A chocolate moulding line forms liquid chocolate into a finished shape inside a mould. But “moulding line” covers several different machines, and the right one depends entirely on the product you want to make. Choosing by the product — not by the brochure — is the whole game.
The rule: match the line to the product. Solid and one-shot filled bars need a PIN-DRIVE or MODUFLEX line; filled chocolates with a true shell need a Shell line; hollow and 3D figures need a Spinner line.
The four line types
Solid and one-shot bars — PIN-DRIVE and MODUFLEX
For tablets, bars, and one-shot filled products, the PIN-DRIVE is the dedicated, economical choice — built for stable, high-volume runs of a fixed range at the lowest sensible investment. The MODUFLEX is the modular alternative: configurable stations for a product range that changes or grows over time. Both are one-shot capable.
Filled chocolates with a shell — Shell Moulding Line
When you need a true deposited shell — pralines, bonbons, filled chocolates — the Shell Moulding Line moulds the shell, cools it, fills it, and caps it. This is the route for filled products where shell weight and wall consistency matter.
Hollow and 3D figures — Spinner Moulding Line
Hollow Easter eggs, Santas, and novelty shapes need the Spinner Moulding Line, which spins the moulds so chocolate coats the cavity walls evenly for a consistent hollow figure.
What is one-shot moulding?
One-shot deposits the shell and the filling at the same time, in a single step, instead of the separate shell → cool → fill → cap sequence. For many filled products it is faster and simpler, with fewer stations. The MODUFLEX and PIN-DRIVE lines are one-shot capable; the Shell line is the choice when you specifically want a separately deposited shell.
One-shot vs shell moulding — at a glance
| One-shot (PIN-DRIVE / MODUFLEX) | Shell moulding | |
|---|---|---|
| How | Shell + filling deposited together | Shell deposited, cooled, then filled and capped |
| Best for | Many filled bars and pieces, simpler set-up | Pralines/bonbons where shell control matters |
| Stations | Fewer | More |
Mould sizes and changeovers
Alpy full-automatic moulding lines are produced for mould dimensions of 470×200×30 mm, 600×200×30 mm, and 800×245×30 mm. The lines are built for quick format and recipe changeovers, and the modular MODUFLEX is designed specifically for ranges that change often.
How to choose
- List your products — solid bars, filled (one-shot or true shell), hollow figures, or a mix.
- Decide how often the range changes — a fixed range favours PIN-DRIVE; a moving range favours MODUFLEX.
- Set your capacity so the moulding line matches the tempering machine feeding it.
Describe your products and target volumes and we will tell you straight which line earns its cost — and size the tempering and refining stages to match it.