The products, a packer and pallet unwrapper from Danish equipment manufacturer Varo Machinery, are now available for the first time in the UK.

Varo’s packing machine, available as the single-line E-com 900 or double-line E-com 1800, can pack up to 900 ready-to-ship products per hour - and claims a saving of 50% on material costs for most products.

Martin Howells, UK sales manager for Friedheim’s packaging division, said: “The new Varo range of equipment will be a great benefit to all our existing and new customers.

“The Varo E-Com Packer will allow our e-commerce customers an alternative to the existing box closing or lidding machines available in the market at present. 

“The immediate 50% minimum saving on cardboard consumption and the impressive speeds of up to 1,800 packs per hour will reduce packaging costs and help with the labour shortage issues, experienced by everyone at present.”

The reduction in packaging cost has been achieved by disregarding typical six-sided (plus flaps) cardboard box design, and instead sandwiching products in creased corrugated cardboard before sealing the sides.

The E-com Packer 900 has been designed to pack up to A3 size with an overall footprint of 2.7x4.1m; the 1800 model, essentially two 900 lines, can run up to A3 on either line separately.

Friedheim has likewise been authorised to distribute Varo’s automatic Pallet Unwrapper. Launched in 2020, the unwrapper can handle pallets up to 2.7m in height, and has two different versions specialising in stable and unstable goods, such as boxes and jerry cans, respectively.

Howells said: “The Varo Pallet Unwrapper is a game changer when it comes to stretch film removal, which can be both time-consuming and at times, hazardous to operators. 

“The system allows customers to reduce breakages, decrease forklift truck movements and removes the stretch film for immediate recycling.”

Friedheim has not yet revealed pricing for the two products.