Going the Distance with Utah PaperBox’s Trim Removal Solution

Published: September 10, 2021

A leading manufacturer of custom die-cut packaging based in Salt Lake City, Utah PaperBox (UPB) had become intimately familiar with trim and waste removal issues. While in need of an edge trim removal system that would allow its sheeting department to operate at full capacity, it also knew that cutting corners wasn’t going to cut it. So, when Precision AirConvey (PAC) reached out to UPB to ask about its trim removal needs, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

“We had already been in contact with another company, so we were definitely in the market for a new system,” said Mike Salazar, vice president of operations, UPB. “We were so impressed with PAC’s response time, level of service, and the care they put into understanding our unique requirements, there was no question. We went with PAC.”

PAC scheduled an in-person tour of UPB’s plant to get an up-close look at its machine, space, set-up, and needs.

PAC’s team of engineers quickly got to work designing UPB’s customized trim removal system using innovative processes. In place of a large, cumbersome chopper fan commonly used with most systems, PAC designed and installed smaller, ultra-sharp precision inline cutters to slice UPB’s large volume of edge trim into high-density, easy-to-convey pieces.

The compact size of PAC’s unique inline cutters meant that they could be positioned close to the equipment, enabling the cut-up trim to travel through the duct more efficiently and swiftly — without clogging, snagging, or jamming up. This also allowed PAC’s engineers and design team to create a less aggressive and more direct path to the pick-up point, which in turn allowed UPB to produce sheets faster.

UPB fully expected its trim removal system to be loud; after all, that’s what the industry has come to expect. So, the company was pleasantly surprised to discover that PAC’s unique solution was amazingly quiet while also being efficient.

“We modified the system’s intake, moving the ducting underneath the equipment,” said Morales, engineer, PAC. “We also used PAC’s propriety silencers to allow for a much quieter operation. And because we designed the system to extend the distance between the cutter and the material handling area, the operator doesn’t have to stand next to loud machinery.”

PAC designed UPB’s solution to convey edge trim and waste more than 400 feet across UPB’s plant to the separator for baling and dust collection, keeping fine dust particles far away from the print area. The waste is then deposited into a baler, or container for easy handling, recycling, or disposal. As an added bonus, the solution now makes it easier for UPB to maximize collection for premium recycled paper — opening additional revenue opportunities.

“PAC did a fantastic job understanding our unique requirements and challenges, and designing a solution that reduces noise levels, keeps our print area dust-free and clean, and makes it easier to handle and recover waste,” added Salazar. “Since installing our PAC cutter trim removal system, we’ve been able to keep our line running at full speed and capacity, while saving countless hours of labor in our sheeting department.”

For more information, visit https://www.precisionairconvey.com.