Double the fun, add a coating
GEA Aquarius Coating Line
The GEA Aquarius Coating line is the first in the world, complete line solution for forming, cooling, coating and wrapping of 3D shaped lollipops. With a speed up to 600 lollipops per minute it forms and powder-coats 3D hard candy lollipops which can also be center filled.
The world's first fully automated lollipop coating line
Now you can produce imaginative and tasty coated lollipops inline - with the GEA Aquarius Coating Line. It creates perfectly formed 3D lollipops before coating them with powders to add different tastes, colors and flavors. The combinations are ample. The fully automated line also wraps the lollipops in sandwichwrap, so consumers can see the attractively coated lollipops inside.
Main applications
Main applications include solid or center filled hard candy 3D lollipops in various shapes, inline coated with powders of your choice.
High quality. High speed. High performance
- Continuous and seamless process from forming to wrapping
- Inline chain dipping and coating system with grippers enables high quality coated lollipops
- Integrated inline chain cooling avoids lollipop form deformation
- Speeds up to 600 lollipops/min for 22-32 diameter
Easy to operate, clean and maintain
- Adjustable stick hopper for easy change-over of different stick lengths
- Quick change set for the forming set enables easy switch in 3D lollipop shapes
- Automated Clean-in-Place system (CIP) ensures proper cleaning at the end of each production cycle
- 24/7 dedicated customer support and application training on request
Durable, high-performance design
- Continuous line performance monitoring on temperature, consumption and system pressure
- Automatic inline lubrication ensures smooth line operation
- Reduced wear & tear and cleaning thanks to closed machine housing, preventing sugar dust getting inside
- Automated machine damage protection system to ensure the forming set will not get damaged
Specifications
Advanced technology
Patented take-over transfer wheel
Patented take-over transfer wheel
This unique take-over transfer wheel ensures that each and every lollipop is transferred smoothly from former to cooler with the help of grippers. The design detail of the lolly can be retained and it is suitable for various shapes or diameters of lollies.
Technical details
| Complete line specifications | GEA Aquarius Coating Line |
| Output | 450 to 600 lollipops / min |
| Filling inside lollipop | 15-20% non-fluid filling |
| Diameter/width lollipop (min to max) | 22 - 32 mm |
| Minimum rim ball lollipops | 4 mm |
| Minimum rim 3D lollipops | 2 mm |
| Diameter stick (min to max) | 3,2 - 5,5 mm |
| Stick length (min to max) | 74 - 102 mm |
| Stick material | PVC, PP, Paper, Wood |
| Wrapping material | Cellophane, Polypropylene, PVC |
| Spot dimension | 4 x 8 mm |
Line equipment
The GEA Aquarius Coating Line includes the following equipment:
GEA Aquarius SandwichWrapper
GEA Aquarius FlexFormer SC for 3D lollipop lines
The GEA Aquarius FlexFormer SC can produce virtually any shape of lollipop you require. Once the lollipops are formed, a unique (patent pending) take-over transfer wheel takes the lollipops out of the die set towards the cooling area. The design of the wheel also makes it possible to change between different shapes and diameters lollipops. To shorten the cleaning effort and time, a CIP unit (Clean-In-Place) has been added to the FlexFormer. This system is equipped with a number of nozzles which can clean the forming set in approximately 30 minutes.
GEA Aquarius PopCooler C
After being formed, the lollipops are transferred by means of grippers directly to the PopCooler C for cooling. The grippers system is equipped with an automated chain to avoid deformations or loss of design detail. The lollipops circulate in the cooler for approximately 3,5 minutes before the take-over wheel transfers the lollipops automatically to the coating unit.
GEA Aquarius PopMoisterer and GEA Aquarius PopCoater
At the Aquarius PopMoisterer, the cooled lollipops are dipped in water and afterward automatically transported toward the PopCoater for inline coating with powders. Any excess coating is automatically removed to guarantee the desired lollipop weight. The system is also equipped with a water-circulation system for necessary freshness.
GEA Aquarius PopDryer
To avoid losing coating material, the lollipops are directly transferred from the PopCoater towards the PopDryer. In the PopDryer the lollipops are guided in line using chain grippers and circulate there for approximately 4,5 minutes. This ensures that the coating layer attaches well to the lollipop and that the absolute minimum of coating particles ends up loose in the packaging.
GEA Aquarius SandwichWrapper
Once the lollipops are coated and dried, they are transported towards the GEA Aquarius SandwichWrapper. Thanks to the transfer grippers, each lollipop is positioned exactly between the bottom and top film. The sandwich wrap style gives you the opportunity to present your coated lollipops in transparent wrapping. The equipment also allows wrapping lollipops in strips up to 10/pack.
Service Products
GEA Insights
New food tipping point
Alternative proteins are promising – yet still expensive to produce. The usual response is that scaling up will solve this issue. But what if the solution was really about getting better, not just bigger? From more efficient, high-yield processes to upcycling waste heat, engineers are reshaping how we grow food.
A safer way to produce cancer treatments
As anti-cancer drugs become more powerful and complex, GEA is redefining how to safely freeze-dry these life-saving treatments.
Celebrating digital transformation at GEA
Digital transformation at GEA means more than new tools – it’s about bold ideas, customer impact and a culture that values and drives innovation. Meet this year’s GEA Better World Awards Innovation & Digitalization winners who were celebrated for solutions which are shaping the future of our business.
