Everyone wants to streamline their business operations and packaging automation plays a key role. Part of the problem with searching for where to find packaging machines is the fact that many of the packaging machineries are not made by the same manufacturers, kinda like computers and computer parts.
It can be quite an overwhelming rabbit hole to go down. But that’s why I’m here.
There are thousands of different machines at every price point, meant for as little or much as you need for your end-of-line packaging. But where do you find these machines?
Searching online for packaging automation machinery is a daunting task to say the least. A major obstacle that people encounter is that these packaging machine companies service the market through specialized and exclusive key distributors. So working with one of these distributors is necessary in order to buy or lease these machines.
Fortunately, dear reader, I just so happen to be one of those packaging machinery distributors! I can service all of the U.S. and can help you navigate through the many options, along with tech support, and material supplies.
I’ve been working in the packaging industry at all levels for over 15 years. Contact me here and let me help you start exploring possible packaging machinery solutions!
There are many reasons why a warehouse, manufacturer, co-packer, fulfillment center, 3PL, food processor etc. may want to automate packaging:
- Ergonomics – less injuries and complaints of workers
- Labor – difficulty finding workers, reduces ongoing labor costs
- Efficiency = faster, higher productivity = yield $ savings
The two basic and broad categories of packaging machines are:
- Machines that assist in fulfillment, that is putting your product into its primary packaging (for example, a machine that puts the cake mix into the bag then the bag into the box.)
- Machines that assist in the end-of-line pack-out of a product after the product is in its primary packaging. (for example, the cake box that is now ready for shipping and requires “shipping packaging” like corrguated shipper boxes, protective packaging and palletizing.
I’m going to be discussing the second type of packaging machines, the end-of-line pack-out machines because they are typically more universal and less product specific, meaning that it won’t matter as much what type of product you are manufacturing.
The example I’m going to use in this article is of a liquid product which is put in a bottle for dispensing and protecting. The bottle is the primary packaging that then needs to be packed for transportation. This packing-out and getting ready for shipment is what I call the “end-of-line” packaging for that product.
The sequence for our bottle example goes like this:
- Customizing – Once the bottle is filled, it then needs to be labeled; sometimes up to 4 different labels: top, bottom, front side, back side is one scenario. Another scenario is the bottle may have a printed heat sleeve applied. And yet another scenario is the bottle may have direct silk screen printing directly on the bottle (at times this step happens before fulfillment).
- Case Pack or Shipper: the bottle now needs to go into a box, either a case for mass distribution or a shipper for e-commerce, and always made out of corrugated material.
- Case/Shipper labeling: The corrugated box may also need its own labels, usually between 1-4 different labels applied. For e-commerce, this would be the shipping label and any additional stickers such as “Fragile” or any special message stickers directed to the customer. For mass distribution this may be the lot numbers, sku numbers, bar codes, sell-by dates, etc.
- Palletizing: For cased box, palletizing usually involves stretch film, strapping, possibly edge board/corner board, and then once again the pallet itself may require another set of labels 1-4 labels depending on how the receiving party needs to receive the pallets in their warehouse.
- Ready for transport: Pallet stacking or forklifting into the truck will occur after the pallet has been wrapped.
Looking at the process, which areas are your bottle necks – the slowest areas that hold everything up? The areas the are the least productive and cost the most time are the areas to automate. I’ve divided possible packaging machinery for semi or fully automated tasks into 3 main categories:
| CATEGORY | PROCESS | MACHINES |
|---|
Small and Mobile / Nonpermanent
Labeling for Primary Packaging
- Label Dispensers
- Label Applicators
- Flat Box or Pouch Printing Systems for codes/expiration dates (not for graphics) directly onto the primary package
- Data Collectors, Scanners (typically the tech department handles these)
- Bar Code Printers
- Tape Dispenser
Medium Footprint of 5-10′
Case Packaging / Shipper
- Case Erectors
- Case Sealers
- Case Packers
- Tray Formers
- Data Collectors and Scanners possible here
- Label Printers
- Tape Dispensers
Large Footprint Area Required 10’ +
Palletizing & Conveyers
- Semi Automatic Stretch Machines
- Fully Automatic Stretch Machines from a Conveyer
- Additional Data Collectors and Scanners here as well
Within each category there are hundreds of machines that are either customizable to fit your product, or are immediately ready to go for your application. Some machines are readily available while others require an 8-10 week lead times (add an additional 4-6 weeks if imported).
| SMALL / MOBILE |
|---|
Labeling Machines for Primary Packaging
- If your primary packaging is a box: Simple repetitive tasks take time, by utilizing small footprint machines you can make these task go much faster – “Tach-It’s” semi automatic label applicator (the wafer is clear).
- If your primary packaging is a bottle: Desk-top label applicator – “Tach-It’s” label applicator for round bottles
| MEDIUM FOOTPRINT |
|---|
Case Erector: This case erector by Combi is doing triple duty by not only erecting but also filling and sealing.
Case Label Printers: New to the market is this Duplex Linerless Printer – Toshiba’s sustainable machine uses the back liner to print the packing slip.
| LARGE FOOTPRINT |
|---|
Palletizing and Converters
Stretch Film Wrap: This is a rotary tower fully automatic stretch wrapper by Orion Packaging meant for palletizing 100+ pallets per day.
Portable Label Printer: This printer can work at any stage, not necessarily for just label palletizing. It’s super handy and efficient for any labeling needs at the end-of-line. Toshiba’s Mobile Thermal Bar Code Printer
Thanks for reading. I’ll be writing more about packaging automation machinery in the near future. If you have any questions, put them in the comments section or contact me directly here. And as I’ve said, I’m a packaging machine distributor and have access to tons of packaging machinery for all levels and all applications. Let me help you!