US-based company WebstaurantStore is acquiring three new auto-boxing machines from Sparck Technologies, a fit-to-size automated packaging solutions provider.

The machine, called controlled vacuum packaging (CVP) Impack, is capable of measuring, constructing, weighing, and labelling up to 500 boxes every hour.

WebstaurantStore will install these machines at its new distribution facility in Nashville, Tennessee, US.

The machines are set to commence operations from July next year.

Once installed, the CVP Impack machines will help WebstaurantStore in fulfilling its customers’ orders quickly and efficiently.

WebstaurantStore provides more than 376,000 products such as restaurant furniture and cleaning supplies, among others.

By varying in shape and size, all these products have specific packaging requirements, which can be fulfilled using CVP Impack, Sparck said.

The machine can pack both single- and multi-item orders of hard or soft goods by creating a custom fit-to-size box, which minimises the requirement for void-fill materials.

Sparck automated packaging solutions director Sean Webb said: “WebstaurantStore’s continued investment in our technology truly underscores the functionality, reliability and efficiency CVP Impack brings to the order packing process.

“By increasing the use of automation within their facilities, WebstaurantStore is well-positioned to achieve operational, labour and transportation cost savings.”

With the addition of the three new machines, WebstarantStore now has a total of nine CVP Impack machines installed across its distribution centres in nine US states.

Before installing the auto-boxing solution, WebstarantStore depended on two manual packers, who were able to process nearly 64 units per hour.

The two packers can now leverage the CVP Impack machines to process 400 units per hour.

WebstaurantStore operations vice-president Jamie Yoder said: “The fact that we are seven times more efficient compared to manually packing each individual order we receive is hard to beat.

“Installing our ninth CVP machine, we continue to partner with Sparck not only because of their innovative technology, but the service and support we receive from their team is simply above the rest.”

In October this year, Sparck was chosen by sports fashion retailer JD to provide an advanced right-size auto packaging system.