It is widely accepted that the consumption of corrugated packaging materials will rise significantly over the coming years. At the same time upcoming packaging waste regulations will see costs increase significantly for producers of packaging in the UK. The reform is to encourage businesses to switch to more sustainable packaging, in particular to reduce environmental impact.
Launched in 20122 Bristol Bespoke Boxes (BBB) recognised that a reduction in the amount of packaging used would be both environmentally and financially beneficial for customers. However, for many types of businesses needing boxes unique to their specific needs, in smaller quantities and with a short turnaround time, only standard sizes were available. This meant that at least one dimension would be at odds with the required size, leading to companies shipping air and adding void fill, or bubble wrap, to fill out the pack.
To offer customers exactly the box needed, in short runs and with fast turnaround BBB installed an Autobox AB300 boxmaker, together with a PG300 PRO-GLUER and SC100 SLITTER-SCORER. Now, two successful years on an Autobox TF300 high gip friction feeder has been added to the line-up.
Managing Director of BBB, Andy Bird, said: “With this range of versatile machinery we have a turn-key solution for our customers. We are in control of our manufacturing destiny with our own die tooling in-house where required. For slotted boxes, no tooling is needed as we use the Kolbus-Autobox that can produce a near infinite number of internal dimension combinations and close to 50 Fefco styles. Set time is immediate and we can run at exceptionally good speeds.
By adding the Autobox TF300 we have managed both waste and floor space more effectively. Without extra operators it enables us to run the machine at full speed on almost every job, opening doors to larger run lengths”.
Arran Sethi, Kolbus UK director of sales, said: “BBB have retrofitted our TF300 to their existing AB300 boxmaker. The system works by stacking a pile of boxes on the full width table. High traction belts pull the bottom sheet into the entrance of the Autobox machine which squares the box before entering the slotting section. Because it is a bottom feeder it is continuous provided that the operator keeps it topped up. To reduce delay and increase run speed the servo driven belts run at the same speed as the machine so that every sheet has a consistent small gap. The TF300 consistently feeds a four-slot 0201 box at 700 boxes per hour. A tray would run at closer to 900 per hour. We have a customer who ran a 3,000 x 1,000 mm telescopic, one-slot box through in three seconds. That’s 1200 per hour or 3,600 square metres of board within one hour!
Compressed air is not required, the system is powered by the Autobox kinetic reclaim motors which use as little energy as a household appliance when in operation. Running costs are minimal and significantly, the noise level is also minimal."
"Thanks to the Kolbus AB300, it has allowed us to achieve savings in labour and purchase of tooling for the manufacture of small orders, as well as special designs and low-volume boxes. Another favorable point of the machine is that we can add many style codes thanks to its computer setup time, which allows the operator to load an order in 2 to 5 minutes."
Add-on modules:
Box Printing:
Box Gluing:
