The challenge
The use of adhesives at the end of the line is one of the strategies used by companies to minimize their carbon footprint. Not only does it help reduce the use of single-use plastics, but it also improves pallet stability and ensures correct distribution of goods. But not all customers dare to make changes to their manufacturing lines because of the dreaded line stoppages.
Meler approached this project as a process upgrade and managed to integrate an efficient adhesive application system in record time.
Our contribution
What is the configuration of the adhesive application system?
Meler proposed a very simple installation consisting of a Micron+ 5 piston melter with two hoses and two double-acting pneumatic applicators for spiral coating. The trigger control was easily integrated into the customer’s PLC.
The advantages of palletizing with adhesives
The use of adhesives at the end of the line serves a dual purpose: economic and environmental. On the one hand, it saves several layers of pallet shrink-wrapping and on the other, it reduces logistics costs.
In addition, we could talk about a third objective: the adhesion between the packs, whether boxes or batches of products, strengthens the rows of the pallet as it gains height. Safety is also gained. The pallet behaves as a block and risks for operators are reduced.
Joaquín Cebrián, maintenance manager at the Manantiales del Piedra water bottling plant, was convinced and contacted Meler to integrate an adhesive application system at the end of one of its 1.5L water bottling lines.
The bottling line has a high production and makes 4-high pallets with 28 batches of 6 bottles. The pallet weight exceeds 250 kg. The associated logistical difficulties are obvious and Manantiales de Piedra needed to give an innovative answer to this problem.
With the application of two small simultaneous spiralizations at four points of the bottle pack, excellent results have been achieved. And, as the best way to demonstrate this is with an image, we invite you to check the results in the following video.
Impact
- Reduction of 500-600 grams of plastic to shrink wrap per pallet
- Reduced risk in load handling
- Improved distribution quality
