ESS Technologies, Inc. Packaging Machinery

Selecting an Automatic Cartoner

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Overview

Automatic Cartoning Machines from ESS Technologies, Inc. Cartoners provide packaging for a wide variety of pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and consumer products. Cartoners come in two basic configurations: Horizontal, where the product is loaded into the carton from the side and vertical, where the product is loaded from the top. These machines are usually equipped with additional features such as Lot/Date code printers, leaflet inserters, and various infeed configurations.

The process of cartoning begins when the product enters the machine and is collated into a pack pattern. The machine selects a flat case, which it opens and positions for product insertion. The carton flaps are folded and tucked, or the product moves to a sealing station where the carton is sealed using hot-melt glue.

Monoblock Fillers/Cappers

Cartoners

Case Packers

TaskMate Robotic Systems

Medical Device Assembly Systems

Pallet Cells/Depalletizers

OEM Equipment

Custom Designed Equipment

Factors for Cartoner Selection

Proper cartoner selection depends on a number of variables, including:

the size of the product to be cartoned
the number of items to be packaged
the size of the carton itself
the required cartoning speed
the amount of available installation space
requirements for product and carton size changeover
integration of cartoner with other packaging machines

ESS Technologies, Inc. manufactures the SC Series horizontal cartoners that handle carton sizes and shapes typical to the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and consumer goods industries. As an experienced system integrator, ESS also integrates vertical cartoners from other manufacturers. ESS Technologies project engineers have design expertise in specifying and integrating the model of cartoner that meets the requirements of most any application.

Features & Benefits	Options	Industries Served
Continuous or Intermittent Motion Cartoners Designed to Meet cGMP Requirements Small Foot Print Balcony Design Cartoning Speeds from 25 to 250 Cartons per Minute (depending on the model) Changeover <15-20 Minutes	Leaflet/Coupon/Booklet Insertion Options Embossing or Ink Coding Device Code Reader and Verification Automatic Infeeder with Collation and Stacking Extensions for Infeed Conveyors Hot-melt Closure Unit Carton Rejection	Pharmaceuticals Nutraceuticals Medical Devices Diagnostics and Test Kits Cosmetics Personal Care Products Consumer Packaged Goods

Cartoner Comparison Chart

		Horizontal Cartoner	Vertical Cartoner
Equipment Specifications	Changeover Time — All Dimensions Change	15-20 Minutes	15-20 Minutes
	Drive Type	Servo	Servo
	Drive Motion	Continuous or Intermittent	Continuous or Intermittent
	Carton Closure Type	Tuck Flaps or Hot-Melt Glue	Tuck Flaps or Hot-Melt Glue
	Automation Type	Hard Automation w/ tool-free changeover	Robotic Automation w/ quick release connections
Products Handled	Cans and Jars	Yes	Yes
	Bottles	Yes	Yes
	Bottles (can be tipped)	Yes	Yes
	Bottles (cannot be tipped)	No	Yes
	Bags and Pouches	Yes	Yes
	Pharmaceutical Vials	No	Yes
	Sachets	Yes	Yes
	Tubes	Yes	Yes
	Medical Devices	Yes	Yes
	Multi-component Cartoning	Yes	No

Vertical Cartoner Product Flow

Flat Leaflet and Tube Insertion in Carton

Flat Cartons in Standard Magazine

Carton Being Erected Leaflet and Tube Insertion Into Carton

Tuck Flap Closure of Carton

Horizontal Cartoner Product Flow

SC 60 Automatic Cartoner Erecting Carton

Medical Device Blisters Loaded Into SC 60 Cartoner

Tuck Flap Closure System on SC 60 Horizontal Cartoner

Flat Cartons in Standard Magazine

Carton Being Erected Blister Insertion Into Carton

Tuck Flap Closure of Carton