Taping Machine Systems In Focus: Book Binding

Last week, we shared with you real life business challenges faced by companies who have yet to put in a place a packaging system using taping machines. As an industry leader, BestPack believes in not just selling a taping machine. More importantly, it wants its machines to make business processes more efficient. Thus, it has come up with custom packaging systems for different kinds of businesses.

In this article, we will talk about the Book Bindery System. It is a mix of old standard machines and modern custom taping machines which are designed to make book packaging more efficient—physically and financially. The Book Bindery System consists of four parts: carton erecting, carton and book conveying, book packing into cartons and weight checking for each cartons.

1. Carton Erecting. The carton erecting is done by the ELVS carton erector.

2. Conveying. The custom conveying system transports the erected carton and the pile of bound books to a specially designed drop pack placepacker.

3. Drop Pack Placepacker. The pile of bound books is dropped into individual cartons using BestPack’s exclusive drop pack technology.

4. Weight Check. In this station, a high-resolution ink jet printer prints a barcode onto the packed carton. After the labeling process, the carton goes through a scale which checks if the box has been packed with the right number of books. Once that has been settled, the carton is sealed by one of BestPack’s standard taping machines. If, on the other hand, the carton is over or under filled, it will be diverted into another line which leads to repacking.

Next week, we’ll look at carton sealer systems for electronics so make sure to come back and check us out.

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More Than Just A Taping Machine

If you have a business that requires an efficient packaging system, what you need is a machine. And not just any type of machine—a taping machine. Manual packaging may seem more cost efficient at first but in the long run, you will find that manual packaging can drag your business down.

We asked several small companies to weigh in on this matter. We asked a school lunch company, an auto parts company, a juice company and a tofu manufacturer. They had one thing in common—their manual packaging processes proved to be inefficient and resulted in the following consequences:

1. Time consuming. The whole process of forming a carton, packing it and then sealing it eats up a lot of production time.

2. Repetitive. The repetitive motion of manually taping cases, especially when done for prolonged periods of time, can cause workers to develop joint and tendon issues in their wrists.

3. Inefficient. The bottom flap of cartons can slow down the entire process. Additionally, manually sealing the bottom flaps (as well as the top of the box) manually causes more uncontrolled usage of carton sealing tape. Pre-erecting the boxes and stacking can also eat up a lot of time on the production line.

4. Lack of air supply. Packaging stations require pressurized air lines which can be an added overhead expense to the entrepreneur.

Our recommendation: Invest in a reliable and durable taping machine system. Packaging reflects the company’s branding and a poorly packaged product says a lot of bad things about the business. There are several types of taping machine available in the market—some are offered in uniform or random type while other case sealers are available in high-speed options for a minimal fee. Custom and stainless steel taping machines are also available, depending on your budget.

Which taping machine is ideal for your business? Come back next week for our expert suggestions.

In Action: MBD Taping Machine

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Taping Machine Debates: Side Drive vs. Belt Drive

Quality or quantity?

This is a classic debate that has gone on for ages. And the packaging industry is not exempt. Today, we are looking at two types of taping machine—the more costly yet deemed more superior Side Drive Case Sealer and the more budget-friendly Bottom Drive Case Sealer. Which one do you need? Which one do you want to invest in?

Let’s look at the contenders.

1. The Side Drive Case Sealer

• Has a larger carton range

• Has a roller bed that allows for more stable box throughput which means less wear and tear for motors

• Has two motor drives pulling the box for more power and stability

• Naturally squares the box as it goes through the sealer

• Has side drive pulleys which lessens wear and tear for the belts

• Has a shorter footprint

• Can hold up against heavy boxes banging up against the machine

2. The Bottom Belt Drive Case Sealer

• A good machine for a relatively good price

• Has a lower carton minimum

• Needs supervision because box throughput is less consistent due to friction and weight

• May need more maintenance since single motor is subject to more wear and tear as well as less pulleys on the belt drive system may cause belt to wear out faster

Final result: Two taping machines from a reputable manufacturer, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Which taping machine is best suited for your packaging needs? You decide.