Modern, automated case packing technologies are the ultimate form of end of line automation. By optimizing packing processes and virtually eliminating all wasteful, tedious product packaging behaviors from the manufacturing floor, automated packaging solutions not only help companies meet save time on labor requirements, but also make the most of their distribution dollar.
Automation delivers clear, measurable ROI for end of line distribution processes, and can come in a variety of models and specializations, perfectly suited for businesses across countless industries; no matter what products your company handles, end of line case packing automation will almost always bring lucrative, immediate and long-term benefits.
Defining Your Needs As a Company
The first key step in finding the best automated case packing solution for your business is strictly defining your company’s needs; what exactly are you looking for in an automated packing system, and what areas or processes do you hope to improve with these technologies?
For many, these needs are based on savings potential; automated packing systems streamline the entire packaging process, cutting back on unnecessary material costs and long labor hours. Case packing automation enables the most optimal end of line processes, offering easily justified ROI.
Perhaps beyond material savings and optimizing your end of line production dollar, you’re seeking to stay ahead of competitors by keeping your business up to date with modern innovations; this includes end of line automation, stretch wrapping automation and modern distribution equipment.
Due to the nature of your company and the products you may work with, there’s a chance you may require specialized packing systems, with capabilities uniquely tuned to your industry (as is the case for many dairy, bottling and publishing companies, which employ unique packing automation systems in their facilities).
Once you have identified your company’s needs, and addressed how innovative case packing automation technology can meet those needs and bring great savings and efficiency potential to your business, you can begin to look over packing options.
Generally, there are four main automation system types you can employ in your facilities, which fall under semi- and full-automation abilities, based on your unique needs as a company: top load case packing, side load case packing, drop case packing and bottom load case packing.
Matching Needs With Automation Options
With your business’s automation needs carefully outlined, you can review and find the best case packing option for your facility; the option that delivers the greatest savings potential, fastest ROI and optimal compatibility with your existing end of line equipment.
As automation goes, there are two broad ways you can integrate these systems in your company’s packaging process; either as fully automated systems or semi-automated packing aides. Why the difference? In some circumstances, full automation is impractical, and may actually wind up costing businesses with slower production lines.
The best speed for your system, either fully automated or semi-automated, is determined by your end of line product output; how many units or products do you pack in a given minute? For industries that pack less than 10 cases per minute, for instance, semi-automated packing equipment can boost efficiency while performing with the same quality as fully automated systems.
As we’ve stated above, beyond full and semi-automation, there are four main case packing equipment types available for end of line processes:
- Top load case packing
- Bottom load case packing
- Side load case packing
- Drop case packing
The packing automation system best suited for your business will depend on end of line processing speeds and product specifications in your company.
The standard for packing both rigid and flexible products in a variety of industries, top load case packing is one of the standard packing automation technologies, along with side load case packing. As a unified, non-modular automation system, these solutions can operate at speeds of up to 30 cases per minute, and pack efficiently with fluid, intermittent motion.
Side load case packing, like top load options, are considered a standard within automation, this time with lucrative benefits designed specifically for applications that run at high speeds, with high products output speeds. These systems are ideal in production operations that have end of line speeds exceeding 75 cases per minute.
Beyond these two standard options are drop case packing and bottom load case packing, which are older automation systems that still resonate with some industries (beverage products for drop case packing, and publishing and dairy for bottom load case packing).
No matter the unique needs of your industry and business, there are end of line automation systems available to help you streamline your processes and see real-world, measurable savings in short time. To learn more about these innovative technologies, contact us today.
