The Instapak® ROI Packaging System Improves Productivity And Requires Less Supervision

DANBURY, CONN. (Nov. 7, 2004) - Sealed Air’s Instapak® Reduced Operator Interface (ROI) packaging system reduces labor costs because less operator supervision is required. Operators can program the system to produce a range of different cushion designs, and save the custom configurations to automatically reproduce the engineered packaging with the touch of a button.

The Instapak® ROI system can be used with a variety of Instapak® foam formulations. When using the quick-setting Instapak® GFlex® QS foam, the ROI packaging system can produce up to four foam molds per minute. The GFlex® QS foam’s unique physical characteristics create high-performance cushions using minimal material, allowing for an overall reduction in package size.

The ROI system’s main component is a two station molding apparatus that shuttles back and forth under a SpeedyPacker® III foam-in-bag packaging system. While the first molding box is under the SpeedyPacker® system, a foam-filled bag is dispensed between the open mold door and the mold cavity. The mold cavity vacuum is activated and the foam-filled bag is drawn into the mold cavity. Then the mold door on the first box closes, the vacuum turns off and the molding apparatus shifts to the left, and the process is repeated with the second box. After the foam cushion in the first box has formed, the mold door opens, the blower in the mold cavity is activated and the finished foam cushion is forced out of the mold cavity onto the conveyor below. The conveyor takes the foam cushion to a collection bin where it is stored until needed. Since less operator supervision is needed with the Instapak® ROI system, employees can be allocated to different areas in the company.

Due to the system’s relatively small footprint and the compact size of the packaging supplies used for the Instapak® ROI packaging system, warehouse space for packaging operations is reduced. This allows facilities to use their warehouse space for more product storage. In addition, the foam molds can be made in advance and used when needed, providing a just-in-time approach to packaging.

The Instapak® ROI packaging system is ideal for producing foam cushions for manufacturing facilities that produce mixed models of products such as air conditions, alloy wheels and computers.