Leading corrugated packaging and display manufacturer Charapak has become the first company in the UK to install a new machine that it believes will help to revolutionise mail order and deferred use packaging.
The J&L Folder Gluer, using The Valco SealTak pressure-sensitive adhesive and release liner applicator, enables the company to extrude the adhesive wherever it is required on a box or pack design. Significantly the adhesive strip can be applied in any flute direction, providing complete flexibility in the carton design. With other systems, double sided tape has to be applied perpendicular to the corrugated fluting, meaning that the pack can then only be used in one dimension.
Charapak has invested in excess of £150,000 in the new equipment, which has already led to major volume being secured. As a result new jobs have been created at the company's factory in Alfreton, Derbyshire.
The new system when used in conjunction with a mail order pack enables items of varying size and thickness to be easily and securely packaged, with the carton folded tightly around each item. This minimises the danger of items being damaged during transit, because they are too loosely packed. The system also allows a wide variety of bespoke pack designs to be created according to individual product requirements. Similarly a choice of adhesives can be selected, depending on the application. For its first orders, Charapak is using a very strong, pressure sensitive adhesive that ensures firm and instant sealing. An overhang on the release liner provides easy removal for fast application.
As well as delivering better protection, the system also offers enhanced security for each item, as the strong adhesive helps to prevent the pack from being forced open, reducing instances of pilfering en route. A serrated strip ensures easy opening once the pack has reached its final destination.
As well as mail order packs, the new system is ideal for deferred use packaging such as returnable packaging applications, as it can be packed flat and has the flexibility to be used with all types of product shapes.
"This new system really does represent a major breakthrough, with several key advantages," comments Charapak's Managing Director Richard Smith. "In particular, it is totally flexible and also more efficient than double-sided tapes. The interest that we have already secured underlines the potential of the system for numerous applications."