FAQ
Fruit cup and jar line questions, answered
Capacity, pack formats, fruit, AI inspection, lead time, cost and support. If your question isn't here, ask us and we'll reply within one business day.
Capacity and pack formats
How many fruit cups per hour does the line produce?
Our standard fruit cup line runs at 6,000 or 7,200 cups per hour, with both 4 oz (113 g) and 7 oz (198 g) cups. Processing, filling, sealing and pasteurization are all sized to the same hourly throughput, so no section holds up the others.
Which cup and jar sizes can the line run?
4 oz (113 g) and 7 oz (198 g) plastic cups, 4 × 4 oz sleeve packs, 8 oz (227 g) glass jars, and 24 oz (680 g), 45 oz (1.28 kg) and 52 oz (1.47 kg) plastic jars.
Can one line run both cups and jars?
No. Cups and jars need separate lines. The processing steps (washing, peeling, segmenting and grading) are the same design, but a cup line ends with cup filling and sealing, and a jar line ends with jar filling, capping and back-lit inspection. If you need both, we plan them together in one plant layout.
How accurate is the fill weight?
±2 g for fruit and ±1 g for syrup. A checkweigher right after the filler weighs every cup, then tops up or rejects any cup outside tolerance.
What lidding film does the sealer use?
PP or PET lidding film, pre-cut or roll-fed. We can supply the film as part of your project.
Fruit and process
Which fruits can the line process?
Mandarin, pineapple, peach and pear, packed in syrup or juice. Other fruits are possible; tell us your product and we'll confirm what the line needs.
Can I switch fruits on the same line?
Filling, sealing and pasteurization are shared across fruits. Preparation is different: mandarin needs peeling, segmenting and membrane removal, while pineapple, peach and pear need their own peeling, coring or pitting and cutting machines.
How much fresh mandarin do I need per day?
About 13 tonnes of fresh mandarin for 96,000 cups of 4 oz, which is a 6,000 cups/h line running two 8-hour shifts. This assumes 68 g of drained fruit per cup and about 50% yield from whole fruit to finished segments. Actual yield depends on variety, size and grading.
How is the mandarin membrane removed?
In a membrane peeling tower. Segments pass through a dilute acid bath and then a dilute alkali bath, which dissolve the membrane, followed by a clean water rinse.
What pasteurization temperature and time does the line use?
A hot water bath at 85–95 °C for 10–25 minutes, depending on product and pack size, followed by staged cooling to below 40 °C.
Why are cups held for 10 days before packing?
Coded cups are held in quarantine for at least 10 days. Any seal or sterility fault shows up during that time, so faulty cups are caught before product leaves the plant.
AI and automation
What does the AI segmenting machine do?
A camera reads each peeled mandarin and a vision model finds its natural segment lines. The machine then separates the fruit along those lines into clean, whole segments, adjusting to each fruit's size and shape. It replaces manual segmenting work.
How does AI seal inspection work?
After pasteurization and drying, a camera photographs every cup and an AI model judges the seal. Cups with a faulty seal are rejected automatically, before quarantine.
Can AI seal inspection be added to an existing line?
Yes. The inspection unit is installed on a bypass conveyor, so it works with your current line.
Project, cost and support
How much does a fruit cup line cost?
It depends on capacity, fruit, pack formats, level of automation, inspection, end-of-line equipment and installation country. Contact us with your product, pack format and target capacity, and we'll discuss the details and send a layout drawing and a quotation.
How long from order to first production?
About 4 months to manufacture the line, about 1 month of shipping, and 4–6 weeks for installation and commissioning.
What utilities does the plant need?
Steam, process water, compressed air, and 3-phase power at 380–440 V, 50/60 Hz. Consumption depends on your capacity, fruit and pack format; we calculate it for your project in the proposal.
How many operators does the line need per shift?
It depends on your project: capacity, fruit, pack format and how much of the line is automated. We set the staffing plan in the proposal. AI vision segmenting and robot palletizing take over two of the most labor-intensive jobs in a fruit cup plant.
How much floor space does a line need?
It depends on your project details. We size the layout to your building and capacity as part of the proposal, including space for the 10-day quarantine storage.
Do you supply complete turnkey plants?
Yes. We supply plant layout and process design, the complete processing line, packing and packaging materials, installation and commissioning, operator training, and after-sales support with spare parts. One team is responsible for the whole project.
Do you install and train on site, and in which languages?
Yes. Our engineers install the line and run trial production with your own fruit until it meets spec, then train your operators and maintenance staff in Spanish or English. The line controls have an English and Spanish interface.
Where are the machines made?
Our lines are engineered and manufactured in Tianjin and Zhejiang, China. Some end-of-line and packaging machines come from partner factories we represent. Our sales office is in Los Angeles and our Europe office is in Poole, UK.
Can I see a line running?
Yes. We can arrange a reference visit or a video call with one of our customers.
Do you supply packaging materials?
Yes. We supply lidding film and other packaging materials as part of a project. If you need help sourcing cups, jars, caps or sleeves, we can supply those too.
What warranty and after-sales support do you offer?
Every line has a 1-year warranty. During that year we supply replacement spare parts, and the customer pays the shipping cost. After that we continue with remote support, service visits and a spare parts supply, in Spanish and English.
Which countries have you installed lines in?
Our lines run in mainland China, Thailand, Mexico and Peru.
Contact
Have a question about your project?
Share your product, pack format and target capacity. We reply within one business day.
sales@lionpackingsystems.com · WhatsApp +1 (314) 250-8276