Packaging Automation

With consumer demand the rise, many organizations are rethinking their processes and strategies in order to keep up. In fact, a recent study on warehouse automation found that 40% of respondents reported an increase in consumer demand as a top driver for growth in modernizing their operations.

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Packaging Experts For Over 50 Years

Packaging Automation is the process of packaging products without the need for manual human intervention. Over the years, automated packaging systems have transitioned from singular machines that automate one step in the packaging process to now integrating all steps seamlessly into the entire packaging process. Automation World has stated in a recent article that there are several factors driving automation and will continue to do so including; labour shortages, manufacturing speed, and the safety of products and workers.

Automatic packaging machines come in a variety of forms, but all fall under the automatic or semi-automatic category.

Benefits of Automated Packaging Machines

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    Increased productivity

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    Consistent packaging results

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    Reduced damages

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    Reduced labour costs

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    Increased throughput

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    Reduced employees' motion and strain injury

Crawford’s Automation Commitment

Crawford Packaging has been developing our lineup of automated packaging equipment for over 50 years with the goal of enhancing your business performance. We understand that each company in need of an automatic packaging solution is unique – whether that be company dynamics, budget, labour availability, or whatever your case may be!

The goal of automation with Crawford is to create and customize a seamless end of line packaging system. We work closely with all levels of your packaging operation to identify pain points and alleviate them through fully automated packaging equipment processes. We have many other goals with automation including:

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    Decreased Labour Costs
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    Improved Material Consumption
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    Improved Health and Safety
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    Reduce Packaging Material Waste
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    Reduced Damages and Unsaleables
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    Increased Throughput

The categories of automatic packaging machines Crawford can provide are:

Crawford’s Automation Programs

Transitioning to fully automated packaging equipment for your seamless end of line packaging system can be a process that involves many steps. Automatic packaging systems can be seen as expensive compared to traditionally manual processes. However, once you consider the hidden costs associated with manual packaging operations, automated packaging equipment can pay for itself through cost and labour savings.

 

The other aspect to consider after investing in automatic packaging machines is ensuring your staff is properly trained to run these machines. Training and maintenance prepare staff for proper machine operation as well as optimal output from the automated packaging equipment.

The programs automatic packaging machines qualify for are:

Crawford’s Automation Managers

Cam Small

Sales Manager; Semi-Automatics

I have worked at Crawford for 25 years but within the last 3 years, I have transitioned to our rapidly growing Equipment Division.  My favourite part of my job is assisting one of our many Packaging Specialists as they work to find the correct Equipment solution for our customer. Coming from a family of teachers and spending many years in Coaching has helped my transition from Field Rep to Manager in the Equipment Division. My role in automation at Crawford is Sales Manager for all semi-automatic equipment while working with all staff within the equipment division from an operational perspective.

Outside of work I like to….be active, focusing on golf and running.  Record collecting is a passion as is connecting regularly with my one grandchild.

Sam Capson

Automation Manager; Produce Division

I have been with Crawford for 12 years, and the best part has been helping our customers innovate. Seeing our customers grow their businesses through the right products, process innovation, and Crawford’s solutions push me to help more customers alike through automation. Outside of work you’ll find me enjoying friends and family – usually on a fairway!

Tim Strecker

Automation Manager; Automatics, Technical Sales & Service Manager

I have worked at Crawford Packaging for 6 Years and have 21st years in the packaging equipment industry. My role in automation at Crawford enables me to help our clients improve their packaging process. I specialize in fully automatic equipment for a variety of markets with the end goal of helping clients achieve their packaging goals. Outside of work I like to spend time with my family, camping, playing hockey and working around the house.

Types of Automated Packaging Equipment

Stretch Wrap Equipment

Fully automatic stretch wrapping systems can be integrated into your packaging lines to improve efficiency and increase throughput. Automatic stretch wrap machines are available in both semi-automatic and fully automatic formats. Stretch wrap machines come in a variety of styles including turntable, horizontal, and rotary arm.

