Position: This page describes a packaging machine manufactured by Xertrex which can improve the production for Tabbies.
When Xertrex, a stationery manufacturer based in Illinois, USA, wanted to improve the image of its packaging and speed up its packaging processes it turned to automated packaging systems, producers of the Autobag range of bags and bagging machinery.
Xertrex manufactures a range of indexing and labelling tabs under the Tabbies brand and these were packed, by hand, in 10s, 20s and 50s into plain plastic bags.
Rich Stanley from Xertrex explains: "Our problems were two-fold.
Firstly the bagging process was labour intensive and it was creating a 'bottle-neck'.
Secondly, the pack was plain and unsuitable for the retail market.
We were previously using centre fold bagging machines that were slow and inflexible and produced a ragged looking pack.
"By using two Autobag Sprint packaging machines and pre-printed bags from APS we have improved our overall packaging operation, saving time and money.
Furthermore we now have a good looking bag, perforated for customers' ease of use and complete with header and hanger hole which is totally suitable for display in-store and at the point-of-sale.
Xertrex use the Sprint machines with a friction feeder which counts the products into the required quantities and fires them vertically into the bags at up to 56 bags per minute.
When required the Sprint can also be used with additional manual operators.
The addition of an Autobag Precision thermal transfer printer means that additional information such as product codes and stock numbers can be overprinted accurately onto the bags during the bagging process, totally eliminating the need for further print runs.
Rich Stanley continued: "Thanks to Sprint we can now pack up to 320,000 bags a month.
The packaging machine is a great success.
Sprint has opened up the bottle-neck and by saving time and manpower we save money.
The previous system only produced 12 bags per minute and required the inclusion of a hand-filled separately printed card.
Robin Hill, APS Product Manager, said: "Sprint provided the ideal solution for Xertrex's need.
It is faster and easier to set up than their previous packaging machinery, and has a number of standard features which make it more reliable and effective.
It also offers greater flexibility and speed, especially in terms of product changeover, and is easier for operators to use.
Sprint can be used with a wide range of Autobags, including a recently introduced minigrip re-sealable option.
The bags can be pre-printed in up to five colours with print coverage to the edge of the bag.
They can also be supplied with reinforced headers plus a wide range of punched holes, Euroslots and 'easy-open' perforations.
Each Sprint system is backed by a comprehensive range of technical, application and on-site support services under APS' Total packaging systems Approach to packaging, thus ensuring complete customer peace of mind.
Tips: A quality packaging controller is impotant to the work of packaging machines.
