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Transform your operation with packaging automation and packaging machinery
Packaging automation systems are ideal for high demand packing environments where speed is key. If you’re shipping a range of different shaped products in significant volume, the right packaging machinery and processes can help you optimise your operation, cut costs and future-proof your production line for growth…
How packaging automation can benefit your business
Lower your operational costs
Automated packing systems are designed to optimise your packing process, so you can reduce costs associated with materials, productivity, transport and labour.
Improve pack line productivity
Packaging automation can drastically improve your pack line productivity and throughput. Dispatch more packs per hour to cope with demand, and reassign labour to key tasks.
Reduce your carbon footprint
Automating packing ensures the right size pack and right amount of material every time, eliminating waste. You can get more product delivered with fewer vehicles too – lowering your carbon emissions.
Enhance packing quality control
How your team pack a product may differ from person to person. Packaging automation ensures quality control – minimising damages and packaging material wastage.
Use less packaging materials
Packing consistently and to a high quality can help ensure you use the right amount of packaging every time. You’ll spend less on packaging supplies, create less waste and minimise your environmental impact.
Save valuable storage space
Choosing to use packaging machinery can free up valuable space in your warehouse by eliminating the need to store excess packaging SKUs or bulky materials.
Optimise your transport usage
As automated packing systems can help optmise the size of your parcels, you can get more product on to a pallet or delivery vehicle, controlling costs and fuel use.
Future proof for growth and demand
Automation can seem like a big investment, but it can help you future proof for growth and seasonal demand by increasing your capacity significantly. Long-term this will help control costs as you grow.
Signs your business is ready for packaging automation
Are you wondering if now’s the time to introduce automated packing systems to your operation? Look out for these signs that can indicate automation could be the solution you need:
- Your packaging is increasingly taking up room in your warehouse
- You continually need to hire new staff for your production and/or pack line
- Your packs per hour aren’t increasing in line with demand
- Your business is creating increasing levels of packaging waste
- You experience an uplift in customer complaints about damaged goods (if demand is too high, packing quality can be compromised)
- Your packing team’s morale may be lower due to increased workload
The Macfarlane Packaging team can help you identify when you need to invest automated systems and the points in your supply chain that will benefit most from using automation.
Types of automated packing systems available from Macfarlane
Almost any packing process can be automated. At Macfarlane Packaging, we can help with a wide range of packaging automation equipment from boxing machines and case erectors through to water activated tape dispensers and pallet wrappers – and everything in between! Here’s the types of packaging equipment and automation solutions we can supply:
Box Automation
Case and box erectors
eCube B+ equipment
Automated boxing machines
Automated Bagging
Automatic bagging machines & systems
Bulk bagging equipment
Strapping Automation
Semi and fully automated strapping machines
Friction welders & battery powered strapping tools
Strapping & banding tables
Protective Automation
Semi and fully automated void fill systems
Air cushioning and air pillow machines
In-line void fill systems
Paper Automation
Paper void fill machines & systems
Paper wrapping equipment
Paper cushioning systems
Automatic Taping
Semi & fully automatic tape dispensers
In-line tape machines
Tape dispenser machines
Water activated and gummed paper tape dispensers
Polythene Automation
Shrink wrapping machines & shrink wrappers
Heat shrink tunnels
Heat sealers & impulse heat sealers
Vacuum packing machines
Stretch Automation
Fully & semi automatic pallet wrappers
Horizontal stretch wrapping machines
Vertical stretch wrapping machines
Rotating arm stretch wrap machines
See automation in action
Want to see some of the packaging machinery and automation solutions we can provide or learn why upgrading to automation can benefit you? Watch a selection of our packaging automation videos today.
Frequently asked questions about packaging automation
Got a question about packaging automation? Read our automation FAQs!
What is packaging automation?
Packaging automation is the process of packaging products without the need for manual human intervention, using machinery to assemble or dispense packaging materials.
It can also involve the movement of product or parcels throughout a warehouse between picking, packing and dispatch sites.
What are the benefits of packaging automation?