At Crawford Packaging, we use a lineup of Lantech and Wulftec stretch wrappers to find you the right automated stretch wrapper for your business! Learn about our suppliers and why we partner with them:

Lantech:

Lantech stretch wrap machines and Crawford Packaging have been in partnership since 2010 supplying a wide range of automatic stretch wrap machines and semi-automatic stretch wrap machines. Our partnership with Lantech started when Crawford acquired Provincial Packaging in 2011.

LANTECH

Wulftec:

Wulftec stretch wrap equipment and Crawford have been partners since 2000, supplying both automatic stretch wrap machines as well as semi-automatic stretch wrap machines. We were first made aware of Wulftec through our Balpex Membership Community. As members of Balpex and a distributor in the Industrial market, our relationship with Wulftec stretch wrap machines grew.

WULFTEC

Shrink Wrapping Equipment

Fully automatic shrink wrapping machines can be integrated into your packaging lines to improve efficiency, increase throughput, and package a variety of products. Automatic shrink wrap machines are available in both semi-automatic and fully automatic formats. Shrink wrap machines come in a variety of styles including l-sealers, automatic side sealers, shrink tunnels, and shrink bundlers.

 

At Crawford Packaging, we use a lineup of BVM Brunner and Shanklin shrink wrap machines to find you the right automatic shrink wrapper for your business! Learn about our suppliers and why we partner with them:

BVM Brunner:

German manufacturer, BVM Brunner, and Crawford Packaging have been in partnership since 2003 suppling a wide range of both semi-automatic and automatic shrink wrap machines. Our partnership with BVM Brunner started when Crawford was looking to grow our global presence and a shrink wrap distributor that aligned was BVM Brunner.

 
 
BVM BRUNNER

Shanklin:

Shanklin® shrink wrap machines and Crawford Packaging have been in partnership since 2010 supplying a wide range of automatic shrink wrap machines and semi-automatic shrink wrap machines. Our partnership with Shanklin® started when Crawford acquired Provincial Packaging as they were the preferred shrink wrapper supplier, and we widened our offerings of Sealed Air® products.

 
 
SHANKLIN

Flow Wrapping Equipment

Automatic flow wrap machines can be integrated into your packaging lines to improve efficiency and increase throughput. Flow wrap machines are available in fully automatic formats to eliminate unnecessary steps in your packaging process. Horizontal flow wrap machines come in a variety of styles to optimize your speed, consistency, and reduce your labour costs.

 

At Crawford Packaging, we use a lineup of RGD Mape flow wrap machines to find you the right automatic flow wrap machine for your business! Learn about our suppliers and why we partner with them:

RGD Mape:

RGD Mape flow wrap machines and Crawford Packaging have been in partnership since 2009 supplying a wide range of both semi-automatic and automatic flow wrap machines. Our partnership with RGD Mape started when customers of Crawford were looking to reduce their labour costs – RGD Mape is still to this day one of the most cost-saving flow wrap machines on the market.

 
RGD MAPE

Tray Sealing Equipment

Top seal packaging machines can be integrated into your packaging lines to improve efficiency, increase throughput, and eliminate time-consuming steps in your packaging process. . Top seal packaging machines can also be known as tray sealing machines, tray lidding machines, as well as top sealers. These machines are capable of handling multiple units and package between 45 and 200 packs a minute and use up to 25% less packaging material.

At Crawford Packaging, we use a lineup of Packaging Automation Ltd. top seal machines to find you the right automatic tray sealing machine for your business! Learn about our suppliers and why we partner with them:

Packaging Automation Ltd:

Packaging Automation Ltd.’s top seal machines and Crawford Packaging have been in partnership since 2014 supplying a wide range of world-class automatic top seal machines. Our partnership with Packaging Automation Ltd. started when our customers increased the demand to reduce plastic waste and increase shelf life.

PA LTD.

Sleeving and Cartoning Equipment

Automatic sleeving and end load carton machines can greatly reduce packaging times and provide consistency. Sleeving and cartoning machines are available in fully automatic formats to eliminate multiple steps that come with manual packing from folding and gluing and packing. Automatic sleeving and end load carton machines can support multiple packaging formats including trays and pots of any shape.

