90 degrees: Why this angle could save you money

A carton with perfect 90-degree corners is the holy grail when it comes to packaging and stacking, because it:

• Has 30% greater stacking strength
• Reduces machinery jams
• Fits perfectly into an outer case, without gaps
• Stacks neatly onto a pallet to produce a stable load

Don’t all boxes have 90-degree angles?

You would like to think so but, no. Cartons assembled by hand are especially prone to angle variations because, however good a human is at erecting boxes, they’re not a machine and so variations are inevitable. During busy periods, when staff are under pressure to assemble cartons quickly, the chance of error becomes even greater. Corners that aren’t square aren’t strong or stable, and that’s when the problems mentioned in the opening paragraph start to appear.

How to achieve 90-degree corners every time

"Any business needing to assemble more than three cases per minute would benefit from investing in carton-erecting machinery"

"It offers speed and consistency over manual assembly; plus, carton assembly is probably the most monotonous job in the warehouse, with the risk of workers developing repetitive strain injury. As well as creating a better product, carton-erecting equipment also frees up staff for other, more beneficial activities such as picking or packing."

Antalis’ Head of Automation & Systems, Stuart Bates

Already have carton-erecting machinery but still having problems?

If that’s the case, then it’s perhaps time to have a closer look at your equipment and the cartons you’re putting through it. Consider these questions:

•  Is the machinery being serviced and maintained regularly?
•  What quality blanks are you using?
•  How old is the machinery; could it be time for an upgrade?

The benefits of investing in carton-erecting equipment

Investing in new carton-erecting equipment can:

• Save time
• Reduce waste
• Cut costs
• Reduce shipping damage

Whether you are looking to upgrade or make a first-time investment in carton erecting equipment, it’s important to speak to a reputable packaging machinery supplier. They will be able to visit your premises and advise on the most suitable solution for your business. 

If you’re concerned about upheaval as we head into the busiest time of year, the good news is that case erecting equipment can be added to an existing workflow with relative ease.

Case-erecting machinery brands to look out for

Lantech

Lantech manufactures case handling equipment capable of erecting anything between 10 and 30 cases per minute. The company’s Total Control System ensures every box, regardless of construction, is erected with perfect 90-degree angles. For operations packing more than one size of carton, Lantech’s multi-format case erector provides the flexibility to run multiple carton sizes on a single machine.

Master’In

Antalis produces a range of Master’In branded case handling equipment, meeting the needs of a variety of industries and product types. Master’In uses adhesive tape to seal the boxes.
 
In addition, Antalis can supply a range of cartoning systems that ‘right size’ each pack to fit the contents, minimising freight, operating and consumables costs. It also reduces or eliminates the need for void fill and other packaging materials.

More information about carton-erecting machinery and other carton automation from leading brands, including Sealed Air, Ranpak Automation, Sparck Technologies and Packsize, can be found on the Carton automation button.

Alternatively, to understand more about how Antalis’ specialist machinery and systems solutions could help boost the efficiency of your packaging operation click the Smart systems button.

And if you want to speak to a specialist, click the Contact our Machinery experts button.