Reclameland wants to pack its printed matter without hands. The printer is investing 1 million euros in the so-called Pack on Time, a packaging machine that should speed up the production process by more than 300 per cent.
'Unique machine'
The fully automatic packing machine comes from Swiss supplier Kern. "This packing machine is really state-of-the-art and does something that is actually impossible: pack printed matter without using hands," says Reclameland CEO Wouter Haan. According to Haan, you won't find such a machine anywhere else in the world: "Other large online parties also have advanced wrapping machines that are also capable of packing a lot, but there are two people filling the machine by hand. This machine is really another step ahead."
The Pack On Time takes up a total of 150 square metres and can run almost entirely without human control. Haan: "The machine does everything itself: from making the cardboard box, to packing the product, gluing it shut and even labelling it with the shipping address." This should give Reclameland a substantial increase in productivity: now the company processes about 2,000 parcels a day, soon it will be 6,000.
3D scanner
The packaging machine is fed by a conveyor belt and packs orders to size. When packing, the machine takes into account the type of product. "Other machines fold boxes around the products. But that cannot be done with lightweight products, such as a stack of stationery, because they will fall over," explains the CEO. The Pack On Time works with a 3D scanner that measures the size of the stack in a millisecond. "This is done while the product is on the conveyor belt. The box is then sized and the printed material can be automatically pushed into the box by a conveyor belt. The product then lies just right in the box."
In addition, unlike other wrapping machines, the Pack On Time does not use so-called 'z-carton', which consists of loose sheets that are glued together in the machine to form an endless strip of cardboard. Instead, ordinary cardboard is used, which the CEO says is less exclusive and cheaper. Because the machine determines how much cardboard is needed, it leaves as little residual cardboard as possible.
Extra space needed
In preparation for the arrival of the packing machine and to expand its product range, Reclameland this year commissioned a new 25,000-square-metre production hall. This brings the total company area to 35,000 square metres. In the new hall in Westerbroek, Groningen, the (large format) printed matter is processed, packed and shipped. Printing is also done there. The current hall, next door, consists of office space and is used for storage and printing presses.
