Tool supplier chooses print and pack system

With so many different items of varying sizes and shapes, packaging was a laborious at a tool supplier, until the company invested in a 'print and pack' system.

Automated Packaging Systems, world leaders in high reliability automated packaging systems, has sold its flagship 'print and pack' bagging systems, to Joseph Gleave and Son, a tools, engineering consumables and workshop equipment distributors, marketing a wide range of hand tools, power tools, sealants, tapes and adhesives accounting for some 25,000 line items.

With so many different items of varying sizes and shapes, packaging was a laborious and time-consuming process at Joseph Gleave, and bagging and labelling was a very manual procedure.

Operators would put products into loose bags of a suitable size by hand, tape them and then put a pre-printed label on the bag.

As the company is a significant supplier to the Ministry of Defence, packaging flexibility and standards were also a key issue.

Commenting on the installation, logistics manager, Andy Gibney said, "We chose the Autobag systems based on the high quality of the machinery and the potential time saving in both packaging and labelling.

We are currently testing more of our line items through the machines and are averaging about 3,000 to 4,000 bags per machine per day.

Now I can report that output has increased and we are also saving a significant amount of time on the packaging and labelling operation.

What is more, our pack presentation is much improved and we can easily meet MOD label requirements as a result of the AutoLabel design software which is operator friendly and easy to use," Gibney added.

* Print and pack users on the increase - Automated Packaging Systems also reported that the number of satisfied customers using their Autobag 'Print and Pack' bagging systems has significantly increased during 2005 due to the products' high productivity, high speed, and fully automatic functionality.

The Autobag Print and Pack systems are renowned in the industry for their reliability and ease of use and are used across a wide range of diverse markets, from automotive and appliance parts, hardware to DIY, trade, cosmetics, crafts and disposable health care.

The AB 180 bagging machine is at the heart of the 'Print and Pack' system, and is capable of bagging and sealing at speeds of up to 80 bags/min, with package size changes possible in less than 2 min.

A key product enhancement is its easy to use, large format (25cm) interactive AutoTouch control screen that allows fast recall and set-up, multiple job storage with its high capacity memory and a powerful diagnostic help tool to identify and solve any problems.

Using Autobag pre-formed 'bags-on-a-roll' ensures that bag size changeover is quick and easy, downtime is minimised and pack presentation is consistently high.

To complete the 'Print and Pack' system, the AB 180 is fully integrated with the PI 412c in-line thermal printer for optimum packaging productivity.

This programmable thermal-transfer printing system provides high resolution printing, resulting in clear and high impact labels to include barcodes, graphics and variable text.

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