At Crawford Packaging, we use a lineup of Keymac Packaging Systems’ automatic sleeving and end load cartoning machines to find you the right machine! Learn about our suppliers and why we partner with them:

Keymac Packaging Systems:

Keymac Packaging Systems’ automatic sleeving machines and Crawford Packaging have been in partnership since 2021 supplying a wide range of eco-friendly automatic sleeving and end load cartoning machines. Our partnership with Keymac started when Crawford was searching for a paper solution that reduces overall packaging while still providing a fully marketable solution for consumers.

KEYMAC

Automated Mailer Equipment

Automated order fulfillment has seen a huge rise in demand with the rapid growth of e-commerce. Human error while packaging orders is the number one problem for fulfillment issues. Automated mailer systems are available in fully automatic formats to reduce human error and save costs in materials and labour.

At Crawford Packaging, we use a lineup of BVM Brunner automated mailer machines to find you the right automatic packaging machine for your business! Learn about our suppliers and why we partner with them:

BVM Brunner:

BVM Brunner automated mailer systems and Crawford Packaging have been in partnership since 2003 supplying a wide range of automatic order fulfillment machines. Our partnership with BVM Brunner started when Crawford was looking to solve order fulfillment issues that came with the growth of e-commerce as well as save material and labour costs.

BVM BRUNNER

Case Sealer and Erector Equipment

Automatic case sealers and automatic case erectors go hand in hand within the secondary packaging process. One is responsible for assembling the cardboard boxes, and the other is responsible for sealing the products within the boxes. Automatic case erecting and case sealing machines are available in fully automatic formats.

At Crawford Packaging, we use a lineup of Loveshaw, also known as Little David, automatic case erecting and case sealing machines to find you the right automatic packaging equipment for your business! Learn about our suppliers and why we partner with them:

Loveshaw:

Loveshaw automatic case erecting and case sealing machines and Crawford Packaging have been in partnership since 2010 supplying a wide range of automatic case sealing and erecting machines. Our partnership with Loveshaw continued when Crawford acquired Provincial Packaging as they were the preferred case assembler and sealer supplier.

 
LOVESHAW

Void Fill Equipment

Void fill machines are one of the most important players in secondary packaging as they ensure products arrive to consumers in perfect condition. Void fill machines are available in bubble wrap, air pillow, and paper packaging formats. These machines are available in fully automatic formats to reduce the need for large amounts of labour and reduce material costs.

At Crawford Packaging, we use a lineup of Sealed Air® void fill machines to find you the right automatic protective packaging machine for your business! Learn about our suppliers and why we partner with them:

Sealed Air®:

Sealed Air® void fill machines and Crawford Packaging have been in partnership for over a decade supplying a wide range of void fill packaging machines. Our partnership with Sealed Air® continued when Crawford acquired other Sealed Air® distributors strengthening our offerings of Sealed Air® products.

SEALED AIR®

Automated Strapping Equipment

Automatic strapping machines can be integrated into your packaging lines to improve efficiency, increase throughput, and reduce the risk of employee strain. Strapping machines are available in both semi-automatic and fully automatic formats. Automated strapping machines are known to use bands of flat steel or plastic tightened around a package or pallet of goods and fasten together to secure the package.

At Crawford Packaging, we use a lineup of Wulftec and Reisopack strapping machines to find you the right automated strapping wrapper for your business! Learn about our suppliers and why we partner with them:

Wulftec:

Wulftec automated strapping machines and Crawford have been since 2000 supplying automatic strapping machines. Our partnership with Wulftec started after we learned Wulftec is a top supplier to key Balpex Members. As members of Balpex and a distributor in the Industrial market, our presence with Wulftec automated strapping machines grew.

 
 
WULFTEC

Reisopack:

Reisopack automated strapping machines and Crawford have been in partnership for several years supplying both automatic strapping machines as well as semi-automatic strapping machines. Our partnership with Reisopack started after we learned they are manufactured in Spain giving them a large global presence.

 
 
REISOPACK

Contact Crawford Packaging

Could automated packaging be your next addition? Contact us today and schedule a free packaging consultation with one of our highly trained and knowledgeable Packaging Specialists. Our Specialist will visit your packaging facility and work with you to identify areas that could be improved through the addition of automation.

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