Paper void fill isn’t new but these systems are.
Paper has been used in packaging for decades. It’s not new. But there is some new innovation that may change your business. Whether you run a low-volume station that hasn't justified a machine before, or manage thousands of packs per day needing layout optimization, modern converter systems offer massive gains.
Ranpak pioneered using paper for packaging and we’re going to touch on a couple newer systems of theirs.
Decision Tower - Combining A.I. with the packaging process.
The Ranpak DecisionTower is a unique 2D/3D vision system that inspects packages to dispense the appropriate amount of void fill and determine if there are any package faults that need diverted away from the pack line. Its benefits are twofold - maximizing line efficiency & providing data-driven insights to help make better business decisions.
Quick note, I touched on the iTrack System from IPG in my last newsletter — how it can not only increase throughput but also track and analyze data to help maintain optimal efficiency. Utilizing both the iTrack and DecisionTower is a powerful duo of increased throughput and data & analytics to help your operation stay ahead of increaseing demand and/or a changing SKU mix.
Most unplanned downtime is caused by out-of-scope boxes. The DecisionTower will:
Scan & dispense the proper amount of void fill.
Eliminate damages due to inadequate protection.
Eliminate costs due to overpackaging.
Flag/Re-route “faulty” boxes to prevent downstream issues and downtime.
Improperly oriented boxes that would jam in a case sealer.
Overfilled boxes that would jam a case sealer.
Oversized boxes….if nothing else, cost more to use and to ship.
Out-of-scope flaps that wouldn’t close properly.
Identify and re-route parcels shipping in their own container (SIOC).
Do you rely on your operator’s anecdotal or best guesses to make packaging changes? The DecisionTower will:
Track data on void levels for compliance checks & improving packaging.
Record throughput, error rates, and processed vs. rejected.
Learn from statistics on out-of-scope boxes. Fundamentally important for operational improvements.
Perhaps most importantly, it will take pictures of each pack. No guessing about your order accuracy.
Rising DIM weight costs, mysterious case sealer jams, inconsistency due to high turnerover, or a material consumption growing faster than your actual order volume?
These are just a few things that the DecisionTower can address in your business. Turning guesswork into measurable performance.
FillPak Mini - low volume or tight space system
OK, maybe the Decision Tower looks a little overkill for you. And to be fair, it’s in conjunction with an actual paper convertor. More of an add-on.
Maybe you don’t have the space for traditional void fill units or you’ve just never looked at any automation and your team is hand tearing & stuffing paper in boxes. Well, the FillPak Mini from Ranpak may be the solution.
Why not manually tear and stuff paper?
If you’ve looked at paper system before, perhaps you found that the price of the paper was more than if you just bought rolls or even pre-cut sheets. I’ve heard that before….from tiny operations to big DC’s churning thousands of packages per day. It’s fair but glosses over inherent inefficiencies:
Poor ergonomics.
Slower packing speeds.
Higher material consumption (manually stuffing paper from a roll almost always leads to overpacking).
Value of the FillPak Mini:
Space Savings: Other void fill systems, whether air pillow or paper systems, are large and require their own stand and/or hopper. The Mini measures at 11.2”x12.2”x8.3” fitting almost anywhere. Even less space than required to tear off of a roll.
Variable Dispensing Methods: On demand/customized length, batch run, and EDS (always presents a pre-determined length of paper) modes available.
Reduced Packaging Cost: Pre-crumpled paper and pre-set paper lengths eliminate operator over-dispensing & over-packing.
Reliability: The Mini is a simple machine with little that can go wrong. But hey! If it does, both FlexPAC and RanPak have techs who will be out quickly to fix or replace it.
If space is tight or you have a growing parcel business that’s less than 100packs/day per pack station, the Mini may be a big improvement and bottom line improvement.
Want to learn more?
If you have questions, want to learn more, or maybe you’re want to explore your void fill application(s), let me know! You can reply to this email, book a conversation here, or reach out to me at the info below.
(812)244-9393 & [email protected]
If you found this insightful, please feel free to share with others - they can subscribe here. You can also view past newsletters at the same link.