Filling, capping & packing machine manufacturer · Shanghai, China

Case erector guide: automatic box and carton erectors explained

How a case erector forms and bottom-seals corrugated cases, tape vs hot melt, magazine size, speed and how to choose an automatic carton erector or box former.

Short answer: A case erector takes flat corrugated cases (knocked-down boxes) from a magazine, opens them into a square box, folds the bottom flaps and seals them with tape or hot melt glue, ready for packing. It replaces one or two operators folding and taping boxes by hand. Choose by case size range, cases per minute, sealing method and magazine capacity.
Case erector — illustrative image
Illustrative image. See the linked product pages for photos and specifications of the actual machines.

How a case erector works

  1. An operator loads flat cases into the magazine.
  2. Vacuum cups pull the front case and open it into a rectangle.
  3. Folders close the minor and then the major bottom flaps.
  4. The case passes over a tape head (or hot melt guns) that seals the bottom.
  5. The open-top case exits onto the conveyor to the packing station.

Our case erectors

ModelCase size rangeSpeed
NK650 automatic case erector & bottom sealerL 270–650 × W 190–500 × H 150–500 mm15–30 cartons/min
DK500 compact case erectorL 280–500 × W 150–400 × H 150–400 mm5–15 cartons/min
LG350 airplane box folding & erecting machineMailer (airplane) boxes L 100–350 mmSmall e-commerce boxes

Tape or hot melt?

Tape is clean, simple and easy to change; it suits most shipping cases. Hot melt glue gives a neater look and is common on high-speed lines, but needs a glue unit and more maintenance. Both models above seal with tape.

Vertical or horizontal magazine

A long horizontal magazine holds more blanks so the operator refills less often. Compact erectors use shorter magazines to save floor space — fine for lower speeds.

Changing case size

Adjustable erectors are changed with hand wheels and scales in a few minutes. If you run many case sizes per day, ask for position counters to make changeovers repeatable.

Is a case erector worth it?

Forming and taping cases by hand takes roughly a person per few cases per minute, and hand-taped bottoms are inconsistent. At 5 cases per minute or more, an automatic case erector usually pays back quickly and gives square cases that run reliably through the case packer and carton sealer.

Questions and answers

What is the difference between a case erector and a case former?

They mean the same machine: it forms flat corrugated cases into boxes and seals the bottom. “Box erector” and “carton erector” are also used.

How fast is an automatic case erector?

Our NK650 lists 15–30 cartons per minute and the compact DK500 5–15 cartons per minute.

Can a case erector handle different box sizes?

Yes, within its range, by adjusting guides and the magazine. Changeover takes minutes on adjustable models.

Does a case erector seal the top of the box?

No. The top is sealed after packing by a carton sealer.

Related buying guides

PreviousCase packer guide: robotic, wrap-around and drop case packers

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