Do colleagues have to step in to pack boxes, or do you lose time on every changeover? When choosing a casepacker, compare output over a full shift, staffing and the time between production runs. This guide compares manual, semi-automatic and automatic packing for food and beverage production.
A casepacker is a machine that packs products into boxes. A semi-automatic casepacker works alongside an operator; the automatic casepacker from Zomerdijk also forms the box and closes it without tape.
Which casepacker fits your team and production?
Start with an ordinary production day. How many finished boxes do you need by the end of the shift? How many people help pack? How often do you change packaging formats or the number of products per box?
| Compare | Manual packing | Semi-automatic casepacker | Automatic casepacker |
|---|---|---|---|
| People needed | Record your current staffing per shift | At least one full-time operator | No dedicated full-time operator for this machine alone; cardboard replenishment, setup and supervision are still needed |
| Output | Measure boxes per shift | Up to 4 boxes per minute | Specify the required boxes per minute and per shift in your enquiry |
| Changeover | Measure the time in minutes between the last correctly packed box of one production run and the first correctly packed box of the next run | Format change within 10 minutes, without tools | Ask to see a demonstration of switching between your packaging sizes |
| Box options | List your current boxes and pack arrangements | One box of 24 or two boxes of 12 per cycle | 4 to 24 products per box; the machine forms and closes the box |
Frequent packaging changes? Look at changeover time
The semi-automatic casepacker handles cans and glass. Each cycle packs one box of 24 or two boxes of 12. A format change takes no more than 10 minutes and requires no tools. That is a useful, concrete point when planning many different production runs.
For a demonstration, bring more than your highest-volume product. Choose two formats you regularly switch between. Watch the changeover and record the operator’s tasks. This lets you discuss both running output and the time needed to restart.
Automatic casepacker: replenish and supervise instead of continuously packing
The automatic casepacker packs 4 to 24 products per box, forms the box and closes it without tape. The operator replenishes cardboard, sets up the machine and supervises operation. The casepacker alone does not require a dedicated full-time operator.
The box is folded around the products. This packaging method uses 31% less cardboard. Read more about cardboard savings with wrap-around boxes.
Casepacker and cobot: the combination at the end of the line
Automatic packing is only part of the job if someone still has to stack every finished box on a pallet. That is why we combine the automatic casepacker with a cobot that stacks the boxes.
This combination can bring staffing for a complete line from two or three operators down to one. Whether that fits your line depends on the remaining tasks, such as replenishing materials, changing pallets and supervision. The opportunity lies in organising packing and stacking together, not simply buying a faster machine.
What do Jopen and Uiltje show?
Jopen switched to cans. Their project provides a useful starting point when considering what a different packaging format means for your production process.
Uiltje doubled output with the same number of operators. This result concerns the complete line, not the casepacker alone. Look at your whole line too: where does it stop, where do people wait and where does product build up?
Include infeed with a depalletizer and the conveyors between machines in your comparison.
Casepacker FAQ
How many people does the semi-automatic casepacker need?
At least one full-time operator. List the separate infeed and outfeed tasks as well when planning staffing for the complete line.
How quickly can I change formats?
The semi-automatic casepacker allows a format change within 10 minutes without tools. For the automatic casepacker, include the formats and changeover time you require in your enquiry and demonstration.
How many boxes can I pack per shift?
The semi-automatic casepacker handles up to 4 boxes per minute. To calculate output over a shift, also record shift length, changeovers and downtime.
How many products fit in a box?
The semi-automatic model handles one box of 24 or two boxes of 12 per cycle. The automatic casepacker handles 4 to 24 products per box.
Discuss your production, not just a machine
Tell us which packaging you use, how many boxes you need per shift and how often you change formats. Explore the semi-automatic casepacker and automatic casepacker, or discuss your requirements.
For the technical team
- Semi-automatic: cans and glass; one box of 24 or two boxes of 12 per cycle; up to 4 boxes/minute; tool-free format change within 10 minutes; at least one full-time operator.
- Automatic: 4 to 24 products per box; cans, glass and carton packaging; wrap-around box forming and hotmelt closure without tape.
- Cardboard saving: 31% with wrap-around packaging.
- For a quotation: provide product dimensions and weight, box dimensions, pack arrangements, available space, connection heights and photos of infeed and outfeed.
