Learning Center

Whether you’re looking for solutions to specific challenges or wanting to deepen your overall knowledge of secondary packaging, our Learning Center is designed to give you the resources to make confident decisions about your secondary packaging systems.

Filter by Category

Filter by Topic

Filter by Type

Filter Resources

Problems / Challenges, Secondary Packaging 101

What Causes Packaging Machine Jams? And Which Ones Are Avoidable?

See a practical breakdown of the most common jam causes and understand the best ways to approach them.

Jams Problems

Secondary Packaging 101

What is Machine Index and How Does It Relate to Pitch?

Understand machine index and pitch so you can read specs more accurately and ask better questions during the evaluation process.

Machine Index Machine Pitch

Comparisons, Secondary Packaging 101

Top Load vs. Horizontal Load Case Packing: Which Should I Use?

Understand the differences between top load and horizontal load and which configuration is best suited for your operation.

Horizonal Load Case Packing Top Load Case Packing

Secondary Packaging 101

What Does Servo-Driven Mean and Why Do OEMs Use Them?

Learn the definition of a servo-driven machine and understand the pros and cons of using one in your operation.

Servo

Machine adjustment point with indicator displaying numbers

Secondary Packaging 101

What Is a Changeover? And What Makes One Fast or Slow?

Learn what impacts changeover speed and why “changeover time” makes a difference to your line’s efficiency and productivity.

Changeover Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

Plastic bottles on conveyor at fast speed

Secondary Packaging 101

What Does ‘Line Speed’ Actually Mean? And Why Is It So Often Misquoted?

Understand important speed metrics and learn which questions will tell you the most about machine performance and productivity.

Line Speed Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

Worker wearing hardhat and holding clipboard observing machine conveyor lines

Secondary Packaging 101

What Is a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) and Why Does It Matter?

Understand what a good FAT looks like so you can help protect your investment.

Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) Site Acceptance Test (SAT)

Secondary Packaging 101

What Is ‘Machine Efficiency’ and How Is It Calculated?

Learn the details of this commonly misunderstood metric so you can set realistic efficiency benchmarks for your application.

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

Secondary Packaging 101

What is ‘Sanitary Design’ in Packaging Equipment — and Does It Matter for Your Application?

Learn the principles of sanitary packaging design and whether your application requires sanitary equipment.

Regulations Sanitary Design Washdown

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

How-To

How to Read and Respond to Common K6000 Faults

Kinetix 6000 (K6000) fault codes can often be remedied with the right know-how. We’ll help you understand how to read power-ups, status lights, and fault codes, to get to the root cause of drive issues.

Fault codes Faults K6000 Kinetix Servo Drive

Kinetix 6000 part with "discontinued" banner on top

Problems / Challenges

How Do I Navigate K6000 Obsolescence?

Allen-Bradley moved the Kinetix 6000 (K6000) servo drive to obsolete status, which means no new units and a used-only supply. We can help you navigate this change and offer options on how to proceed.

Aftermarket Obsolescence Risks Servo Drive

Hand holding a security padlock next to the eight listed steps of lockout tagout

How-To

What is the Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Requirement for Packaging Equipment?

Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is a federal safety requirement that makes sure machines are de-energized before maintenance. We’ll walk you through the eight-step procedure, explain your role, and show how it applies to the equipment you work with.

Federal Safety Requirement Hazardous Energy Lockout LOTO OSHA Safety Tagout

Split image showing before and after of machine refurbishment

Comparisons

What Is Equipment Refurbishment and When Is It Better Than Replacement?

Learn the 50% rule and a five-question framework to help you distinguish when refurbishment and when replacement makes the most economic and operational sense.

Machinery Lifecycle Obsolescence Refurbishment Repair

OEE = availability x performance x quality

Secondary Packaging 101

The Three Components of OEE: Availability, Performance, Quality (and the Six Big Losses)

Understand the three independent components of OEE and learn how to identify which one is dragging your OEE down.

Diagnostics Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) Productivity

Productivity comparison graphs of non-vertical startup and vertical startup

Secondary Packaging 101

Vertical Startup: Why It Matters

Vertical startup is the achievement of stable throughput and quality within days of going live, not just the installation event. Understand the difference and how you can plan for this success.

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) Productivity Return on Investment (ROI) Startup Vertical Startup

1 2 3 4 … 10

HORIZONTAL LOAD

TOP LOAD

SHRINK WRAPPERS

SHRINK PACKERS

MULTIWRAPPERS

CARTONERS

SLEEVERS

MULTIPACKERS

Learning Center

Whether you’re looking for solutions to specific challenges or wanting to deepen your overall knowledge of secondary packaging, our Learning Center is designed to give you the resources to make confident decisions about your secondary packaging systems.

Filter by Category

Filter by Topic

Filter by Type

What Causes Packaging Machine Jams? And Which Ones Are Avoidable?

What is Machine Index and How Does It Relate to Pitch?

Top Load vs. Horizontal Load Case Packing: Which Should I Use?

What Does Servo-Driven Mean and Why Do OEMs Use Them?

What Is a Changeover? And What Makes One Fast or Slow?

What Does ‘Line Speed’ Actually Mean? And Why Is It So Often Misquoted?

What Is a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) and Why Does It Matter?

What Is ‘Machine Efficiency’ and How Is It Calculated?

What is ‘Sanitary Design’ in Packaging Equipment — and Does It Matter for Your Application?

How to Read and Respond to Common K6000 Faults

How Do I Navigate K6000 Obsolescence?

What is the Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Requirement for Packaging Equipment?

What Is Equipment Refurbishment and When Is It Better Than Replacement?

The Three Components of OEE: Availability, Performance, Quality (and the Six Big Losses)

Vertical Startup: Why It Matters

Solutions

Support

About Us

Resources

Filter by Category

Filter by Topic

Filter by Type