U.S. Bottlers Machinery Company strives to be a progressive customer-oriented leader serving multiple segments in the packaging industry. Focusing on delivering quality rinsers, fillers, capping equipment, and aftermarket service and support.
What does being a sponsor of ACSA mean to you personally—and how do you see your role in shaping the future of craft spirits?
Erin Gordon, Director of Marketing: Personally, being a sponsor of ACSA has been exciting because I’m still fairly new to the bottling industry. Partnering with ACSA has given me the chance to learn more about the craft spirits industry and see how our equipment helps distilleries at every stage of growth.
One of my favorite parts of the job is seeing a customer start with one of our simple six-bottle filling systems and then, as their business grows, come back ready rotary equipment. Being part of that journey is incredibly rewarding.
I think one of the best ways we can help shape the future of craft spirits is by growing alongside our customers. Watching their businesses succeed is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
What do you see as the greatest challenges for craft spirits producers, and how does your company help craft spirits producers navigate those global and domestic market pressures?
I think one of the biggest challenges for craft spirits producers is knowing when and how to scale. Growth is exciting, but it also comes with a lot of big decisions and investment. It’s important to choose equipment that fits where you are today, but can also support where you want to go.
At U.S. Bottlers, we spend a lot of time listening to our customers. We want to understand what they need now, what their growth goals are, and what solution makes the most sense for them. Our equipment is built to last for decades, so we want customers to feel confident in that investment.
That means we don’t just sell a machine and walk away. We want to be a long-term partner as our customers continue to grow.
What innovations or product developments from your company are most exciting for craft distillers right now?
One of the product developments I’m most excited about is our Mini Tri-Block. We worked closely with our in-house engineers, designers, and partners to create a rinsing, filling, and corking solution that delivers a lot of capability in a much smaller footprint.
It’s a great option for craft distillers because it’s designed for batch production and can be run by a single operator. That gives growing distilleries an opportunity to increase production without having to invest in a much larger system before they’re ready.
What I really like about it is that it fills the gap between hand bottling and a full-scale automated line. It gives customers room to grow at a pace that makes sense for their business, without overinvesting too early.
How do you support sustainability or community-driven initiatives within the craft spirits ecosystem?
One of the things I appreciate most about U.S. Bottlers is how long our equipment is built to last. We have an incredible team that can refurbish, rebuild, and repurpose machines as our customers’ needs change, which helps keep quality equipment in service for many years.
I love seeing a machine that’s been running for decades come back through our shop, get a second life, and go back into production. To me, that’s sustainability in action. Instead of replacing an entire machine, we’re often able to update or reconfigure existing equipment, which reduces waste while also helping customers get the most out of their investment.
Being based in Charlotte, North Carolina, means our parts are readily available, and our field service technicians can get to customers more quickly when they need support. That helps reduce downtime and keeps their equipment running for years to come. Being made in the USA has always been a big part of who we are, and it allows us to support our customers faster and more personally than many overseas manufacturers.
I also think being involved with organizations like ACSA is an important part of supporting the craft spirits community. It’s a great opportunity to learn from our customers, build relationships, and better understand the challenges they’re facing so we can continue creating solutions that truly help them succeed.
What role does technology and/or e-commerce play in your strategy to support distillers?
Technology plays a huge role in helping our customers become more efficient without sacrificing quality. As technology continues to evolve, we’re always looking for ways to improve the equipment we’ve been building in the USA for more than 120 years.
We’ve seen advances in areas like vision systems, automation, and precision filling that help improve cap placement, increase production speeds, and fill products more accurately. For our customers, that means less product waste, less rework, and more consistent quality in every bottle.
One thing I really appreciate is that we don’t add technology just because it’s new. We look for innovations that solve real challenges for our customers and help them grow their business with confidence.
