How many cardboard boxes can be sealed with one ton of hot melt adhesive particles? Three steps to calculate the cost of sealing glue

First, provide a reference scale

Based on the estimation of 1 gram of glue consumption per common small and medium-sized cardboard box and single box, one tonHot melt adhesive granulesApproximately one million boxes can be sealed; A single box consumes 2 grams of glue, which is about 500000 pieces. The reason why the range is so wide is because there are significant differences in box type, number of glue points, glue line width, and equipment loss. Instead of using other people’s numbers, it’s better to calculate the true value of your own production line using the following three steps.

Step 1: Measure the actual glue consumption per box

• Fill up the glue pot and weigh it, or weigh a bag of new material directly.
• Seal 500 to 1000 boxes continuously without adding any materials midway.
• Weigh the remaining amount of glue again, and divide the difference between the two times by the number of boxes to obtain the glue consumption per box (grams/box).
• It is recommended to test under the same shift, operator, and container type to avoid interference.

Note that this number includes losses such as wire drawing, glue dripping, and cleaning residue, which are closer to reality than theoretical calculations.

Step 2: Convert annual usage to total cost

Step 3: Identify the compressible parts

After calculating, you will find that what can be saved is often not the unit price, but waste. Common compressible items:

• Unreasonable arrangement of adhesive dotsChanging the continuous tension throughout the entire process to a denser force distribution and a point like design in the middle can usually save 20-30%.
• The temperature setting is too highFor every 10 ℃ increase in temperature, the flowability of the adhesive increases, the amount of adhesive produced increases, and carbonization accelerates. Just set according to the recommended value of the brand.
• Nozzle diameter and wearAfter the nozzle is ground to a large size, the glue output quietly increases. It is recommended to include it in the monthly inspection.
• Standby without turning off the potLong term idle burning not only consumes electricity but also causes aging and slagging of the adhesive. It is recommended to cool down and standby during lunch breaks and shifts.
• Wire drawing adhesiveIndicating a mismatch in viscosity or temperature, changing the appropriate brand is more fundamental than adjusting the equipment.

Four variables that affect consumption

Box size (long perimeter of large box, long adhesive line), number of corrugated layers (five layer box has high rebound force and requires more adhesive), paper surface material (recycled material absorbs more adhesive), line speed (fast line requires fast curing, and the amount of adhesive often needs to be slightly increased). When making cost comparisons, it is important to fix these four items before comparing.

FAQ

Q: Can switching to cheaper glue reduce costs?
Answer: It depends on the cost per box rather than the price per ton. If the viscosity of low-priced adhesive is unstable, the consumption increases, or if it needs to be reworked after opening the box, the overall cost will actually be higher.

Q: Is 1 gram per box considered too much or too little?
Answer: 0.8-1.5 grams for small and medium-sized boxes is normal, while 1.5-2.5 grams for large and heavy boxes. Clearly exceeding the recommended limit, check the layout and temperature first.

Guangzhou Sunlife TradingSunlife Hot Melt AdhesiveWe can cooperate with packaging factories to conduct single box rubber consumption testing and optimize rubber discharge points, recommend brand names based on box type and line speed, and help customers truly calculate the “ton price” into the “single box cost”. After optimizing the layout, most customers experience a more significant reduction in usage compared to the savings achieved by replacing low-priced tape.