Packaging Machines

It depends on what needs to happen to the product once it reaches the packaging stage. If products need to go into individual cartons, an automatic cartoning machine or a semi-automatic cartoning machine is normally where we would start. If finished packs need to be grouped into larger cases for storage or distribution, you are more likely to need a case packing machine. We would also look at how quickly the line needs to run and how the product arrives at the machine before deciding what type of equipment makes sense.

A cartoning machine puts the product into its carton, while a case packer takes finished packs or cartons and loads them into a larger outer case. Some production lines use one or the other, while others use both because the retail carton is produced first and then grouped into cases for the next part of the supply chain.

Yes, in many applications, although the required range needs to be understood before the machine is built. Changing formats can involve moving guides or changing parts of the product-handling and carton-feed system, depending on how different the products are. If you already know that the line will run several SKUs, it is worth including all of them at the specification stage so the machine is designed around the real workload.

Yes, in many applications, although the required range needs to be understood before the machine is built. Changing format can involve moving guides or changing parts of the product handling and carton feed system, depending on how different the products are. If you already know that the line will run several SKUs, it is worth including all of them at the specification stage so the machine is designed around the real workload.

We normally need to know what the product is, its size and weight, the carton or case dimensions, how many products go into each pack and the speed you want to achieve. It is also useful to know what equipment sits before and after the new machine because that affects how the line will connect together. Where possible, actual product and packaging samples are helpful because they often show things that are not obvious from a drawing.

Yes, and this is quite common. The main question is whether the new machine can work properly with the equipment already there, so we would look at the available space, the way product reaches the machine and the speed of the surrounding line. A new machine may run perfectly on its own, but it still has to fit into the production process without creating a problem somewhere else.

That depends on the application, which is why a maximum speed on a brochure only tells part of the story. The product itself can affect the speed, as can the carton design and the number of products being packed together. What is more useful is the speed the machine can achieve consistently with your actual product and packaging.

Very important if the line changes format regularly. A machine might run quickly once it is set up, but long changeovers can take a lot of production time out of the day when several SKUs are involved. In that situation, it is worth looking closely at how many adjustments the operator has to make and whether those settings can be repeated accurately each time.

Jacob White continues to support the machine through its parts and service team. Over time, machines need routine servicing and replacement parts, especially when they run regularly, so keeping the right parts available and addressing wear before it causes a stoppage helps keep the equipment running as it should.