In-house control of challenging packaging for Glasstops

Glasstops UK are a Norwich based manufacturing and processing company producing almost anything in flat glass. From table-top protectors through mirrors coloured worktops, delivered nationwide.
Up until recently orders ready for despatch were packaged in wooden crates, individually tailored to the product being shipped. Whilst this was safe, it was a costly and time-consuming way to manage their outgoing deliveries. Glasstops managing director, Daniel Dunwoody- Kneafsey, heard from industry colleagues that cardboard could be a viable alternative packaging material. A google search of “bespoke boxmaking” took them to Youtube videos of an AutoBox machine in action. Impressed they visited the manufacturing site in Houghton Regis for a demonstration (in the pre-Christmas period before lockdown).

For the demonstration, KOLBUS AutoBox produced a number of bespoke boxes that represented Glasstops actual product sizes. Taking them back to Norwich a glass table top was then shipped from Norwich to South Wales, and then back again. The products arrived back in Norwich having sustained no damage at all. Dunwoody-Kneafsey said: “at one point we decided to literally throw the package around on our concrete floor to test its durability. The product was absolutely fine”.

Suitably impressed Glasstops UK ordered a KOLBUS AutoBox BOXER BX200 and Table feeder TF200. KOLBUS UK were able to deliver and install the machines last month. Installation was completed on day one with the first boxes being made by day two.
Dunwoody-Kneafsey commented: “Moving from timber to corrugated transforms our business. Even though our volumes aren’t huge the turnaround time and cost saved, compared to timber, offers us a rapid ROI.

Arran Sethi, KOLBUS UK sales manager, said: “Some of Glasstop products are 3,500 mm long by 1,500 mm wide and 50 mm tall, very awkward sizes. Very often they would need just one bespoke box at a time. Our KOLBUS AutoBox BOXER machine can set jobs remotely. It does not need an operator at the machine. The table feeder will auto feed the sheets and out pops the box ready to be used. It is so simple and efficient.

The KOLBUS AutoBox BOXER is an ideal solution for companies like Glassttops UK that need exact sized boxes as and when they are required. They are a typical end-user customer where a lot of their manufacturing process is automated and on demand. The BOXER follows this mould. It is set up within 60 seconds to produce a bespoke size or style or grade of box. There is minimal manual interaction”.