Case erectors, also known as case formers and automatic carton sealing machines, are popping up all over the place. Yet doing the work by hand remains commonplace even though the business case for the automatic case erector is clear. Here are four ways investing in a case erector can benefit your business.
Greater Productivity
The greatest benefit of automation is the increased productivity, and packaging automation is no exception. The typical human can erect three boxes a minute. A basic case erector – not a top of the line unit – can erect ten boxes a minute. That is more than twice as many boxes per minute. The case erector doesn’t get tired, it doesn’t need breaks, won’t need training to reach peak efficiency and keeps up with other parts of the supply chain. If you erect more than three hundred cases a day, a case erector will pay for itself through improved productivity and the associated cost savings.
The Cost Savings
If you wanted to fill 2500 cases, it could take up to 14 hours of work by the average employee. A basic case erector can do it in four. At a minimum, automation like this is likely to reduce overtime costs in the packaging department. It also lets you complete the same volume of work with fewer people, reducing labor costs. Or you could assign people from packaging to other roles that cannot be automated.
Another likely cost savings is related to worker’s on-the-job injuries. When people do repetitive tasks like pack boxes every day, they’re at risk for repetitive strain injuries. If they report repetitive stress injuries, you’re liable for the medical bills and worker’s compensation. This is aside from serious injuries like getting cut by cardboard boxes or hurt while handling loads.
Reduced Inventory
Storing a large number of empty boxes in anticipation of a shipment is a hassle. The fully erect boxes take up storage space and floor space without adding any value. A case erector eliminates the need to pre-assemble the boxes in order to keep up with the large product flow. The space savings more than offsets the space the automatic case erector itself takes up.
Reduced Shipping Damage
Hand erecting is prone to human error. This often leads to un-square boxes. These imperfect boxes are not as strong as perfect boxes when stacked on a pallet. They’re more prone to shipping damage. When you use a case erector, you guarantee that every box is perfectly square, and this ensures that products arrive undamaged. Another benefit of case erectors is that they automatically incorporate reinforcing elements like tape sealing, and the box reinforcement is done right every time.
Note that this isn’t an issue only related to square boxes. A large number of case erectors are able to accommodate different sizes and shapes of cartons while ensuring they are set up correctly. You don’t have to worry about people assembling cartons incorrectly or making other mistakes that put your products at risk.
While some businesses are put off by the cost of a case erector, the potential cost savings and greater productivity is reason enough to invest in one. The other ways your business eliminates waste and risk can be seen as an extra boost to the bottom line.
