A guide to packaging machines that increase productivity
9min read
06/06/2022
Packaging machines are in vogue and many companies are seeing the benefits of automating their packaging processes. Machines increase productivity, save money on materials and reduce environmental impact. We’ve put together a guide to give you an introduction to packaging machines, what types there are and what they can do for you.
Why automate your packaging processes?
If you pack more than 10 parcels a day, it’s likely that a packaging machine can help your business save time and money. Many machines are also available for hire, so there’s no big investment to worry about.
Some of the benefits machines can provide:
- Makes packing and warehousing processes faster, resulting in increased efficiency and more packed parcels per day
- Gives the company better control over the packages and improves flexibility.
- Contributes to a better working environment with simplified tasks and less physical strain for your warehouse staff
- Reduces the amount of material used and waste produced, resulting in lower costs and less environmental impact
- Machines that store parcel fill free up space in the company’s warehouse, because the film or paper roll the machine uses takes up much less space than if the filling material is bought ready-made.
Different types of packaging machines
There are many packaging processes that can be automated, including strapping, sealing and demolding. Strapping machines streamline the process of strapping packages with tape. With a bag sealer, you can quickly and easily seal bags on the assembly line.
Stretch wrapping machines are often used by companies that use a large amount of pallet transport.
Our most popular machines are probably packaging machines that store filling material on site. Ensuring that goods arrive in good condition is crucial to any successful business. To protect loose items during shipping, paper or air fill is ideal for cushioning and protection.
1. Packaging machines for filling and protection
Packaging machines produce filling material quickly and easily, instead of buying it ready-made. The packaging material fed into the machines (e.g. plastic or paper) can be ordered in economical rolls, which means reduced shipping costs for your company and more storage space.
Air-purifying machines – more environmentally friendly than you might think
Many people prefer to use paper rather than plastic for packaging for environmental reasons. Filling material made of paper is often chosen for this reason. But an environmental aspect that many people don’t think about when it comes to bubble wrap or air bags is that the filling material can consist of as much as 99% air. In this way, it can be a very resource-efficient material to use. If you use an air filling system, you also get the advantage that the plastic film takes up very little space in transport from the RAJA to your warehouse, as it is not delivered inflated.
In addition, RAJA of course offers alternatives to plastic film that are good environmental choices. If you choose RAJA’s own air filling system RAJAAIR, you can choose to use it together with our popular paper film. We also have biodegradable plastic film and film that consists of 50% recycled material.
Read also: Pack and protect with airputer
On RAJA’s Youtube channel you will find videos demonstrating some of our machines and other products
Paper filling machines – many people’s favourite
Paper filling machines offer another cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to make filling material. Studies have shown that consumers prefer to have paper fill in their packages for environmental reasons. The machines produce strong, shrink-wrapped paper that can be used for package filling and protection. These machines are ideal for high-volume operations (they produce up to 1.4 meters of paper per second), and although they are larger than air-pouch systems, they provide greater flexibility. If you are packing over 50 products a day, you will save time and money, and material consumption will be reduced. There are several options that include features such as remote controls, foot pedals and paper length programming.
Get the most out of cardboard with a cardboard maculator
Tip: Why not make use of the cardboard waste from the used and worn out ashes in your office or warehouse? Be an environmental hero and reuse used ashes as filling material with the help of our handy cardboard macerator. The machine perforates cardboard so that you get a flexible and tensile strength material that can be used to protect your products during transport and fill empty spaces in your packages.
2. Tape, stapling and lacing machines
The next category is packaging machines for strapping, stapling and tying. The packaging process can involve many steps, and streamlining one or more of them with the help of a machine can increase your speed in terms of the number of packages or goods prepared per day.
Strapping machines can improve efficiency
Does your business often use strapping machines to seal parcels? RAJA has strapping machines for both smaller and larger needs that automate the process of stretching and sealing PP strapping. A typical machine can wrap and tighten a spindle in under 10 seconds. They are robust and simple to use, and changing the strapping reel is easy. If you pack more than 50 parcels a day, a strapping machine is likely to bring significant savings.
If you want a more flexible machine, we also offer a handheld version – our battery-powered tape tightener is recommended for companies that tighten both horizontally and vertically up to 150 wraps/hour. It works with PP tape or environmentally friendly PET tape and tightens and seals the packing tape at the touch of a button.
Environmentally friendly closing with electric tape dispenser
Have you considered replacing plastic tape with an environmentally friendly variant? RAJA’s electric tape dispenser uses paper tape where the glue is activated by water as the electric dispenser heats up. Attach the tape roll, select the tape length and get started – the machine activates, releases and cuts the tape pieces to the correct length.
A switch to paper tape is something your customers will notice and appreciate. In addition to the paper being better for the environment, recycling is simplified because the tape does not need to be removed from the cardboard.
Wireless pin gun makes pinning more efficient
Do you use pins to seal your packages? If so, we have a wireless pin gun in our range that can be useful. Pins can have many different uses, this machine is perfect for mobile use in production workshops, warehouses or logistics. With up to 800 pins per battery charge, it’s a very powerful solution.
Stabilise your pallets with a stretch film machine
Stretch film is often used to ensure that pallets are stable during transport or long-term storage. By using stretch film, accidents can be avoided and the goods are well protected against moisture, dust and dirt. RAJA offers stretch film machines with various additional features such as motorised extension and digital control panel. Ideal if your company handles a large number of pallets. Please note that stretch film machines are used with specially developed machine stretch film.
Read also: everything you need to know about stretch film.
3. Machines for film and foil
The last category we will look at is different machines for sealing or shrinking plastic film or foil
Fix and protect your products with hot air gun and shrink wrap
Just as the name suggests, shrink film shrinks when heated – when you heat up the plastic film with for example a hot air gun, it will shrink and form to your product regardless of design. This method is used for example to secure goods before transport and gives the goods good protection against the elements. Please choose our shrink set which, in addition to the hot air gun, also includes a trolley stand. Please note that shrink film is purchased separately.
Seal the bags with a bag sealer
A bag sealer provides a more industrial high-volume solution if you need to seal large quantities of bags quickly and easily. They are small and compact and fit almost anywhere. Spare parts kits can also be purchased, making it easy to maintain the machine. Tip: Take advantage of RAJA’s sealing kit, which includes everything you need to get started: you get a bag sealer, stand, wheels and table.
If the bag sweeper catches your interest, it might be good to know that we at RAJA also have a large selection of plastic bags and plastic tubing.
Need help choosing the right packaging machine?
Explore RAJA’s selection of packaging systems and machines in our interactive systems catalogue. Feel free to contact us for tips and advice on which of our packaging machines is best suited based on your unique needs and priorities. Send us an email directly at post@rajapack.no or call us at 22 51 40 00 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. We also answer on our live chat at www.rajapack.no.
RAJA helps you all the way from idea to installation
- Our packaging specialists analyse your needs and help you find a cost-effective solution
- If necessary, we can arrange demos of different materials and machines
- You get a cost estimate, and fast delivery after the contract is completed
- We offer free training and/or free installation
- We offer service and maintenance for machines with service agreements
