“Because our customers demand a very clean product, we go to great pains to ensure that our customers are always happy,” says Mrvica, relating that this obsession with cleanliness played a major role in the plant’s selection of a new case-packing machine a couple of years ago to replace its aging, adhesive-based carton sealing system.
Photo courtesy of Cascades Tissue Group
After looking around for a suitable alternative, Mrvica ultimately settled on the fully-automatic, model 3M-Matic 2000rf random case-sealer manufactured by the 3M Equipment and Tapes unit of the St. Paul, Minn.-headquartered manufacturing conglomerate 3M Company.
“While several of the units were already out on customer trials in the U.S., we were the first to be in position to make a sale of this system in North America,” recalls Scott Meehan, sales specialist with 3M Canada Company in London, Ont. “Naturally, and we wanted to make sure that this sale, and all the subsequent sales, would be totally trouble-free.”
Quick Start
Purchased through Richmond Hill, Ont.-based packaging systems distributor Unisource Canada, the case-packer took only three days to install and set up, according to Meehan, but 3M went through great lengths prior to assure Cascades that it would be well-rewarded with flawless machine performance for its leap of faith.
Because Cascades ships its lightweight napkins in a broad variety of case sizes, 3M began commenced a case evaluation to ensure that the 2000rf could in fact accommodate everything sent its way—without any interruptions on the plant’s smooth-running production line.
“The 2000rf unit is chain-driven via a servo motor that allows it to run at high speeds, with three differing case sizes at each stage situated within the framework during operation—with about a three-second trip from indexing gate to exit,” explain Meehan, noting that 3M engineers had to make some custom redesigns to the original model by adding a mid-centering device.
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