React and Adapt

What do you do when you have established tried-and-true converting methods and along comes a new innovation? You react and adapt. Some suppliers of folding and gluing equipment have already done so with their product offerings.

In light of new European standards requiring Braille application on every pharmaceutical carton, companies like Bobst Group North America and American International Machinery (A.I.M.) have incorporated this technology in their product offerings. “A.I.M. is expecting this European trend to move here to the U.S. very soon, and has uncovered a low-cost, high-speed process that will apply Braille to the product as it is being produced on the folder-gluer,” says Jeff Wilcox, A.I.M. technology manager. “Formerly, the Braille application process was done exclusively on the diecutter machine. This method has a time-consuming makeready, and it created products that were thicker on one edge and could pose a feeding problem on the folder-gluer machine. Moving the process to the folder-gluer machine makes more sense and is a less time consuming makeready.”

Converters responding to a Bobst market research study said embossing Braille during the folding-gluing process is more cost-efficient than other processes. Knowing the drawbacks of existing technology and armed with this feedback, Bobst developed AccuBraille, a module that can be set up after the Accufeed on either new or installed Alpina II or Mistral fold-gluers. “The decision to apply Braille embossing with the folder-gluer brings several benefits: the runnability of the gluer is improved as the Braille is applied after the feeder, the set-up of tools takes less than 5 minutes and no additional staffing is required,” says Alan Thompson, product business manager, folding cartons, Bobst. “Furthermore, embossing can be applied very close to cut or folded edges.”

With this in mind, what should converters consider when purchasing folder-gluers? Tom Kane, business development specialist, paper and paperboard converting, Nordson Corporation, urges converters to think about adaptability. “First, equipment must meet current production needs while also being readily expandable for future needs. Second, systems must be easily changeable to serve individual job requirements and every day production demands.”

The most significant day-to-day demand for most converters is improved productivity. Steve Leibin, sales manager, Matik North America, says, “Converters can achieve a higher rate of productivity through maximum equipment utilization, short runs, high production speeds, and combining processes.” Tim Kirkland, eastern regional sales manager, Brandtjen & Kluge, suggests the latter. “On square or rectangular pieces, you don’t have to tie up a quarter-to-half million dollar diecutter just to score a job, when it will have to be folded and glued anyway. Just combine the three processes on one machine and save time, materials, and diecutter capacity.”

To help converters adapt to new trends and be more productive, Brandtjen & Kluge has added solutions to its folder-gluers (drop-in, in-line scoring) and has expanded its marketing base to allow for a custom-configured vertical market.

Regardless of what equipment you purchase to suit your needs, folder-gluers suppliers stress that if only one thing should be considered it is the future. “Look at your current work, the work you’re farming out, and the work you’re sending away,” says Kirkand. “Characterize the run lengths, main job types, and complexity of your body of work, then work with vendors who handle all types of folder-gluers. Ability though, is certainly not the only thing our customers expect from us ... The quality and availability of service, support, and especially engineering, is very important.”

A sampling of available folding and gluing systems follows.

Embossing for folder-gluers

The Bobst AccuBraille rotary embossing system integrates with folder-gluers to increase production speeds. It eliminates the need to emboss on a diecutter, saving makeready, cleaning, and repair time. It also allows the application of embossing to come very close to the folded or cut edges of the box.—Bobst Group North America, www.bobstgroup.com

Signature Speed-Fold

A.I.M.’s new Signature Speed-Fold machine creates a score or perforation, completes a 180º fold, and produces custom-sized batch units for easy packaging, in one compact operation. This operation can be used for running edge tab inserts, as well as in-line embossing.—American International Machinery, www.americanintl.com

Glue pattern control

LogiComm systems are designed to allow expansion of hot melt and liquid adhesive control and/or verification. Its pattern control offers multiple pattern channels and gun outputs for contact and non-contact gluing, and is said to have unlimited program memory. This capability supports complex patterns for a variety of box styles and shapes. —Nordson, www.nordson.com

Vesta’s new ‘Pyrena’

The Pyrena high-speed folder-gluer, offers rapid changeovers and high-speed production (up to 1650 fpm) for a variety of cartons. It offers in-line solutions such as window patching, insertions (pharmaceutical, CD, sheet), labeling, security tagging, and RFID).—Matik North America, www.matik.com

ComFold folding/gluing system

The Kluge ComFold folding/gluing system is customized for folding and gluing needs. It includes 18˝ and 33˝ top belt drives and a CE compliance package, and features friction and vaccum feeders. Its high-end four- or eight-channel controller is used to operate a variety of devices such as hot or cold glue and taping heads.—Brandtjen & Kluge, www.kluge.biz

Automatic folder-gluer

ADI/PDM Trade Group’s fully automatic one-pass, two-piece box folder-gluer offers a dual feed table set-up with center joint pre-gluing, eliminating the need to pre-fold two-piece boxes. Sheet one is fed through a glue station and under sheet two. Both sheets are fed into the folding section with a center compression rail, ensuring adhesion on the center seam. The box continues to a PLC-controlled automatic adhesion station on the center seam and a stacking section, which sends the completed unit to the plant conveyor system.—ADI/PDM Group, www.arcdoyle.com