Case Erector Machine— Automatic Carton Forming & Bottom Sealing
Form flat RSC blanks into ready-to-fill cartons automatically — 8 to 20 cartons/min, tape or hot melt bottom sealing. Built in our 48,000㎡ Qingdao factory, CE certified, 48-hour run-tested.
SunAura Case Erectors Range
Click any model for the full spec sheet, video and inquiry form.
CE-600
Entry industrial case erector
MSCE-1000
High-speed heavy-duty case erector
HMGCE-500
Hot melt glue case erector — frozen, export, heavy loads
Nail-Type Forming & Bottom Sealing
Special carton forming for nail-sealed blanks
How to Choose a Case Erector: The Full Guide
A case erector — also called a carton erector machine or box forming machine — takes flat corrugated blanks from a magazine, forms them into 3D boxes and seals the bottom automatically. It removes the most repetitive manual job in a packaging line. Here is how to pick the right one.
What a Case Erector Does and Why It Pays Back Fast
A case erector (also called a carton erector machine or box forming machine) takes flat corrugated blanks from a magazine, forms them into three-dimensional boxes, and seals the bottom — all automatically. The formed boxes then go to filling, sealing, strapping or palletizing downstream. It removes the most repetitive manual job in a packaging line: hand-erecting and taping boxes, which typically needs 2–3 workers and produces inconsistent box quality.
SunAura builds three core models: the CE-600 (10–15 cartons/min, entry industrial), the MSCE-1000 (15–20 cartons/min, heavy-duty high volume) and the HMGCE-500 (8–12 cartons/min, hot melt glue bottom sealing). All are CE certified, built in-house in Qingdao, and run-tested for 48 hours before shipping.
Tape or Hot Melt Glue? The First Decision
This choice affects reliability more than speed. Tape sealing (CE-600, MSCE-1000) is cheaper to run, easy to maintain, and fine for most cartons below 15 kg. Hot melt glue (HMGCE-500) creates a permanent, tamper-evident bond that survives rough handling, temperature swings and moisture — the right choice for frozen goods, export cartons and heavy products. In our low-temperature field test, tape adhesion failed on cartons stored below 0°C while hot melt held. Hot melt uses food-grade, FDA-compliant adhesive, so it is safe for food packaging. The tradeoff: glue machines cost a little more to operate (adhesive + glue tank cleaning) and form slightly slower (8–12/min).
How to Choose Your Case Erector — Speed, Size, Paperboard
1. Throughput. CE-600 covers 10–15 cartons/min — enough for most single-line operations and 1,000–2,000 cartons/day. If your line demands more than 15 cartons/min continuously, choose the MSCE-1000 at 15–20/min with a 1.5 kW motor and 480 kg frame for stable high-speed running.
2. Carton size. CE-600 handles L 250–600 mm, W 200–500 mm, H 200–500 mm; MSCE-1000 extends to L 700 mm / W 600 mm / H 600 mm. The HMGCE-500 covers L 200–600 mm, W 150–500 mm, H 150–500 mm. Measure your largest and smallest carton blanks — these ranges define your product mix, not just your biggest box.
3. Blank quality. A case erector works best with standard RSC (regular slotted container) blanks with clean crease lines. Poorly scored or warped blanks cause misfeeds. Send 50–100 real blanks for a remote or on-site test before ordering — we do this for every custom configuration.
4. Magazine and changeover. All three models load blanks into a magazine and change size without tools via quick-adjust guides. Changeover takes roughly 5–10 minutes. If you run several box sizes per shift, confirm the guides are within your size range.
5. Line integration. All models use standard conveyor height and a compact footprint (CE-600: 2200×1100×1600 mm), so they sit directly upstream of fillers, sealers and strappers. If you are building a full line, tell us the conveyor height of your existing equipment and we match it.
The Labour Math Most Buyers Underestimate
Hand-erecting 10,000 boxes a month uses roughly 2–3 workers. A CE-600 at 10–15 cartons/min replaces that with one part-time loader, freeing staff for quality checks and order picking. Consistent machine-erected boxes also reduce downstream damage claims — every box has the same dimensions and the same bottom seal strength. At a typical plant wage, most of our customers see the machine pay for itself within 6–10 months. On a full line (erector → sealer → strapper), consistent box dimensions also mean fewer jams in downstream sealing and strapping stations.
Installation and Day-to-Day Running
Plan roughly 3×2.5 m of floor space plus room for a pallet of blanks behind the magazine. Blanks load in a stack; reloading takes about a minute and is the only regular operator task on most shifts. Keep blanks dry — damp corrugated loses stiffness and causes misfeeds. Safety is built in: CE-certified interlocks, emergency stops and guarding are standard on all three models, and the HMGCE-500 adds glue temperature safety controls. Commissioning is typically a one-day job with our remote video guidance; on-site engineer support is available worldwide. Electrical requirements are modest: 220V/380V, 50/60 Hz with a 1.0–2.5 kW motor depending on model.
