Maximize your Folder-Gluer Productivity

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I
t is estimated that between 15 and 20
percent of folding carton production today
is auto lock bottoms. These styles of
carton vary from simple to complex shapes
and often pose challenges for automatic
packers at the end of folder-gluers. “It has
always been a problem to pack these types of
carton because they have to be inverted in the
case by batches,” says Dominic Thériault,
President of Impack Packaging, a Montrealbased supplier of customized equipment for
folding carton manufacturers.
To streamline the packing of a variety of
carton styles, including auto lock bottoms,
Impack recently introduced the Perpack
Perpendicular Packaging attachment for its
Ergosa™ Universal Packer. The attachment,
combined with the use of the MFA-2 auto lock
bottom batch inverter module, allows the Ergosa
to pack these cartons quickly and easily.
A major U.S. carton converter will be the
first installation of this new system, which is
scheduled to be delivered in the first quarter of
2013.
THE MFA-ERGOSA UNIVERSAL PACKER APPEALS TO A BROADER
RANGE OF CARTON CONVERTERS THAT HANDLE A MIX OF CARTON
STYLES, EVEN AUTO LOCK BOTTOMS. BY JACKIE SCHULTZ
NEW CARTON
PACKING SOLUTION
The MFA-Ergosa Universal Packer combines a newer version of the Ergosa packer with the newly
introduced Perpack Perpendicular Packing attachment and the MFA-2 auto lock bottom batch inverter.
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Folding Carton Industry. March/April 2013
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Meeting Market Needs
Impack Packaging introduced the Ergosa
packer in 2004. Three years later, the
company introduced the MFA batch inverter
module to be used with auto packers, such
as Impack’s Virtuo™ or other manufacturer’s
auto packers. Thériault says the system had
limited market application, appealing more
to larger companies that ran a high volume
of standard auto lock bottom cartons. “We
have a very good solution, but the price of
the module combined with an auto packer is
more suited to three shift companies
running high volumes.”
After analyzing the market, the company
decided to focus on a solution that
appealed to a broader market and could
handle a variety of carton styles, including
standard and complex auto lock bottoms.
“The market needed something new and
more flexible at a purchase price that could
be justified for smaller volume runs. Instead
of producing millions of cartons, our solution
could be justified with runs of 100,000
cartons or less,” Thériault explains.
The MFA-Ergosa Universal Packer
combines a newer version of the Ergosa
packer with the newly introduced Perpack
Perpendicular Packing attachment and the
MFA-2 auto lock bottom batch inverter. The
system can pack auto lock bottom,
straightline and 4 and 6 corner cartons,
keeping pace with high speed folder-gluers.
The Perpack front packing station is a
small module that can be easily installed on
the Ergosa, offering an ergonomic solution
for larger size cartons and auto lock bottom
boxes. A pusher device allows the quick
packing of complete rows with minimum
manipulation. Used in conjunction with the
MFA, it is an ideal solution for handling
complex cartons. It can also handle straight
line and 4 and 6 corner cartons. The module
can pack single layers in one or two rows
and can handle case sizes ranging from 204
x 571mm wide, 254 x 686mm long and 127
x 495mm high.
end of the machine collecting the inverted
batches and pushing or sliding the rows of
cartons into the shipping container, reducing
the potential for machine jams. “With an auto
packer, you only have to have one carton in
the shingle that is not perfectly aligned or
folded and it can jam the complete line. It is
much better to have a solution where you
can start the production quickly and if
somehow a carton is not perfectly aligned or
folded, the person at the end can settle
everything without interrupting the
production. In the same way, they can also
do a continuous inspection of the carton
shingle,” Thériault says. The average setup
time is 10 minutes.
Another feature of the MFA-Ergosa
Universal Packer is its flexibility to handle an
assortment of carton styles. With the push
of a button the packer can switch from auto
lock bottom mode to straight line or 4 and 6
corner packaging mode. “Our solution is
named Universal packer because we can
pack all types of cartons with the same
packer,” Thériault says.
“We can fill the needs of all the medium
sized manufacturers of cartons who have a
mix of product because their runs are less
high volume so we can also respond to their
needs of having a mixed production with the
same machine,” Thériault adds.
Carton Turner
Impack also recently introduced a 3 in 1
carton turner, which offers converters the
flexibility of packing in three different
configurations without having to move the
carton packer. The In-3 carton turner can
rotate the shingle in various directions, allowing
the packer to pack in multiple configurations/
directions, depending on packing
specifications, and allows for the straight
line processing of 4 and 6 corner cartons.
“Typically, if you want to pack from one
configuration to another you need to move
the packer to the left or right, so you need
more floor space. And each time you move
the packer you usually need to move other
components like the case sealer, label
machine or inkjet printer,” Thériault says.
“Our new carton turner allows you to turn
the cartons left, right or straight without
moving the packer.”
The carton turner can be installed on
most folder-gluers and packers. It can
handle cartonboard as well as microflute
boxes up to 560mm wide x 610mm long. ■
The In-3 carton turner offers board converters the
flexibility of packing in three different configurations
without having to move the carton packer.
Built-in Flexibility
The Ergosa can be configured for semiautomatic operation with an operator at the
Folding Carton Industry. March/April 2013
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