It may be possible to save corrugated costs by switching to wraparound cases from Regular Slotted Container (RSCs). To calculate potential savings, measure the length and width of each flap and panel in your existing RSC, and sum the resulting figures. Include the manufacturer’s joint in your measurements. Compare the totals for equivalent wraparound-style case blanks. There may be more waste with one wraparound case design than another, so less area alone does not always mean a cost savings. To be sure, ask your corrugated manufacturer. The square footage of the corrugated can be less, and the charge for gluing the manufacturer’s joint is eliminated.
Other benefits of wraparound-style cases: A case magazine can hold twice as many wraparound cases versus a standard RSC style. Also, the wraparound case is strong and offers a tight product fit, which increases column strength and pallet efficiencies.
Though a well-engineered case packer can be forgiving with badly made cases, it’s not worth saving a few pennies. Invest in quality cases for maximum uptime.
Tip: Ask your corrugate supplier to print a mark along one case fold. This mark tells operators whether a case is in the magazine upside down or backwards. It’s a real time saver on a busy production line.
This article was excerpted from a handbook from Schneider Packaging Equipment Co., Inc.
