Choosing which type of secondary packaging machinery can be daunting because there are so many different options. First, you must factor what type of case to load your food products into due to cost, ease of opening, durability and possibly design. Sometimes a specific case is needed because of the style of product, and sometimes it depends on how you want to display your product. With such a breadth of options available, it can be difficult to find simple solutions on what type of secondary packaging will work best for your food products.
At Douglas Machine, we take pride in empowering manufacturers with the knowledge and resources to find the optimal packaging machines for their unique needs and goals. That’s why we produce world-class shrink wrap systems, case packers and other secondary packaging solutions that position our partners for resounding success. Today, we’ll be teaching you about a few popular types of secondary packaging for food products to help you find the right solution for your enterprise.
Types of Cases
The type of product, the durability needed during transport, and the cost to produce the package all play a role in determining what type of case and secondary case packaging machine will provide the best value. Cases serve several purposes; they need to protect and contain the product that they are carrying, but often also display and promote the product to the consumer once they reach the store shelves. Moreover, secondary packaging cases must be durable enough to carry the product and be visually appealing to consumers so they want to buy the product. Some of the most common types of cases include the following:
Regular Slotted Case (RSC)
The RSC case has two flaps that are half the case width with the remaining flaps being the same length. It is the most common case style and can be used for most products.
Full Overlap Case (FOL)
The FOL case has flaps that are all the same length. The outer flaps are within one inch of complete overwrap when closed. This case is ideal for rough handling.
Harness Case
The harness case has a fifth closing panel that completely covers a side panel. It is best for strength and protection for packaging long articles of small diameter.
Top load, horizontal load and bottom load are three types of case packers that use unique cases. Using corrugated cases, trays or paperboard cartons will also be a determining factor in the type of packaging machine best suited for your needs.
Douglas Machine Secondary Case Packers
Douglas Machine provides several different secondary case packaging options to create a machine that accommodates your product needs. We also offer a range of equipment options based on your product requirements, speed and concept. Most importantly, all of our machines are supported with cutting-edge technology and superior customer service that Douglas is known for.
TriVex® CLi (Top Load)
The Douglas TriVex CLi is a top loading machine used for products that require flat and vertical bag orientations. It collates multiple products and has the ability to load in the direction of travel, both across the machine and vertically. This case packer can handle a large range of product sizes at speeds up to 15 cases per minute while using different innovations designed to prevent bag distortion.
The TriVex CLi is ideal for the following food products:
- Frozen vegetables
- Potatoes
- Pillow and gusseted bag product with flat and vertical bag orientations
Axiom® ARC (Horizontal Load)
The Axiom ARC is a continuous motion horizontal loading case packer that can load up to 110 cases or trays per minute. It uses a simple loader mechanism and servo-driven product handling to provide maximum product containment. Because it controls the product through the entire load cycle, the Axiom ARC is a great solution for odd-shaped packages and large size ranges.
The Axiom ARC machine is ideal for the following applications:
- Cartons
- Bottles
- Cans
- Jars
- Jugs
Invex® IM (Horizontal Load)
The Invex IM is an efficient horizontal loading intermittent motion case packer used for mid-range packaging applications. It can load up to 25 cases or trays per minute and offers a variety of infeeds and metering techniques.
The Invex IM machine is ideal for the following food products:
- Food
- Beverage
Ascend™ (Bottom Load)
The Ascend uses bottom load RSC cases in a compact footprint. It can handle speeds up to 15 cases per minute with gentle product handling. It is ideal for heavy products.
The Ascend machine is ideal for the following applications:
- Tubs
- Jugs
- Bottles
- Cartons
Perfect Your Food Packaging with Douglas Machine
Douglas Machine’s leading-edge food packaging solutions will give you the convenience, flexibility and reliability you require. We offer a variety of infeed, metering and loading systems to best serve your needs. We also understand the different applications required to take your product from the plant to retail. We stand by our equipment and are able to offer you a support system that includes machine frame and parts warranties, a large spare parts stock selection with guaranteed best pricing, 24/7 technical assistance and on-site training opportunities.
Visit us online, email us at sales@douglas-machine.com, or give us a call at 320-204-5408 to learn more about the secondary case packaging systems we offer, including details about specifications and the technology used to create the ideal secondary packaging machinery for your food products. We look forward to hearing from you.