Italian carton packaging specialist Panotec will be exhibiting at FachPack 2018 with its new German branch in Munich, showcasing its solutions for automatic carton cutting machines. Packaging cartons are thus virtually „customised“ on request.
Founded in 1986, the company pursues a concept that is also known as „Box on demand“ is known. Companies should become less dependent on folding carton suppliers by integrating the provision of suitable cartons directly into the production process and having perfectly fitting cartons cut to size automatically on request. This saves cardboard storage space and reduces cardboard consumption.
The Cardboard cutting machines from Panotec cut the cardboard required for the shipping goods to be packaged from continuous corrugated cardboard and output it „ready to fold“. An optional outfeed system feeds the offcuts directly into recycling containers or baling presses. There is also a choice of machine modules for automated folding and gluing of the cartons.
Panotec has various carton cutting machines in its portfolio. The entry-level model is the space-saving „Compack 2.5“ with a maximum output of four cartons per minute. The fastest and most flexible machine is the „Nextmode 2.5“ model. It processes up to 48 metres Continuous corrugated board per minute, from which 14 boxes can be cut. The compact system „Midi Compack 1.4“ has been developed. This allows webs with a maximum width of 1.4 metres and a maximum of ten cartons per minute to be processed.
Up to twelve different sizes are processed
Depending on the system, up to six magazines for continuous corrugated board can be connected to the machines. Each of these modules feeds two cardboard webs placed next to each other into the machine. In total, a maximum of Twelve different carton widths can be processed. Cardboard transport protection material can also be cut in this way.
The user-friendly operation of the system is ensured by the Boxlink Pro„ software“. It calculates the best packing pattern and the ideal carton size for the items to be packed. The software has a standard catalogue of possible carton sizes in accordance with the FEFCO ESBO code for standardised corrugated and solid board shipping packaging. However, customised dimensions can also be configured.
Panotec emphasises that the main advantage of the principle of having cartons cut as required during the production process is that storage capacity for folding cartons of different sizes is saved and less carton material is required overall. Because less empty space is also enclosed by the carton, less filling material is also required, while the transported goods are still accurately and securely protected. Parcels become smaller and lighter, which is also reflected in lower shipping costs.
Material-saving packaging of large-format parts
From customised packaging manufacturers who produce large-format parts in many different sizes will benefit in particular. Panotec also sees promising fields of application in the E-Commerce and in the automotive sector.
A Nextmode machine has proven its worth, for example, for Erkelenz doors in Delbrück. The manufacturer of glass doors, glass showers, sliding doors and swing doors became aware of Panotec during a visit to FachPack. Managing Director Uwe Erkelenz finally decided in favour of a Panotec system with two magazines.
„Because we are so flexible and have so many different products of different sizes and shapes, we always had major problems packing the products,“ reports Erkelenz. Previously, the warehouse for the various cartons took up an area of 350 square metres. Nevertheless, the packaging for the large-format goods never fitted properly. They had to be cut to size and filled with padding material. The cardboard material now only takes up 70 square metres of space.
Appropriately packaged products promote the image
Large-format digital prints for trade fairs, events and points of sale throughout Germany are produced by the DCP Digitaldruck & Profiltechnik GmbH & Co. KG from Gütersloh. A Panotec Nextmode machine has also taken over the cutting of the cardboard packaging at the company, which has around 30 employees. The contact with the Italian manufacturer also came about at a trade fair. At DCP, too, the several hundred square metre warehouse for different cardboard variants is a thing of the past. „We have our Packaging times reduced to a minimum“, says Managing Director Oliver Knaup happily. Another effect of the perfectly matching packaging: This is well received by customers and promotes DCP's good image, says Knaup.
Of course, automated carton cutting solutions really come into their own with mail order companies. First and foremost, Amazon, the world's leading online mail order company by its own estimation, has to repeatedly pack and dispatch products for which no pre-produced shipping cartons are yet available.
Also Amazon uses Panotec solutions. There are 20 systems in use in the USA. There are a further four systems in British and German dispatch centres. Mike Roth, Amazon Manager for the North American market, uses the example of the Amazon logistics centre in Patterson, California, to highlight another advantage of the customised packaging solution: delivery trucks can be packed more efficiently with the customised boxes.
Panotec at FachPack 2018: Hall 3A, Stand 515