There are lots of benefits of using automated packing systems. Some of the benefits include:
- Controlling and reducing operating costs – including cost associated with materials, storage, labour and productivity
- Improving productivity – automation will drastically increase the through put of your packing line and help you increase your packs per minute
- Reducing environmental impact and packaging waste – as automation can optimise your pack size, weight and composition it can lead to using less fuel for transport, lowering emissions. Plus, as the volume of packaging material you use is controlled, you’ll create less waste.
- Packing quality control – using packaging machinery helps you enhance quality control of your packing processes – there is minimised risk of variation. The knock-on effect is reduced damages and reduced material waste.
- Releasing storage space – digitising packing processes can help you reduce the amount of packaging products you need to store in your warehouse. In turn, this releases valuable space for your product or other operations.
What is the difference between manual, semi-automated and fully automated packing processes?
The difference between manual, semi-automated and fully automated packing processes is the level of human involvement in the packing process:
- Manual packing processes – this is when the packaging process is completed entirely by hand by a packer. The packer would be responsible for assembling the packing (e.g. a cardboard box or bag), dispensing and inserting any protective material (like bubble wrap), and sealing it (with packing tape).
- Semi-automated packing processes – this is when the packing process is part manual and part automated. For example, an operator may start the process but an automated packing system may finish it.
- Fully automated packing processes – this is when the complete packing process is automated from beginning through to completion. This could include everything from picking, packaging application and palletisation for dispatch.
How do I automate my packing process?
There are lots of ways to automate your packing processes. You can automate almost any part of packing procedures, but if you need pointers of where to start you will need to review your packing operation. This will help you identify any bottlenecks or processes that could be improved or automated.
Our packaging review can help you identify areas for improvement. You can also send us an automation enquiry and arrange an appointment with our experts, they can support you on your automation journey.
What sort of packaging machinery do I need?
The type of packaging machinery you need will depend on the products you’re packing, your processes. your productivity goals and your warehouse space. You’d also need to factor in your budget.
There are lots of different types of packaging machinery available, from cardboard box and case erectors and auto-bagging machines through to pallet wrappers, heat shrink tunnels, in-line taping machines and much much more!
Why not get in touch to see how one of our packaging experts can help guide you?
What will packaging automation cost me?
How much packaging automation will cost your business will depend on the solution you choose.
Some small automated equipment, like water activated tape dispensers, can start from as little as £1,000. In contrast, custom solutions and high-volume equipment would be much more costly. However, it is important to remember that packaging automation often delivers a return on investment quickly – offering operational cost savings in other areas like labour, productivity, storage and transport.
If you’d like to cost packaging equipment or automation, contact us today.
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Take the first step by contacting us today
Talk to us about Packaging Automation
We can help you with packaging automation throughout the UK. to you from one of our regional distribution centres. Our teams can provide packaging automation recommendations and services to and around the following locations:
Aberdeen, Aylesbury, Banbury, Barnsley, Bath, Bedford, Bicester, Birmingham , Bolton, Bradford, Bridgewater, Bridport, Bristol, Burton-upon-Trent , Cambridge, Chelmsford , Cheltenham, Chester , Chichester, Colchester Cornwall, Coventry, Crewe, Derby, Devon, Dewsbury, Dudley, Dundee, Durham, Edinburgh, Essex, Exeter, Fareham, Gateshead, Glasgow Glossop Gloucester, Grantham, Harlow, Heathrow, Hemel Hempstead, Hereford, High Wycombe, Horsham, Hull, Inverness, Isle of Wight, Kent, Kidderminster, Lancaster Leamington Spa, Leeds, Lincoln, Liverpool , London , Luton , Manchester, Middlesborough, Milton Keynes, Newbury, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norfolk, North Wales , Northampton, Nottingham , Oldham, Oxford , Plymouth, Reading, Salisbury, Sheffield, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Slough, Somerset , Somerton, South Shields, South Wales, Stafford, Stockport , Stoke-on-Trent , Stratford-Upon-Avon, Sudbury, Sunderland, Surrey, Sussex , Teesside, Telford, Uxbridge, Wakefield, Walsall, Warrington, Warwick , Watford, Wigan, Windsor, Wolverhampton, Worcester, Wrexham, Yeovil, York.
Macfarlane Packaging can also help with automated packing systems across Ireland and Continental Europe. Click to find your closest UK location or nearest Continental European site.
