Welbound used the platform of Bobst Competence ’15 to introduce and promote HotCase 500, a top and bottom case sealer for end-of-the-line packaging. This is the company’s first move into an end-of-the-line packaging solution for sealing transport cartons. The idea behind promoting the machine was to create awareness about the advantages that hotmelt adhesive has over tapes when it comes to packing transport cartons. The usage of tapes is overwhelmingly dominant in the shipping carton packing industry.
According to P Sajith, marketing director, Welbound, the numerous advantages of replacing tapes with glue for shipping cartons are — superior tamper proofing due to visibility of fibre tear; low downtime as gluing is faster; lower operational costs; tape free surface which augments brand promotion; structural rigidity as all flaps are glued together; long-term storage and shipping; sustainability improvement in hotmelts versus tapes to name a few.
In terms of features HotCase 500 has speeds up to 20 cases a minute, and has a Nordson hotmelt dispensing system with optional automatic hotmelt feeding. Moreover, the machine has an interlocking safety shield. “Our core strength is application of adhesive and folding paper and we wanted to expand into a vertical where we could utilize our core skills,” said Sajith while explaining the reason behind entering into an end-of-the-line packaging solutions space. Sajith added that this concept is relatively new in India and has a lot of room for growth.
“Currently a few players in the beverage industry are applying this concept but companies in the FMCG and food industries are still using the traditional method of taping. It will take some time for a large-scale shift to happen but the transition will definitely take place,” Sajith said. “A few machines have been installed at some customers but only on a trial basis.”
