Page 31 - PWM2026_JANUARY EBOOK

PRODUCT PORTFOLIO

Star product
Optimus Prime

‘Transforming’ the world of slip case and bottle box production, says Simon Eccles

How does it work?
Optimus Prime can work with die-cut
or grooved blanks and can start with flat
boards or pre-formed and taped car-
casses. It offers two different functions,
with five different sheet designs depend-
ing on the sequence you choose to wrap
the box in.
The first option is to pre-form a box
carcass using corner tape. The operator
would then glue the cover material and
place the box into position on the glued
sheet. The operator then places the box
and glued sheet onto the mould/tool for
the machine to wrap the cover material
around the box.
The second option is for Optimus
Prime to form the box, when pre-grooved
or die-cut boards are placed flat onto the
glued sheet and the vacuum will hold it
on the mould/tool. As it’s wrapped the
What does it do? Specifications rials around the box carcass, and/or by cover sheet acts instead of glue/tape to
It’s a hand-fed machine that wraps and Speed: Depends on forming the box and wrapping it in one keep the box formed.
forms rigid boxes and slip cases in one style of product, process. The vacuum feature means There’s no restriction on board type or
operation. Typically these are paper typically 250-500 there’s no need to corner tape. It’s perfect thickness. Cover materials can be
wraps for luxury packaging, where the items per hour for on demand and short run production printed, laminated, standard coated or
of bottle boxes, slip cases and drawer
alternative is slow hand wrapping, or uncoated stocks. Hot animal glue is rec-
Box/slip case boxes.” ommended, although vegan glue works –
expensive fully automated lines. dimensions: Max:
It is made in China but imported into 350x350x120mm When was it launched and what its slightly longer open time can slow
the UK by Perfect Box Solutions (the (LxWxH); Min: types of work is it intended for? down production. Setup is manual, with
the operator turning handles to set the
packaging wing of Perfect Solutions 40x30x10mm It was launched in 2021 and the first pressing rollers against a test carcass on
Group, which also includes Perfect Machine dimen- machine was sold to a large packaging the mould/tool.
Bindery Solutions), which then modifies sions: company that produces whisky bottle There are touchscreen settings for posi-
it with new software, PLC (programma- Depends on guard- boxes for many UK distilleries. “Book tioning the roller heights, etc. Dwell
ble logic controller), plus taking it up to ing options manufacturers could also benefit from time, speed and other settings are all
safety and guarding standards, including this machine to add value to their books
Power: managed on the touchscreen controls.
larger light barriers, two-button starts Single phase, 16A, by supplying them inside a slip case,” says The sheet design is chosen, which then
and safety resets. 220v, 800w Giddins. “Other customers have pro- determines the wrapping sequence and
Commando socket duced drawer box type products to hold operation.
Why the name? required coins from the Royal Mint.
“Customers can choose to have one or Moulds/tools are produced from nylon
“Optimus Prime was named after the or are 3D printed. Those for vacuum
Transformer character due to the face on Price £36,427 two machines: the first to form/wrap the require some machining and steel bars to
box, the second to complete the tuck-in
the front of the machine,” says Hannah – the flaps inside the box. We have be installed on the mould/tool. If two
Giddins, box production machinery spe- advised customers that the inside tuck-in machines are installed, they can handle,
cialist and sales director for PBS. can be completed by hand to save them for instance, slip cases and trays sepa-
She says: “It ‘transforms’ the world of purchasing the second machine, rately side by side, boosting efficiency.
slip case and bottle box production by although for longer runs they may not Otherwise, a single machine has to be
automating the wrapping of cover mate- wish to do this manually!” reset between cases and trays.
Optimus Prime can work with die-cut or grooved blanks and can start with flat boards.

www.printweekmena.com January 2026 PrintWeek MENA 29