1 An introduction to packaging machines

1.1 Fundamental questions

1.1.1 What is a packaging machine?

One type of machine is used to cover wholly or partially individual items or collect-
ed groups of items with a flexible material, i.e. paper, metal foil, plastic or cellulose
film. Machines also included in this category are those that collate and distribute
items in readiness for covering, those that fill cases, those that prepare the materials
and containers used in packaging and those that seal the covering.

1.1.2 What is a wrapping machine?

It is a class of packaging machine. The term is generally used for those packag-
ing machines that cover small items or collations of small items, with paper, foil
or plastic film and involve folding and forming the wrapping material to provide
a closed envelope, often at high speed. As regards this series of notes, for exam-
ple, carton erectors, cartoning machines and case packers are packaging
machines, but not wrapping machines.

1.1.3 Why are they used?

Packaging machines are used because a machine can wrap items more quickly, more
neatly and more consistently than can a human being and at a faction of the cost.

1.1.4 Why is wrapping necessary?

Wrapping is necessary:
• To provide protection from handling, contamination, heat, moisture, odour,
dirt, infestation, etc.
• To maximize storage time with minimum deterioration of quality.
• To present items to the consumer in such a way that their appearance is
enhanced.
• To allow items to be handled more easily and without damage between
manufacturer and consumer.

1.2 The start of the packaging machine industry

At the Manchester Exhibition of 1875, Mr Henry Simon exhibited Zimmermann's

Package Filling Machine for filling packets with pulverized powder. Many of the

J. H. Hooper, Confectionery Packaging Equipment

© Aspen Publishers, Inc 1999
2 CONFECTIONERY PACKAGING EQUIPMENT

characteristics of this machine would be recognizable to present-day packaging

engineers. The claim that it was dust free brings forward the idea, on looking at
the drawings, that it had not been used in an industrial installation at that time or
that the exhibitor was not being entirely honest. It was claimed that the machine
could fill between 25 and 30 packets a minute but it was operated by two boys or
girls, who had to supply the packets into the filling positions and move slides and
levers manually in sequence and then remove the filled packets. Presumably the
packets then had to be sealed by hand before being manually packed into boxes.
(Refer to The Engineer, October 15, 1875.)

1.2.1 The first automatic wrapping machines

The first automatic machines were developed at the end of the nineteenth centu-
ry in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England, by the two brothers William and
Henry Rose. Their designs, inventions and manufacturing ability led to the first
industrially installed packaging machinery and to the formation of Rose Brothers
Ltd which was, until after the death of William Rose's son Alfred in 1957,
renowned as the world leader in the industry. They had a reputation for training
engineering apprentices to a high standard. Until recent times, fitters and man-
agers trained by Rose Brothers could be found all over the world wherever pack-
aging machinery was used or made. Some of the agents who handled the sales of
Rose produced machinery on the continent decided that they could build up their
own machine manufacturing businesses.
The authoritative version of what happened in those days of the 1880s and
1890s is not known. In reply to an article in Lincolnshire Life, "Some Pioneers of
Packaging" (Alec Davis, Lincolnshire Life, January 1970, 38-42), Henry Rose 's
son was corresponding through letters to the press (W. H. Rose, Lincolnshire Life,
April 1970, 32), saying that much of the recognition that has gone to William Rose
as the founder of the packaging machine industry should have gone to his father
Henry. During the 6 years I was employed by Rose Brothers between 1950 and
1956, William was the brother to whom colleagues referred.
It was usually said that William Rose was a barber who had to break off shav-
ing and cutting, to weigh and wrap loose tobacco by hand. Over a period of some
15 years he conceived the idea and produced a machine to perform this opera-
tion. This is remarkable as it means that William Rose was only 13 or 14 years
old when he first started on this train of thought. It seems most probable that he
started by thinking of some small unit that would save himself work in the shop,
but eventually realized that the correct place for such devices was in the factory
of a tobacco manufacturer. If tobacco was wrapped during processing, then peo-
ple such as he would not need to weigh and wrap it in the shop.
As a boy of 11 years old in 1868 (he was born on 14 November 1857), William
Rose had been a riveter's assistant in the local shipyard. The first steam packet was
built there early in the nineteenth century and twin screw steam driven vessels were
built in 1864. He may have developed some engineering skill and insight before