into a Bottling Line Transaction

Bottling line financing covers the physical equipment and, depending on the lender, installation and commissioning costs. The core assets on a modern line include the filler (rotary or linear, isobaric or ambient), the capper (screw, ROPP, crown, or press-on depending on closure type), and the labeler. A Filling Machine Financing alone from a major OEM can run $300,000 to $1.5M or more depending on fill volume, head count, and material of construction.

Used lines are common in this space. Beverage producers frequently auction off lines when they change product formats or close a plant. We lend on used bottling equipment when it is inspected, in operable condition, and has identifiable serial numbers. Application-only approval is available up to approximately $400,000, which can cover a solid used line with basic ancillary equipment.

Plants in the Beverage Bottling & Canning are among the heaviest users of this asset class. Water, spirits, wine, juice, and liquid nutritional products all flow through bottling lines with similar financing profiles. OEMs like Krones, KHS, and Sidel command strong residual values, which works in favor of longer-term structures.

How the Financing Process Works

Submit a one-page application and a brief description of the equipment. For transactions above $400,000 we typically ask for three months of bank statements. If the line is used, a seller's invoice or auction lot listing serves as the equipment description. Approval decisions come back quickly, often within 24 to 48 business hours on straightforward transactions.

Once approved, funds move directly to the seller or auction house. On new OEM purchases with extended lead times, some lenders will fund at delivery; others fund on purchase order with an interest-only period through the build. Ask us about the right structure for your OEM timeline.

If you already own a paid-off or partially paid-off line, a Sale-Leaseback lets you pull equity out of the iron without disrupting production. The line stays in your plant, you get capital in hand, and you make scheduled payments over a term that fits your cash flow.

New vs. Used Bottling Line Considerations

New OEM lines from brands like Krones or KHS come with full warranties, validated throughput specs, and OEM commissioning support. They also come with 12- to 18-month lead times in many cases, which means financing can be structured to begin at delivery rather than at purchase order. The trade-off is price: a purpose-built 400 BPM water line from a major OEM is a multi-million dollar project.

Used lines from reputable brokers or auction houses can deliver 60 to 75 percent of OEM throughput for 30 to 50 percent of new-line cost, which makes them attractive for startups and producers with a clear but short production window. The key due diligence items are filler head condition, seal integrity on the capper, and the age and maintenance history of the conveyor system connecting stations. Our used equipment financing structures account for reduced residual values by calibrating term length to the asset's realistic useful life.

Credit Profile and Documentation

We work with a range of credit profiles, including B and C credits, provided the business has operating history and cash flow that supports the payment. Established beverage producers, co-packers, and contract fillers generally qualify through a standard commercial review. Startups and businesses with thinner credit can access Startup and New-Business Production Line Equipment Financing that put more weight on the equipment's collateral value and the owner's personal financial position.

Standard documents for a transaction over $400,000 include three months of business bank statements, a signed application, and the equipment description or quote. Deals up to approximately $400,000 are often application-only, meaning no financials required beyond the application itself. No personal tax returns, no audited financials, no lengthy underwriting queue.

Get Bottling Line Financing Moving

Tell us the equipment, the seller, and the approximate project cost. We will come back with structure options fast. Our minimum is $50,000, there is no upper limit on larger projects, and B/C credit is considered. Pair your bottling line with a Labeling Machine Financing or Capping Machine Financing and we can finance the full line in a single transaction.