Is a New Folder-Gluer the Solution to My Problem?

Many box manufacturers believe that buying a new folder-gluer is the solution to increase their productivity.

But it may not always be the right solution for you.

The first step is to identify what’s stopping you from reaching the productivity levels you want to achieve.

In other words, where is the bottleneck taking place?

Is it at the gluing, packing, or feeding stage(s)?

Once identified, the second step is to collect data on your production and work methods.

In this article, we will help you identify where your bottleneck is in your production line, and then we will help you find alternative ways to resolve it.

Is Buying a New Folder-Gluer a Bad Decision?

It is important to know that buying a folder-gluer is never a simple decision to make.

You need to make sure of the following:

You need space in your factory, which is not always easy to make.

You need another operator — with the current decrease in manpower in the industry, it is difficult to find new personnel.

You need to train those operators which are time-consuming.

You need other workers around the packing stations as well.

You see, adding a new folder-gluer is not an overnight decision you can make, since these are factors that may hinder your ability to buy and use a new folder-gluer to reach higher productivity.

Let’s look at the other options for you.

How Can I Increase My Output & Boost My Folder-Gluer’s Productivity?

Let’s single out a thing we need to address first.

Adding more packing staff won’t automatically make your gluer run faster. There's a limit to the number of persons who can pack effectively at the end of the folder-gluer.

Adding packing help/aid machines like the popular Collecting Tables on the market might help but only to a point.

What you need to try to think of is,

Is my folder-gluer the problem?

There are 3 main problems you can face if your folder-gluer is the source of your bottleneck.

Problem 1: Your boxes cannot be glued faster without damaging them.

• Solution: It may be that your folder-gluer is outdated and a new gluer could glue them faster. However, an expert will be needed to analyze whether your folder-gluer is the problem.

Problem 2: Your boxes are well folded and glued but the glue is not sticking as it should.

• Solution: It may be a problem with the glue itself, many clients change the type of glue they use, and find one that offers a quicker and stronger bonding capability. Increasing the speeds can lead to such problems that weren't there before. Ask your glue provider to help you determine the best glue for your needs.

Problem 3: Your boxes are well folded but there is not enough glue or the glue is missing.

• Solution: You could solve this problem with an upgraded glue system if you have an old one. You must make sure that your boxes are well-glued even when your folder-gluer is running at higher speeds. Glue inspection systems and folder-gluer ejection systems also becomes a must to prevent sending rejects to your clients when you increase the folder-gluer speed.

If your issues are not outlined in these 3 problems, then it may be that your folder-gluer bottleneck comes from the packaging stage of your folder-gluer line.

Here are the 2 main problems you will face if your bottleneck is at the packing stage:

Problem 1: Your folder-gluer is not tuned to its most performant level.

The process of tuning a folder-gluer is more akin to craftsmanship than automation. 

• Solution: Increasing the output of your folder-gluer is never as easy as cranking up the speed dial. There are certain steps that you must follow to master your folding-gluing process. Learn about the Top 5 Ways to Boost Your Folder-Gluer Productivity (Zero Investment Required).

Problem 2: You have tuned your folder-gluer to its most performant level, but your packing staff can’t keep up.

So, you have mastered your folding-gluing process but your packing staff can no longer keep up, which means you’ll now have to decrease your folder-gluer speed to a speed that your packers can keep up with.

This is a very common problem and one that may be inevitable. In this case, buying a new folder-gluer is not necessarily the right choice but rather investing in packaging equipment may be the right solution for you. 

What Are My Next Steps?

Breaking down your bottleneck is not an easy task we understand, you might be looking to learn more about your options and more about the problems that you are facing.

The following resources below explore all of these things and more:

How to Maximize Your Folder-Gluer’s Productivity

Top 5 Ways to Boost Your Folder-Gluer Productivity (Zero Investment Required)

Top 7 Ways to Improve Your Folder-Gluer Productivity With Investing