Alta offers an alternative

ITALIAN end-of-line manufacturer Alta Meccaniche, a division of Ave Industries, has launched a range of wraparound carton packing machines to replace the 'American' pre-shaped shipping case. The Alta wraparound system is able to form the case around the contents, such as bottles, with fewer machine functions than the traditional case, making it possible to adapt to many configurations and shape changes.

ITALIAN end-of-line manufacturer Alta Meccaniche, a division of Ave Industries, has launched a range of wraparound carton packing machines to replace the 'American' pre-shaped shipping case. The Alta wraparound system is able to form the case around the contents, such as bottles, with fewer machine functions than the traditional case, making it possible to adapt to many configurations and shape changes. In operation, flat case blanks are fed vertically from a magazine, for initial erection, with three sides opened into a 'J' shape configuration determined by the case creases. After a collation of bottles is side loaded into it, the fourth side of the case, on the long side of the 'J', is folded over the tops the bottles, and the side flaps folded and glued to complete the enclosure. Operating at speeds of 1,000-1,200 packs/hour, the company is currently working on a faster model, with speeds up to 2,500 packs/hour. The UK branch of Ave Industries, the new name for Officine Ave, is based in Farnham, Surrey.