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Current thinking in transport packaging has managers reconsidering the type and location of case-sealing machinery.
A trend in transport packaging is to move the function of case filling and sealing closer to where the product is produced. Certainly, many production lines are now designed to limit the travel a product makes before it is protected. In the past that was not true. But improvements in case sealers make it possible to retrofit machines into existing production lines, or to move the case sealer to different points on the line to satisfy production schedules.
Packaging professionals say the reason for moving the packing function farther upstream is to avoid bottlenecks and minimize delivery cycle times. Automating any of the post-picking operations, such as case filling or sealing, helps to reduce errors and improves throughput.
Choosing a case sealer Selecting a case sealer can be based on the dimensions of the containers to be handled - random case sealer or uniform case sealer. Or the choice can be made by the level of operation your system requires - semiautomatic sealing or automatic sealing.
On a packaging line that does not require high speed, you might choose a semiautomatic case sealer. Here, an operator folds the carton's flaps and feeds the carton into the sealing machine. The carton passes through the machine and has the top or bottom sealed as it moves toward the shipping area. If the machine is a random case sealer, it can automatically adjust to the variety of carton sizes you are sealing.
If you are packing and sealing cartons of consistent dimensions, the...