Take Five Minutes to Learn About the Major Types of Case Packers

Welcome back to Package This, your friendly guide to packaging machinery! Today, we’re hot on the case of... case packing equipment.

Case packers are essential end-of-line machines that prepare your products for shipping. Whether you need machines to form, load, seal, or do it all in one, there’s definitely a case packer out there to meet your needs.

We’ll explore some of the leading technologies, from horizontal and vertical packers to case erectors, tray formers, and sealers. Let’s get packing!

Case or Tray Loader

Perhaps the most important part of case packing is placing products inside, a process called case loading. Robotic loading offers efficiency and flexibility for many applications.

One solution from BluePrint Automation (BPA) is the Gantry 300 Swing case packer, which loads most packaged products into various secondary containers. This gantry-style model forms vertical and horizontal patterns, offering a smaller footprint and lower cost than multi-axis robotic loaders.

Another system, the Wrap Around 100, erects, loads, and closes cases, trays, RSC, and shelf-ready formats—all on one system. Its quick, tool-free changeovers provide versatility and corrugated savings.

The Gravity 100r is a compact, top-load packer with minimal mechanical, electrical, or pneumatic components, making it ideal for high-caustic washdown environments.

The Spider 100v uses vision and robotics to handle complex tasks, eliminating jams and race-track collation by picking products at high speeds, on the fly. This eliminates the need to perfectly orient products before they enter the case packer.

Horizontal Case Packer

Next, we turn to horizontal case packers, often used for light, delicate products that require extra care during loading.

Take the Syntegon Elematic 1001 SL: an all-in-one integrated erector, loader, and sealer. This side-load horizontal machine packs coffee bags, cartons, and more into RSC (or regular slotted container) cases. Here, products are loaded through the bottom of the case, preventing the tops of bags from being crushed.

The system can intake up to 160 products per minute and produce up to 20 cases per minute. Syntegon highlights the Elematic 1001 SL’s large format range, compact design, and quick changeovers, enabled by the Elematic Click System. The machine also supports sustainable packaging and can handle a wide variety of products, from cookies and crackers to toys and personal care items.

Top-Load Case Packer

Top-loading is the most common method for case packing. Typically, products are loaded into a standard RSC case through the open top flaps. Flexible, semi-rigid, and rigid products can all be top-loaded into cases. Once the case is full, the top flaps are folded and sealed, making it ready for stacking and shipping.

Here we see the Adabot top loader from Fallas Automation, which packs various types of primary packages, such as flexible bags, into cases using a robotic arm. This system picks and places products on the fly, one package at a time. Users can customize pack patterns to position items precisely within the case. The Adabot features a patented robot designed and built by Fallas Automation.

Vertical Case Packer

For heavier products like bottles, gable top cartons, or shrink-wrapped items, vertical case packers provide a sturdy, efficient solution. The Everest Vertical Case Packer from Schneider Packaging Equipment, a Pacteon Company, offers gentle product handling in a compact footprint.

Here’s how it works: products travel on the infeed conveyor to the accumulator, while a robotic arm uses vacuum tooling to pick and erect cases. The bottom-loading design gently supports products as they are pushed upward into the open case. Once loaded, cases move through the machine, where flaps are tucked and sealed with glue.

Designed for food, beverage, and shrink-wrapped applications, this all-in-one system includes case erecting, loading, and sealing within a single frame. Its Intelligent Illumination feature proactively alerts operators to areas requiring maintenance or service, such as clearing jams or addressing low product levels. This eliminates the need to consult the HMI, ensuring efficient operation and minimizing downtime.

Now let’s quickly review a few other essential types of case packing equipment.

Case Erector

Before packing can begin, cases must be formed. Case erectors transform flat corrugated sheets into boxes, ready to hold your products. These machines efficiently produce RSC and HSC formats, ensuring a consistent supply of formed cases for the packing line.

Tray Former

Corrugated trays are a versatile alternative to traditional cases, ideal for items like cans, cartons, and shrink-wrapped goods. Tray formers create sturdy, open-top containers that provide durability and flexibility for shipping.

Case Sealer

After products are packed, case sealers ensure everything stays secure for transport. Using tape or adhesives, these machines close and seal cases to protect products throughout the supply chain. Both semi-automatic and fully automatic options are available to suit different production needs.

Thanks for exploring the world of case packing equipment with us. For more videos on packaging machinery and materials, subscribe to Packaging World’s Youtube channel and get all of videos in the Package This series.

And if you’re looking for case packers or other equipment, visit PMMI ProSource at ProSource.org, a searchable directory with over 1,000 packaging and processing solutions.

Until next time, keep on packaging!