What Is a Box on Demand Machine? CNC Boxes and FEFCO 0410

What is a box on demand machine?

A box on demand machine is a CNC machine that cuts and creases a corrugated box to the exact dimensions of each product, instead of drawing from a stock of standard box sizes. The box is made from continuous fanfold or sheet corrugated board, one at a time or in batches, so every product ships in a box that fits.

Standard box sizes rarely match the product, which means void fill, extra board and extra freight volume. Box on demand packaging machines remove that gap. See the full range of Edda box on demand machines and CNC cardboard packaging on our cardboard processing page.

How CNC box making works

Fanfold (Z-fold) or sheet corrugated board is fed into the machine, and tools on a transverse axis and longitudinal stations do three jobs:

• Cut the board to the length and width of the box blank.
• Crease the fold lines so the box folds cleanly around the product.
• Slot the flaps so the blank can be formed into the chosen box style.

Box dimensions are entered in software. On the Optibox and Neobox, the EDDAWORKS software includes more than 50 predefined box styles and a box designer. Both machines process board up to 2500 mm wide and 2 to 7 mm thick, with a transverse axis speed of 200 m/min and a longitudinal axis speed of 120 m/min. The main difference is tool positioning: Neobox uses independent axle-driven tools, while Optibox uses a tool-carrying belt with gripping positioning. Behind Neobox or Optibox, the C-Suite 6-8-10 automatic magazine holds two fanfold boards per row, left and right, so boxes of different widths can be fed without a manual board change. It comes in 3+3, 4+4 and 5+5 configurations.

Who is box on demand for?

On demand packaging machines suit any operation where product sizes change often, or where products are too long, flat or large for standard boxes. Typical users include:

• Furniture manufacturers, especially flat-pack (RTA) furniture with many panel sizes.
• Panel and board producers who ship long, flat parts.
• E-commerce and fulfilment operations that pack mixed orders of different sizes.
• Manufacturers of variable-size products that keep a large stock of boxes.

Benefits of a made-to-measure box

• Less board: the box is only as large as the product needs.
• Less void fill: a box that fits leaves little empty space to fill.
• Less freight volume: smaller packs take up less space on trucks and in containers.
• No stock of standard boxes: board is stored in one form and boxes are cut when needed.

What to check when choosing a box on demand machine

Board width and thickness

The maximum board width limits the size of the box blank. Check that the machine can handle the board grades you use. Neobox and Optibox, for example, process single and double wall corrugated board in E, B, C, F/E, E/B, E/C and B/C flutes.

Box styles and software

Check the predefined box styles, how easy it is to design a new one, and whether sizes can come automatically from a scanner.

Throughput

Axis speeds, the number of longitudinal stations and the way board is fed all affect output. Options such as an automatic sheet feeder or Z-feed matter if you run sheets or fanfold board.

Automation with closing

Ask how the box will be formed, closed and labelled, and whether the machine can join a complete line.

FEFCO 0410 wrap-around boxes and automatic closing

FEFCO 0410 is a wrap-around box style in the international FEFCO code. The blank is folded around the product rather than the product being dropped into an open box, which makes it a good fit for furniture, panels and long products cut on CNC box makers.

The Sealmaster closes FEFCO 0410 boxes automatically with hot-melt glue, not tape. Three sealing stations fold and glue the box around the product. It handles boxes from 100 to 1200 mm wide and 28 to 250 mm high, with a 4 L hot-melt tank (8 L optional).

Complete box on demand lines

The Themis line takes the process from measurement to a closed box. A 3D scanning station measures the width, height and length of each product at the infeed and sends the dimensions straight to the CNC box machine, which cuts a FEFCO 0410 blank to size. The blank and the product are matched on the conveyor, an operator folds the blank around the product into a tray, and the Sealmaster folds and glues the box closed.

For flat-pack furniture, the Lotis Max line closes and tapes filled cartons 200 to 1200 mm wide and up to 2500 mm long. Servo-driven side belts adjust to each box width automatically, so mixed sizes run one after another.

Frequently asked questions

What is a box on demand machine?

It is a CNC machine that cuts and creases a box to the exact size of each product from fanfold or sheet corrugated board, instead of using a stock of standard box sizes.

What does FEFCO 0410 mean?

FEFCO 0410 is a wrap-around box style from the FEFCO code. The blank is folded around the product, which suits long and flat items such as furniture and panels.

Does Sealmaster use tape?

No. Sealmaster closes FEFCO 0410 boxes with hot-melt glue in three sealing stations.

To discuss your products and box sizes, contact the Edda team.