Stelda conducts outbound package trials at PackEx

Case packaging with hotmelt adhesives is catching on with brands in India, thanks to the relentless efforts of Stelda Packaging, an Impel-Bindwel Group company. The company had live demonstrations of what the adhesive case packaging can do at PackEx India held in Mumbai from 14-16 September 2022. 

Pallippuram Sajith, group managing director of Impel-Bindwel, informed that during the exhibition, many existing Stelda customers visited the stand and affirmed their plans to add more case packaging machines. These included the fastest-growing food and snacks group, Haldirams, and South India's leading edible oil manufacturer MK Agro (Sun Pure). Prominent Stelda customers include Nestle, ITC Cigarettes, Havell's Cables, Adani Wilmar, EmamiAgro, and VKC Nuts, among others.

Stelda's adhesive-based case packaging solution offers the Stelda 4S promise of strength, security, sustainability and savings in secondary packaging. It means enhanced box strength, increased product security and operational sustainability (as it offers an alternative to single-use plastic), and packaging cost savings. 

Sajith said a series of trials validate this claim. "The first stage is trying the shippers and products of the brands at the Stelda Packaging Excellence Centre in Bangalore. The Stelda sealed boxes are compared with the taped boxes using point load testing devices at the Sriram Industrial Research Institute. Then the boxes are subjected to drop tests and transit trials."

The Stelda outbound package involves trials at trade shows and extended roadshows in select locations. And there is also a try-and-buy scheme, where the customers test the process at their factory.

"Participation in all major packaging shows in India is a part of our Stelda Outbound Package. PackEx 2022 was one such event where many of our prospects brought in their shippers and products to understand the 4S benefits. We could conduct about eight such trials in the three days of PackEx," Sajith said.

Stelda trial case study   
After a series of trials, Stelda helped a leading food company overhaul its shipping packaging from the traditional taping method. 

Some of the challenges the company faced with traditional taping included pilferage during transit, product damage and using single-use plastic. Based on this, Stelda was able to put forth a solution that can help mitigate these challenges. The solution encouraged the company, as it also helped save on recurring packaging expenses. 

The trial involved shipping the cartons from the client's factory to its various warehouses across South India and later to the retail stores. The client collected first-hand feedback from their sales teams and trade partners for a month. During this, they found out that there was a reduction in damages and pilferages. Stelda also shared an analytical report on the strength and security of the packaging solution.

Seeing the benefit, the company started with the installation of three Stelda PS500 machines. Later, it purchased two more machines, bringing the total installation number to five. 

Sajith said that Stelda's team ensured the machines' seamless deployment without impacting the production line's existing processes and workflows. The machine's ergonomic design ensured zero hindrance to the factory floor plan. Stelda's smart control system and HMI were installed swiftly. This HMI helps monitor live information such as SKU details, glue and energy consumption levels, and generate real-time case-sealing reports that are accessible remotely for quick decision-making. 

The entire setup, installation and testing were completed in a span of four days.

After the installation, the company was able to turn around the operational efficiency of its packaging process significantly and achieve positive results.

In terms of safety, the company found a 50% increase in the load-bearing capacity of the shipping cartons. This reduced product damages and returns.

In terms of security, as the shipping cartons were now being sealed with HMA glue, they had the added advantage of fibre tear. It is a foolproof way to deter pilferage.

Regarding sustainability, the use of stretch films and BOPP tapes were eliminated, which helped the company towards being more environment-friendly.

In terms of saving, encouraged by Stelda's solution of higher load-bearing strength, the company has taken steps to recalibrate its shipping carton structure. 

Besides, using a fully automated HMI added to the efficiency of the client's packaging division. "With the world changing rapidly around us, it is important that companies take the right initiatives to not only adapt but also to ensure that products reach their consumers safely," Sajith concluded.