How to Save Money When Buying Case erector

Editor’s Note:

Read more

Demand for corrugated cases is forecast to grow at a 4 percent annual rate through at least . In the face of this rising demand, shippers are confronting the ever present specters of cost reduction and sustainability by switching to thinner corrugated and/or corrugated made with increasing amounts of recycled content.

These trends put more pressure than ever before on corrugated cases to be assembled correctly so they deliver their designed performance.

In the spirit of full disclosure, as manufacturers of case erector machines, we believe that the best way to ensure corrugated cases are properly erected is with case erecting machines. Consequently, we thought it timely to republish this blog that addresses case erector questions that we’re still frequently asked.

Although we’re best known in the U.S. for our stretch wrappers, we also have a well-established and rapidly growing case handling business.

Here’s an excerpt from an interview with Kelly Wathen, Marketing Specialist at Lantech, that addresses case erecting issues that we’re frequently asked about:

Q:  Kelly, there are lots of people still making boxes by hand because they think it’s either too expensive or too complicated to use case erectors. What do you say to them?

A:  Case erectors have improved dramatically over the last 10 years and almost everyone can benefit from them. As a rule, if someone’s erecting more than 300 cases a day, it definitely makes economic sense to use a machine.

As for “too complicated,” the best of today’s case erectors are easier to use and faster to set up and changeover than ever.

They’re also incredibly reliable.

Q:  How do you know if you’re looking at a good case erector? What distinguishes the good ones from the bad ones?

A: That’s a great question. The simple answer is that good case erectors make square cases. And they do it without jamming.

Q:  Well, how can a prospective buyer be sure a machine will actually do this over time? Almost anything can look good for a little while.

A:  You’re right. But there are some clues. For example, our machines ensure square cases with a special pick-up frame, which opens a case so its corners are exact 90 degree angles and its top and bottom are horizontal. Getting the case off to a good start is essential.

Then we lock the case in that position by folding the minor flaps and partially folding the major flaps before we begin to move it to the sealing section.

We also spring-load the side belts that transport the cases so cases can make a smooth transition to the sealing section if there are small differences in their widths.

In short, the key to a good case erector is continuous control of the case throughout the entire erecting and sealing cycle. That’s how good case erectors overcome manufacturing variations in cases, keep them square, and avoid jams.

Learn more about how to make square cases without machine jams at lantechweb.wpengine.com or check out this video on Case Erectors and Case Sealers.

This post was published on October 19, and updated on February 23, .

What makes a good case erector? Find out from the experts at Lantech what to look for when buying one.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Soontrue.

Here are five benefits a case erector can offer your company.

1. Increases productivity

The average worker erects three boxes every minute. A basic case erector can produce 10 boxes per minute. That’s a productivity increase of 233%. Faster machines increase productivity even more.

To make 2,500 cases, it takes almost 14 hours of time to erect them by hand. With a case erector, your time is reduced to only four hours. What could you do with ten extra hours?

2. Reduces staff hours

Similarly, if you find you’re adding workers to the packing area because they can’t all keep up, you may discover that by having boxes being made quickly and easily, your packers work much more efficiently. That means you can reduce the number of people working in the area, reduce overtime, or reassign the labor pool, so the extra people can work elsewhere.

3. Reduce repetitive strain and the possibility of injury

Anyone who performs the same task over and over again knows the pain of repetitive strain injury. And, believe it or not, you can get a large and nasty paper cut from a cardboard box (No, really! A brand new edge is like a dull knife.). Using a case erector greatly reduces the risk of workers injuring themselves, or suffering repetitive strain injury.

4. Reduces inventory

If you’ve ever had your workers erect dozens or hundreds of boxes in anticipation of a large shipment, you know the headaches of trying to find space for all of those empty boxes. You’re basically paying to store a whole lot of empty! Each box takes up floor, storage, and even walk space, if you have to regularly pre-assemble box
es just to keep up with a large product flow.

We’ve talked in the past about the inventory muda (waste). Since you know that pre-ordering raw materials or pre-erect finished products wastes space, you’ll understand how pre-erecting boxes does the same thing.

5. Reduces shipping damages

In a previous blog post on case erectors, we talked about how hand erecting cases can often lead to unsquare boxes, which are weaker when stacked on a pallet. But square boxes can withstand heavier weights, which means they are less prone to shipping damage. Using a case erector can help ensure products arrive intact and undamaged.

The main objection to case erectors are that they jam easily and cause downtime. When in a production line, erecting a high number of cases daily, this can be a major frustration. There are four primary reasons case erectors jam:

1. Blanks are not fed correctly into the magazine.

2. Irregularities in the blank from the carton supplier.

3. The mechanical forces of opening the case and folding the flaps.

4. Transporting the formed case through the machine.

Find out how to can overcome these problems and what to look for in a case erector that will not only erect perfectly square cases, but will also not jam.

A case erector might seem like an unnecessary extravagance. But when you look at the extra cost and time lost in unproductive work, overtime, and injury, you begin to see the benefit a case erector can bring to your company.