If you're pricing a complete bottling line for the first time, expect a sticker shock range of $80,000-$500,000+ depending on container material (PET, glass, HDPE), speed (30-300 bottles per minute), and automation level (semi-auto vs fully rotary). Lintyco does not manufacture standalone bottling lines — the company's LTC520 is referenced here as a liquid-filling-capable packaging machine that integrates into complete beverage and food lines, but a true bottling line is a multi-vendor integration of unscrambler, rinsing, filling, capping, labeling, and date-coding equipment.
For PET bottle beverage production, expect: $25-60k for inline filler-capper (60-120 bpm), $80-200k for rotary filler-capper (120-300 bpm), plus $30-150k for ancillary equipment (unscrambler, labeler, conveyor). Annual maintenance runs 8-12% of total CapEx.
Cost Breakdown
CapEx → running cost
| Cost Component | Typical Range |
| Capital expenditure (CapEx) | $80,000 - $500,000 |
| Annual maintenance | $8,000 - $45,000 |
| Energy consumption | 10.0 - 35.0 kWh/hour |
| Labor per shift | 2-3 operators |
Benchmarks at a Glance
2026 data
Price Range
$80,000 - $500,000
Industry Note
Bottling line ROI runs 18-24 months for premium beverages (spirits, olive oil, cold-pressed juice); 24-36 months for commodity water and edible oil where per-bottle margin is $0.05-0.20.
Buying Decision Factors
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Container material: PET bottles: lowest CapEx ($80-200k), fastest speeds. Glass bottles: 30-50% higher CapEx (need handling care), hot-fill capable. HDPE: similar to PET for dairy and chemicals. Container choice drives the entire line design.
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Speed tier: 30-60 bpm (entry, $80-150k) for craft and startup. 60-150 bpm (mid, $150-300k) for regional brands. 150-300+ bpm (high, $300-500k+) for national and contract packaging. Speed tier determines filler configuration (inline vs rotary).
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Filler technology: Gravity filler ($15-30k) for water-thin. Pressure filler ($25-60k) for oils and juices. Piston filler ($40-100k) for viscous sauces. Magnetic flowmeter ($50-150k) for high-accuracy premium liquids.
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Capping technology: Screw cap capper ($8-25k) for PET/HDPE. Crown capper ($10-30k) for glass beer/soda. Press-on cap ($6-20k) for dairy. Capping is often the bottleneck — match capper speed to filler.
Products That Use a Bottling Line
Cross-linked selectors
Frequently Asked Questions
PET vs glass bottling line — cost difference?
PET is cheaper (container cost $0.05-0.15 vs $0.20-0.60 for glass), faster (lighter, less breakage), and lower CapEx ($80-200k vs $120-280k). Glass enables hot-fill, premium positioning, and is reusable. Most new lines go PET unless premium positioning requires glass.
Gravity vs pressure vs piston filler for bottling?
Gravity for water-thin liquids (water, juice, vinegar) — cheapest, slowest. Pressure for oils and thin sauces (50-500 cP). Piston for viscous sauces, honey, syrups (500+ cP). For 30-60 bpm, gravity suffices. Above 100 bpm, use rotary filler regardless of viscosity.
What ancillary equipment does a bottling line need?
Bottle unscrambler ($15-40k for PET), air rinser ($5-15k), labeler ($15-60k depending on tech), conveyor system ($2-20k per meter), date coder ($2-25k), case packer ($20-80k). Plan $30-150k for ancillaries on top of the filler-capper.
Inline or rotary filler-capper?
Inline ($25-80k, 30-60 bpm) for craft and startup. Rotary ($80-300k, 100-300+ bpm) for regional and national brands. Inline is simpler and cheaper; rotary is faster but more complex to maintain. Crossover at ~80 bpm.
Can a bottling line handle hot-fill liquids (>85°C)?
Hot-fill requires heat-resistant filler (316L stainless, Viton seals), heat-resistant PET bottles (with vacuum panel), and a cooling tunnel ($30-80k). Adds 30-50% to line CapEx but enables shelf-stable juice, tea, and sauce bottling without preservatives.
How much floor space does a bottling line need?
Inline 30-60 bpm: 6×3m (18m²). Rotary 100-200 bpm: 12×5m (60m²). Full rotary line with ancillaries: 20×8m (160m²). Plan 20-30% extra for access, cleaning, and future expansion.
What is the typical energy consumption?
Inline 60 bpm: 8-15 kWh. Rotary 200 bpm: 20-35 kWh. Full line with ancillaries: 25-50 kWh. At $0.12/kWh, annual energy (4,000 hours): $9,600-$24,000 — a meaningful operating cost often underestimated.