Created by Macfarlane’s Innovation Lab team, the new patent-pending system has been designed to increase operational productivity by reducing manual box assembly times from 10 seconds to less than three.
The packaging equipment will be made-to-order for Macfarlane customers and works with Macfarlane-exclusive box designs that have been optimised to provide more performance strength while using less material – increasing pallet fill and reducing transportation costs and CO2e [carbon dioxide equivalent].
The 3D printed units can quickly assemble boxes up to 400x300mm, with variable options on depth, making the system suitable for online and multichannel retailers packing a high volume of small parcel size packages. Combined with Macfarlane’s optimised box design, the company said the system provides an affordable alternative to using crash-lock boxes.
Richard Garratt, head of design at Macfarlane Packaging, said: “With an increasing number of businesses trying to balance the complexities of supply chain efficiency and operational cost reduction alongside sustainability, this is a potential gamechanger for some Macfarlane customers.
“The rapid box assembly system and exclusive box designs were developed at our Innovation Labs and represent an opportunity for customers to reduce pack times, reduce costs, cut material use, and lower overall CO2e associated with their packaging.”
Glasgow-headquartered Macfarlane Packaging opened its second packaging Innovation Lab at its flagship Northwest Regional Distribution Centre in Heywood, near Manchester, earlier this year to build on the success of its first facility in Milton Keynes, which opened in 2016.
In April, Macfarlane Group acquired A & G Holdings Ltd, owner of protective packaging distributor Gottlieb Packaging Materials.
