Case Sealer vs. Case Erector: The Difference

If you are new to packaging, you may be confused about the difference between a case sealer and a case erector. Ultimately, if they both involve packaging cases or corrugate boxes – how different can they be? Although case erectors and sealers are similar, there are significant differences between the two packaging methods as they serve two different purposes.

 

Automated case erectors and sealers go hand in hand within the secondary packaging process

What is a Case Sealer?

Case sealers are packaging machines that fold and seal the top lids of your packed cartons. These machines offer a reliable and efficient way to seal cases after the packaging process. Available in both automatic and semi-automatic formats, case sealers eliminate the need to use messy hand-held tape guns. Automatic case sealers are fully automated pieces of machinery that eliminate the need for starting and stopping. Semi-automatic case sealers, unlike automatic machines, require an operator to fold the top flaps of the box.

Alongside case sealers being broken up into automatic and semi-automatic case sealers, they are also categorized as uniform case sealers and random case sealers. A random case sealer is an automated packaging machine that can adjust the tape head height to any case size. These random case sealer machines are great for packaging solutions that use a variety of box sizes at the same time on the packing line. Uniform case sealers require a manual adjustment of the tape head to seal boxes of different heights. These uniform case sealers are perfect for packaging solutions that run the same size boxes in large batches.

 

At Crawford Packaging, we use a lineup of Loveshaw case erectors, also known as Little David case sealers, to find you the right automated packaging equipment for your business!

What is a Case Erector?

Case erectors are case forming machines that automatically form, fold and seal corrugated cartons from flat boxes. Available in both automatic and semi-automatic formats, high speed case erectors remove the need for operators to stop packing products to build their cartons.

Automatic case erectors are designed to form, fold, and seal the bottom of corrugate boxes, in an automated format requiring no operator involvement. Semi-automatic case erectors can handle numerous box sizes while still achieving the same result but unlike automatic case erectors, semi-automatic case erectors require an operator to move cases through the machine.

 

Integrating an auto case erector into your packaging line will improve efficiency at many levels – some of which are package consistency, increased throughput, and cost savings in labour. At Crawford Packaging, we use a lineup of Loveshaw case erectors, also known as Little David case erectors, to find you the best case erector equipment for your business!

How to Integrate a Case Sealer and Case Erector?

Automatic case erectors and sealers go hand in hand within the secondary packaging process. Integrating both a case sealer and a case erector is often more efficient that integrating only one of these pieces of equipment.

We understand that each of our customers’ have specific needs including output expectations, cost saving plans and more – that’s why we created the Tape it Right program. This program ensures that our Packaging Specialist create a specific plan from customer to customer to ensure these case erectors and sealers are providing solutions!

Tape It Right

Crawford’s Tape it Right program works with clients to audit and review their existing case sealing practices and equipment. This will improve sealing efficiency and productivity through the identification and standardization of improved case sealing practices. Through this standardization, the Tape It Right Program has helped businesses save up to 30% on their annual carton sealing costs.

Automatic Case Sealer

Automatic case sealers are packaging systems to do not require an operator to fold the case flaps. Boxes of the same size are fed into the machine via operator or conveyor one at a time. The automatic case sealers then folds down the case flaps and passes the box through the tape head.

  • Efficient, effective, high speed sealing

Semi-Automatic Case Sealer

Semi-Automatic case sealers offer a simple and easy way to seal cases of random sizes. Unlike the automatic case sealer machines, these case sealers require an operator to fold the top flaps of the box.

  • Fast/easy maintenance, easy clean design, and versatile

Automatic Case Erector

Automatic case erectors are designed to automatically form, fold and seal the bottom of corrugate boxes, requiring no operator involvement. If you pair an automatic case erector with a case sealer, you will have a complete form, fill and seal packaging solution.

  • Pack up to 15 packs per minute

Semi-Automatic Case Erector

emi-Automatic Case Erectors can handle a wide range of box sizes. Semi-Automatic Case Erectors require some operator involvement to move cases through the machine. The case erectors can work with case sealers to improve case packing efficiency.

  • Pack up 6 cases to 20 cases per minute

Which Do I Need?

Whether you need a case sealer or erector or both, it is best to consider bringing on a packaging expert to look at your packaging operation to help determine the right piece of equipment for your application.

Need help finding the right packaging solution?

Contact Crawford Packaging today to access our fleet of knowledgeable packaging specialists.

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