Case Sealers

FAQ: Case Sealers

• What is a case sealer?

  A case sealer is a kind of equipment used for closing or sealing corrugated boxes. These highly efficient machines, available in semi-automated and fully automated types, expedite the case sealing process. With fully automatic case sealers—offered by INSITE Packaging Automation—operators are not required to participate in the case sealing process, as all functions can be completely automated.

  Case sealers are known by many names such as case sealing machines, case sealing systems, case sealing conveyors, case sealing equipment and automatic case sealer machines. These machines are also called carton sealers, carton sealing machines, carton box sealers, carton sealing equipment, carton sealing tape machines, carton top sealers, automatic carton sealers, automatic carton sealer machines and automatic carton sealing machines.

  Still others refer to this type of equipment as cardboard box sealers, cardboard box sealing machines, box sealers, box sealer machines and box sealing machines. Furthermore, many refer to case sealers by other names such as packing sealing machines, packing sealers, packaging sealer machines, sealer packaging machines, sealing machines for packaging, top seal packaging machines, tape sealing machines and tape case sealers. Finally, case sealers are also sometimes called packaging solutions, packaging equipment and packaging machinery.

  It’s clear that case sealers have earned a lot of names over the years. If your business is searching for the best case sealer, we at INSITE Packaging Automation believe you’ll find exceptional value and extraordinary design in our high-speed case sealers.

• Are INSITE’s case sealers fully automatic case sealers?

  Yes, INSITE’s case sealers qualify as fully automatic case sealers. Additionally, because of the speed ranges they’re capable of, our auto case erectors may be referred to as high-speed case sealers.

• How do I determine “machine hand”?

  INSITE determines machine hand by standing on the operator, or HMI, side of the machine and observing the direction cases travel. If a case blank moves from right to left as it’s erected and sealed, you are looking at a left-hand machine. If the case blank moves from left to right as it’s erected and sealed, you are looking at a right-hand machine. (See diagram.)

• Does 'case hand' matter with INSITE’s case sealers?

  No. INSITE’s fully automatic carton sealing machines can run left- and right-hand cases.

• What type of hot-melt glue does INSITE recommend?

  INSITE Packaging Automation recommends HB Fuller Advantra PHC 9256.

• How do I configure a case sealer, and what options are available?

  Our Get a Quote page will walk you through the fast and easy configuration process.

• What is the cost of a sealing machine from INSITE?

  Go to our Get a Quote page to learn the case sealing machine price for INSITE Packaging Automation’s two models of case sealers. (Note that this machine type is also sometimes mistakenly referred to as a carton sealing machine, so, although you may search for a carton sealing machine price, what you may really need is a case sealing machine price.) This page will walk you through the configuration process and provide you a box sealing machine price for your configuration. Our carton sealing machine prices are tailored according to your configuration specifications.

• Can I buy INSITE products through a local agent or distributor?

  Yes. If your agent or distributor is willing to purchase and resell our case sealers to you, they are free to do so.

• Why is INSITE so open with its information?

  We want to respect our customers’ time. Operating with openness, transparency and accessibility is the best way to do that. It’s also a simple way for our customers to benefit from our resources so we can spend more of our time investing in the development of even better products at better prices for you.

• Does INSITE customize its products?

  NSITE Packaging Automation’s price points are made possible by our dedication to utilizing standardized parts, components and manufacturing processes. If you need a unique packaging solution, we, as a trailblazing case sealer machine manufacturer (referred to in some parts of the country as a carton sealer machine manufacturer), are pleased to explore the development of a custom case sealer to match your business’ expectations. Our stated price points and lead times, however, may no longer apply.

• What is the lead-time for an INSITE product?

  INSITE Packaging Automation makes every effort to achieve market-acceptable lead times on all our product deliveries. We anticipate 6- to 8-week lead times, depending on the product configuration requested. In many cases, these machines—standard or standard-with-options models—will be stocked and ready to ship in as little as 3 to 4 weeks.

• What are the possible operating configurations for the sealers?

  Four case sealer configurations are available:

  • Left-hand glue
  • Left-hand tape
  • Right-hand glue
  • Right-hand tape

  Depending on the model, our case sealers are rated to operate up to 30 cases per minute.

• What are the physical dimensions of the sealers?

  6.9’ long x 2.7’ wide (82.8” x 32.4”).

• What case size ranges can INSITE’s carton sealers run?

  Minimum: 8.0” (L) x 6.0” (W) x 5.0” (D)
  Maximum: 22.0” (L) x 16.0” (W) x 16.0” (D)

• How many change points require adjustment during case sealer changeovers?

  INSITE’s case sealers require 8 points of change totaling 2 to 4 minutes per changeover..

• What are the power requirements of INSITE’s box sealing machines?

  480V 3Ø, 60 HZ.

• What are the air requirements for INSITE’s automatic case sealer machines?

  70 PSI.

• What makes INSITE’s case sealer different from competing products?

  INSITE Packaging Automation’s case sealers are unique in the number of features and amount of functionality that they offer at this price point. Other packaging sealing machine suppliers might be able to include major flap containment, HMI controls, spring-loaded side belts and full-length guard doors with their packing sealing machines, but the cost of these products may well exceed the cost of INSITE’s products.

• Why are case sealers sometimes referred to as carton sealers?

  As mentioned earlier, case sealers are often referred to by many different names. For seasoned professionals in the secondary packaging industry, confusion may occur over use of the term “carton” and related terms such as carton sealers, carton sealing machine, carton box sealer, carton sealing equipment, carton sealing tape machine, carton top sealer, heavy-duty carton sealer and automatic carton sealer machine.

  Although “boxes” and “cartons” are sometimes used interchangeably, the reality is that these two products feature key differences. Boxes are constructed from corrugated fiberboard, also widely referred to as corrugated cardboard or corrugated board. Corrugated fiberboard is thicker than the material used to make cartons. Corrugated fiberboard comprises multiple layers of paper along with a fluted interior layer. Cartons are constructed from paperboard, which is generally a single-ply construction and thinner than cardboard but thicker than paper.

  One could consider boxes to be made from rugged materials that could be safely shipped whereas cartons are made to contain, for example, lightweight products such as cereal and trash bags but could not withstand the rigors of shipping.

  Carton sealer machine manufacturers are actually erecting paperboard carton material. Thus, INSITE Packaging Automation’s case sealers are technically not carton sealers or carton sealing machines. INSITE’s box sealers and box tapers (other common names for case sealers) seal cases made from corrugated material.