What You Get From SunAura
All case erectors are manufactured end-to-end in our 48,000㎡ Qingdao factory (Swiss laser cutting, CNC bending, robotic welding), CE certified, and pass a 48-hour continuous run test before shipment. Standard lead time is 15–20 business days; custom configurations 25–40 days. Every machine carries a 12-month warranty, lifetime remote support, and we send production progress photos while your machine is being built.
Throughput
10–15 cartons/min for most single lines; 15–20/min for continuous high-volume demand.
Carton Size
Measure largest and smallest blanks — L 200–700 mm, W 150–600 mm across the range.
Blank Quality
Standard RSC blanks with clean creases. Send 50–100 real blanks for a pre-order test.
Changeover
Tool-free quick-adjust guides, 5–10 minute size changes for multi-format shifts.
Line Integration
Standard conveyor height and compact footprint connect directly to fillers and sealers.
Five Mistakes That Cost Buyers Time and Money
- Wrong tape vs glue choice — Tape adhesion fails below 0°C. Frozen goods, export and heavy loads need hot melt glue — a permanent, tamper-evident bond.
- Poor blank quality — Warped or weakly scored blanks cause misfeeds. Test with your real blanks before committing to a model.
- Ignoring changeover time — Multi-format shifts without tool-free guides lose 30+ minutes per change. Verify the quick-adjust range covers your box mix.
- Conveyor height mismatch — An erector that does not match your downstream conveyor height creates jams at the transfer point. Give us your line height.
Technical Specifications at a Glance
Ten parameters, production configurations. All values customizable at no extra engineering cost.
| Parameter | CE-600 | MSCE-1000 | HMGCE-500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forming speed | 10–15 cartons/min | 15–20 cartons/min | 8–12 cartons/min |
| Carton length L | 250–600 mm | 250–700 mm | 200–600 mm |
| Carton width W | 200–500 mm | 200–600 mm | 150–500 mm |
| Carton height H | 200–500 mm | 200–600 mm | 150–500 mm |
| Bottom sealing | Tape | Tape | Hot melt glue |
| Motor power | 1.0 kW | 1.5 kW | 2.5 kW (incl. glue system) |
| Machine weight | 350 kg | 480 kg | 400 kg |
| Dimensions | 2200×1100×1600 mm | 2600×1300×1750 mm | 2400×1150×1650 mm |
| Changeover | Tool-free quick adjust | Tool-free quick adjust | Tool-free quick adjust |
| Certification | CE | CE | CE |
Where These Machines Earn Their Keep
Proven in production lines across food, logistics, electronics and pharma.
Food & Beverage
Form and bottom-seal cartons for bottled drinks, frozen food and dry goods before filling — hot melt option for cold-chain loads.
E-commerce & Logistics
High-volume order fulfillment needs consistent box dimensions for automatic packing and sorting. 8–20 cartons/min covers peak seasons.
Electronics & Appliances
Protect fragile items with tight, uniform cartons that reduce in-transit damage claims.
Pharma & Cosmetics
Clean, repeatable box forming with food-contact-safe sealing for regulated packaging lines.
Textile & Industrial
Heavy fabrics, parts and tools in sturdy RSC cartons — tape or glue bottom sealing per load weight.
Manufactured by SunAura — the Maker, Not a Trader
Every case erector is built from raw sheet metal to final assembly in our own 48,000㎡ facility in Qingdao, China. We are the manufacturer, not a trading company, so you pay factory-direct price and get direct engineering support. Each machine runs continuously for 48 hours at rated speed before packing, ships standard in 15–20 business days, and carries a 12-month warranty with lifetime remote support. For custom box sizes, we run a remote or on-site test with your real blanks before production.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the advantage of hot melt glue over tape for bottom sealing?
Hot melt creates a permanent, tamper-evident bond that withstands rough handling, temperature variation and moisture better than tape — ideal for frozen goods, heavy products and export packaging. It is food-grade compliant (FDA).
What carton blanks does the machine need?
Standard RSC corrugated blanks with clean creases, within the model’s size range. Send 50–100 real blanks for a test before ordering custom configurations.
How long does a size changeover take?
5–10 minutes, tool-free, via quick-adjust guides. All three models have a manual magazine loaded with flat blanks.
Can it integrate with a filling or sealing line?
Yes. Standard conveyor height and compact footprint connect directly with fillers, carton sealers and strappers; we match conveyor heights for full-line projects.
What is the lead time?
Standard models 15–20 business days; custom 25–40 days. 48-hour continuous run test before shipment, production photos provided.
What power supply is required?
220V/380V, 50/60 Hz, customizable to your local standard. The HMGCE-500’s 2.5 kW includes the glue melting system.
Is the machine safe for food packaging?
Yes. Hot melt adhesive is FDA and EU food-contact compliant; tape-sealing models use standard BOPP tape. Machines are CE certified with interlocks and emergency stops.
Get a Factory-Direct Quote in 24 Hours
Tell us your box size, daily output and voltage — our engineers reply with a model recommendation, price and lead time within one business day.