To satisfy increasing demand for short to medium run boxes in a wide variety of styles, UK-based Cumberland Packaging have invested in a Kolbus Autobox MultiNova folder gluer. With its fast make-ready, the MultiNova will free up capacity on their larger volume automatic folder gluers.
The Kolbus Autobox MultiNova MN400 was delivered to their Southend sheet plant in early January. Installation was completed in a day with a further two days for training. Operators were running the machine at 1,200 boxes per hour by close of play on day one.
The Kolbus Autobox MultiNova is a multi-point gluer, ideal for short-medium and large run lengths of straightline and crashlock corrugated boxes. Set-up times are fast: five minutes for straightline and 15 to 20 mins for crashlock. It runs at average speeds of 1,500 to 2,000 boxes per hr with up to 4,000 per hr achievable on smaller boxes.
The MultiNova represents an ideal way to take three-point work in-house at an affordable price. It is a compact machine, the compression section is under the machine as opposed to after, saving considerably on floor space compared to more automatic machines. Although the MultiNova can be run by a single operator, up to three can be deployed depending on production requirements. One operator always collects the 90% closed boxes, finishing them and controlling the quality of finish using the squaring system to avoid fishtailing. This is an essential requirement to limit waste, especially when producing short to medium run lengths.
Mark Bennett, Production Manager, Cumberland Packaging, said, “We invested in the MultiNova to enable us to bring the smaller and awkward panel work in-house and to speed up the manual operation. We wanted to free up capacity on our large volume automatic folder gluers. We can set up the MultiNova for one to 2,000 straightline boxes and in that time will have increased our capacity on a high-volume machine significantly. The installation and training went well, quickly reaching quality and running speeds that we had planned for.”
