Folder-Gluer Machines: How to Choose The Right One For You?

Have you been thinking about buying a folder-gluer machine? 

You feel ready to buy a folder-gluer machine, but you are still a bit confused as to what you should consider before buying a folder-gluer? 

Don't worry, we're here to help!

To choose the right folder-gluer machine you need to evaluate your production needs and then choose the right folder-gluer model based on those needs.

Hi! Hani Hallal here from IMPACK packaging.  

For the last 2 years, I’ve sat down with some of the most experienced experts in the packaging industry. Recently, we’ve had the privilege to sit down with Mario Persechino, one of the most respected names in the folding gluing industry with more than 40 years of experience, to talk all about folder-gluers. 

This article will help you understand what questions you need to ask yourself when purchasing a folder-gluer machine.  

Plus, I will walk you through, step-by-step, how to rationalize your decision-making process when buying a folder-gluer.

How Do I Choose The Right Folder-Gluer?

You are new in the packaging industry, and you’ve set out to find the best folder-gluer machine for you.

The only problem is you are not quite sure what you should be asking yourself before buying one.

We understand, everyone starts off where you are.

When choosing the right folder-gluer, you have to determine your company's needs and ask yourself “why exactly do I need a folder-gluer machine?”

Your answer will fall into one of the two options:

1. Volume-based needs.
2. Format-centric needs.

Each option requires a particular set of rationalizing and will guide your decision.

1. Volume-Based Needs

If you asked yourself “why do I need to buy a folder-gluer” and your answer was along the lines of: “I need to produce millions of set boxes per month” or anything similar, then your folding gluing needs are what we consider volume-based needs.

In simpler words, your company must produce high amounts of boxes on a regular basis.

If that’s the case, then the best way to organize your production process will be to have a couple of automated folder-gluer machines constantly producing boxes on a roll every day.

Automated folder-gluers greatly reduce the set-up process and require only one operator for the entirety of the production. Their automated advantages make them easy to use if you assign one format per machine. Buying a couple of different automated folder-gluers allows you to produce different boxes at the same time and at a high volume every day.

All volume-based companies must make sure to take note of these two things, however:

1. You need space: folder-gluers are not compact, if your production needs are volume-based, then you will need to make sure you have ample space in your factory for more than one folder-gluer.
2. You must maintain your folder-gluers: A well-maintained folder-gluer can last up to 30 years running smoothly. However, high-volume production companies sometimes neglect the constant maintenance of their folder-gluers especially when they are constantly in production. The better you maintain your folder-gluer machine, the longer it will run.

2. Format-Centric Needs

If you asked yourself “why do I need to buy a folder-gluer” and your answer was something along the lines of “I will need to produce a handful of different kinds of boxes for the foreseeable future” then your company needs are format centric.

The difference between these two options may be hard to initially grasp, but the format-centric needs option is based on two things:

1. Your project does not demand you to produce millions of boxes per month, (although you can).
2. Your projects usually each require the production of different box formats every time.

You see, volume-based needs will have projects that require similar if not the same box formats across the year.

However, most companies will have projects that require the production of different box formats every time.

This means that although a company may produce many boxes per month, its production focus isn’t primarily on the production volume of the same box every month.

Instead, their folder-gluers will require their machine to be adjusted differently for each project because each project will produce a different box format.

Therefore, you will need an easily adjustable folder-gluer, and in this case, semi-automated folder-gluers are a better fit for you.

Semi-automated folder-gluers can be adjusted to produce any of the 300 standard box formats in the industry. Honestly, you can fashion your semi-automated folder-gluer to produce any box your imagination can think of.

Although semi-automated folder-gluers require a good amount of set-up time, in the end, it doesn’t really matter because you are not in the business of producing large quantities of similar box formats. What matters to you is fulfilling your project by producing the number of boxes you were supposed to with quality and care.

Your goal is to produce the box format that is required for your project and having one or two semi-automated folder-gluers will allow you to do that efficiently and with the utmost quality assurance.

So, Are You Ready to Invest in a Folder-Gluer?

Now that you have determined what your company needs are, you are probably asking yourself, “am I ready to invest in a folder-gluer?”

Your Next Steps:

1. If you’re still looking to know more before moving forward make sure you've considered these 3 things before making your purchase.
2. Buying a new folder-gluer machine may not be the best solution for you, but instead investing in packaging equipment may improve your productivity. 
3. And finally, if you’re looking for ways to improve your folder-gluer productivity without investing a dollar, here are the Top 5 Ways to Improving Folder-Gluer Productivity with Zero Investment