A packaging machine for candles of various sizes

The Multipacker combines all operations in a single line
Packaging development from Schubert
Automation ensures gentle, secure product handling

HIGHER PACKAGING QUALITY AND FAST FORMAT CHANGES FOR CANDLES

SER Wax Industry opts for an end-to-end packaging solution from Schubert

Known for its Price’s premium candles, SER Wax Industry is one of Buckingham Palace’s hand-picked court purveyors. The candles not only contribute to a welcoming atmosphere at receptions, celebrations and royal ceremonies, they are also popular for more everyday occasions. Candles in glass jars are especially practical and appealing, as they leave no wax on the tablecloth and do not immediately go out in the wind. For shipping these products, a TLM Multipacker now combines all packaging operations in a single line. Schubert has also optimised the carton packaging for automation.

In Santena, Italy, a short distance from the city of Turin, SER Wax Industry produces and processes waxes for a wide range of sectors, including premium candles in jars. Until now, the manufacturer has packed these products painstakingly by hand. In the past, in addition to the time-consuming manual work, the various and at times double-glued cardboard versions had resulted in high costs in the past. The customer benefitted from Schubert’s expertise in automation to make these tasks more efficient and simpler. The objectives were clear right from the outset: a packaging machine with more output, higher packaging quality and fast format changes, along with reduced costs, no manual packaging tasks and secure packaging for both the small and large glass containers.

HOW DOES THE SOLUTION MEET THE REQUIREMENT?

A packaging machine that flexibly combines different packaging operations in a single line

At the beginning of the project, the Schubert packaging developers revised and optimised the packaging. Instead of various cardboard versions, only flat blanks are now used. The experts implemented a machine-compatible, secure and cost-effective cardboard packaging with only one system for all formats – from beverage glass sizes to the size of preserving jars. The complexity of the packaging process was considerably reduced by using only one carton system for all formats. This is another reason why the format changeover takes only ten to 20 minutes.

The robot-supported line packs six different product formats and 13 different carton formats over a length of eleven metres. It consists of six TLM frames equipped with a total of six F2 robots and three F3 robots. The Transmodul developed by Schubert connects the individual packaging processes with each other.

The combination of the newly developed carton packaging and robot-based machine technology makes the SER Wax automation solution exceptionally efficient, powerful and reliable.

We succeeded in implementing machine-compatible, secure and cost-effective cardboard packaging with a single system for all formats – from beverage glass sizes to the size of preserving jars.

Dirk Andrich

AREA SALES MANAGER AT SCHUBERT

TECHNICAL DETAILS

The Multipacker consists of six sub-machines

The jars are loaded onto a conveyor and gently grouped at defined intervals by means of a large, horizontal screw conveyor. Then comes the first packaging step where the smaller jars are individually inserted into cardboard sleeves. The sleeves are needed to protect the jars as well as for marketing purposes. The flat blanks are taken from the magazine by an F3 robot, erected and positioned on the Transmodul so that the F2 robot can place the jars precisely into them. A glue line is then applied to each sleeve and an F2 robot completes the primary packaging by centring and compressing the glue line. Large jars are not packed in sleeves but are pre-grouped with the aid of a special separating cardboard and then further processed.

In the second segment of the line, the robots place three prepared candles into cardboard trays. The trays can then either be covered individually or two trays can be combined under one lid and sealed. This creates stable cartons of 3 or 6 candles that can be easily stacked.

With small jars, the Multipacker achieves an output of up to 105 jars per minute or 35 packages per minute (3-count cartons) or 17.5 packages per minute (6-count cartons). With the larger candles, an output of 45 jars, or 15 packages per minute (3-count cartons) is achieved.