What is a sleeve and carton feeder - and how can it enhance my production?
A sleeve and carton feeder is a machine that automates the process of feeding flat packaging – like sleeves, cartons, or inserts – through other equipment such as printers or labellers. It’s typically used in offline coding setups, where variable data (like batch numbers, dates, or barcodes) is printed before the packaging is formed or filled.
Instead of printing on packs as they move through your main line, you handle it separately, giving you more control, better print quality, and improved flexibility.
A well-known example is the udaFORMAXX feeder from Koenig & Bauer Coding, which is commonly used with thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers for high-resolution coding or / and a labeller.
How it works:
- Load: You load a stack of flat packaging into the magazine.
- Feed: The feeder picks and moves each item one at a time.
- Code and/or Label: As the sleeve or carton moves through, it can pass under a printer, a labeller, or even both, depending on your setup and application.
- Collect: The finished items are neatly stacked, ready for the next step in your production.
How it can enhance your production:
High-quality results
Flat surfaces mean crisp, clear codes or labels – ideal for barcodes, small print, or logos.
Time-saving
You can code or label packaging in advance, in batches, so you have a steady supply at all times.
Highly flexible
Switching between products or designs is quick – great for short runs or varied orders.
Expandable
A key benefit of this type of feeder is its flexibility: it doesn’t just work with printers. You can integrate a labeller too, to apply promotional labels, serial numbers, or regulatory stickers. Some setups even combine both printer and labeller, giving you complete packaging prep in one pass. Automatic labelling is becoming more popular, and frees staff up for more demanding tasks.
Accuracy and peace of mind
Some feeders can be fitted with code verification or barcode checking systems to ensure every pack is correct.
If you deal with flat cartons, sleeves, or cards – and especially if your production includes frequent changes or small batches – a sleeve and carton feeder can bring major gains in efficiency, quality, and traceability.