Pkg Solutions
Quality Glossary
CASE SEALERS
Machinery to seal either top and/or bottom of standard
cases using various closing systems.
Case sealers are supplied in a variety of designs but
basically use adhesive, tape or stitches. All types can be either automatic,
semi-automatic or random.
Taping
Possible to use self adhesive tape or paper tape water
activated. Self adhesive machines are extremely popular being comparatively
cheap and very reliable. The disadvantage is the cost of the tape,
it being a higher cost than any other means of sealing.
Adhesive
Usually a cold PVA glue system or hot melt.
PVA systems need a "compression" section to allow the adhesions
to set (30 secs). There are numerous ways of applying adhesive but the
two basic systems are a non pressurized or pressurized system extruding
the adhesive in a desired pattern or a hot melt system applied by a pressurized
jet. The costs of adhesive is less than taping but the capital cost is
greater.
Stitching
Not often used as product damaged can result particularly
when sealing the top flaps after packing. Layer cards are often used to
avoid the problem. Used far less than other methods. However, for large
and very heavy products such as lawn mowers, they do have their place.