Feeders and Inspection Systems Enable Enhanced Carton Design At Proteus Packaging

With it’s PacXtra program, Proteus Packaging (www.proteuspackaging.com) has built out capabilities in carton assembly and inspection. As the program has grown to encompass new applications, the packaging supplier has increasingly collaborated with marketers on package design.

“Customers are involving us earlier in the design process, where we find we can help define the scope of the project based on our capabilities,” says Paul Nowak, general manager.

 

The PacXtra program began with rented equipment, to help a pharmaceutical customer with carton insertion of multi-page folded inserts. The customer faced issues ensuring placement of the correct insert.

“We heard our customer’s pain. As we were already creating the carton, we moved to attaching the inserts to the carton in the folding and gluing process and checking for insert presence,” Nowak says.

 

The program soon expanded to include placement and inspection of other package elements including pressure extended content labels and pharmacy cards, as Proteus embarked on equipment investment.

 

The Franklin, WI-based company added an EAM Mini-ST Delta tag applicator and labeler from EAM Inc. (www.eaminc.com) for functions including application of Sensormatic and Checkpoint security tags for electronic article surveillance.

 

An MFT250 Friction Feeder from Multifeeder Technology Inc. (www.multifeeder.com) handles feeding of inserts, coupons, booklets, labels, and cards.

For scanning inspection, Proteus turned to W.H. Leary (www.whleary.com) for combination glue application and detection systems. The Leary solutions are in use for bar code and UV inspection, and metal detection for confirming presence of the security tags.

 

Three insert machines can be caster-rolled to any position on five folder/gluer lines.

Scanners remove the human element with 100% in-line inspection. Working with precision feeding systems, they ensure controlled placement tolerances so as not to cover over critical copy.

 

“These systems take us beyond simple functional package assembly. We discovered the equipment can be put to new purposes, as we collaborate with brands’ marketing teams on package element sizes, design, and placement,” Nowak says.