Automatic Packaging Machines: Blister Packing vs Cartoning

Our automatic packaging machines are three GMP-oriented machines for pharmaceutical, health-care, food and cosmetics packaging: the KDZ-300 high speed box packing machine, the KDZ-130 automatic cartoning machine and the DPP-260 automatic blister packing machine. This comparison is for packaging engineers and plant buyers who need to match a machine to a product, a carton size and a target output; we rank the three by rated packs per minute within their package format. Our recommendation: the KDZ-300 for a single high-volume carton line at up to 300 boxes/min, the KDZ-130 for plants that change product often or need larger cartons at 30–60 boxes/min, and the DPP-260 wherever the product itself has to go into a blister first.

Key definitions

• Blister packing machine: a machine that thermoforms pockets in a forming film, drops tablets, capsules or liquid into them and heat-seals a PTP aluminium lid over the pockets.
• Cartoning machine (box packing machine): a machine that opens a flat carton, inserts the product and a folded leaflet, marks the batch number and closes the box.
• Packs per minute: the product-page speed figure; boxes/min for a cartoner, pcs/min for the blister machine.
• Box size range (L × W × H): the smallest and largest carton a cartoner can form, in millimetres.
• Leaflet fold range: how many times the machine can fold the instruction sheet before it is inserted; our cartoners fold 1 to 4 times.
• GMP: Good Manufacturing Practice, the quality rules for pharmaceutical production; each of the three product pages states that the machine meets GMP requirements.

Comparison table

Rank	Model	Package format	Rated speed	Package size range	Motor power	Machine size (L × W × H)	Weight
1	KDZ-300	Carton (box + leaflet)	≤300 boxes/min	(70–180) × (35–80) × (14–50) mm	5 kW	4800 × 1600 × 1860 mm	4500 kg
2	KDZ-130	Carton (box + optional leaflet)	30–60 boxes/min	(70–250) × (25–100) × (12–90) mm	1.5 kW	3700 × 1500 × 1900 mm	1800 kg
3	DPP-260	Blister (PTP aluminium on forming film)	15–25 pcs/min	260 mm web; max forming area 250 × 130 × 35 mm	5 kW total	4200 × 650 × 1640 mm	1500 kg

Each product page holds one model, so the figures above are that machine's product-page specification; other box sizes can be customised on both cartoners.

1. KDZ-300 High Speed Box Packing Machine

The KDZ-300 high speed box packing machine is our highest-output packaging machine, with a maximum stable operating speed of 300 boxes/min. It is a mechatronic line section that takes the product in, folds the leaflet, unfolds the carton, places product and leaflet into the box, embosses the batch number, seals the carton and delivers the finished pack. Cartons run from (70–180) × (35–80) × (14–50) mm in 250–350 g/m² board; leaflets are 60–70 g/m², (80–250) × (90–170) mm unfolded, with a 1–4 fold range. Every station carries detection, and unqualified packs are rejected automatically; an overflow unit on the conveyor uses a rotary dial plate to divert product, and the overflow product is not damaged. It needs ≥0.6 MPa compressed air at 160–200 L/min, a 5 kW motor on 220 V/380 V, and a floor space of 4800 × 1600 × 1860 mm for its 4500 kg. Buy it when one product runs all shift and the cartoner must keep pace with a high-speed blister or bottling line.

2. KDZ-130 Automatic Cartoning Machine

The KDZ-130 automatic cartoning machine is the versatile horizontal cartoner in the range, rated 30–60 boxes/min. It takes the widest carton range of the three, (70–250) × (25–100) × (12–90) mm in 250–450 g/m² board, and boxes blister plates, ointment tubes, bottles and sachets for pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics packaging. The optional leaflet station handles 50–70 g/m² paper, (80–300) × (70–210) mm unfolded, folded 1–4 times to (70–210) × (20–40) mm. Changeover is the point of this machine: mould adjustment time is short and assembly and debugging are simple, so it suits both single-product high-volume runs and small batches of many varieties. Options include a manual folding machine, hot-melt glue machine, date coder, camera inspection and weighing inspection, and it can be used with aluminium-plastic, aluminium-aluminium and other packaging machines. The 1.5 kW main motor runs on 380 V 50 Hz (220 V 60 Hz), air is 0.5 MPa with ≥0.9 m³/h consumption, and the machine measures 3700 × 1500 × 1900 mm at 1800 kg. Buy it for a multi-product plant or a first cartoner behind a single blister machine.

3. DPP-260 Automatic Blister Packing Machine

The DPP-260 automatic blister packing machine is the primary-packaging machine in the range. It forms and seals PTP aluminium 260 mm wide and 0.02–0.03 mm thick with forming material 260 mm wide and 0.15–0.50 mm thick, at 15–25 pcs/min, with a maximum forming depth of 35 mm and a maximum forming area of 250 × 130 × 35 mm. The traction stroke is adjustable from 30 to 140 mm, and punching, batch-number and forming positions adjust over 0–100 mm, 0–50 mm and 0–100 mm. It packs capsules, tablets, large honey pills, candy, liquids, pastes, disposable syringes and special-shaped products; the liquid-filling version uses plunger metering pumps with a routine filling range of 5–25 ml (capacity customised to order), with anti-drip needles and quick-release pumps for cleaning. The shell is SUS304 stainless steel and the feeder SUS316, and on the liquid-filling version the shell and liquid-contact parts are stainless steel, in line with GMP; control is PLC with a colour touch screen, with 20–50 Hz motor frequency modulation. Total power is 5 kW on 380 V 50 Hz, air is 0.5–0.7 MPa at ≥0.22 m³/h, cooling is ordinary tap-water circulation, noise is 75 dB, and the machine is 4200 × 650 × 1640 mm at 1500 kg. Buy it for any tablet, capsule or single-dose liquid product that must be blistered before cartoning.

How to choose

1. Start from the product. Tablets, capsules, honey pills, syringes or single-dose liquid: the DPP-260 comes first, then a cartoner. Bottles, tubes or sachets that arrive already packed: go straight to a cartoner.
2. Measure the carton. Up to (70–180) × (35–80) × (14–50) mm fits the KDZ-300; anything up to (70–250) × (25–100) × (12–90) mm needs the KDZ-130. Other sizes can be customised, so send the drawing.
3. Set the target output. Above 60 boxes/min on one product, the KDZ-300 is the only choice at up to 300 boxes/min. Below that, the KDZ-130 has a smaller 1.5 kW main motor and a short mould adjustment time.
4. Count the varieties. Frequent product changes, small batches or several carton sizes favour the KDZ-130's short mould adjustment; one product all year favours the KDZ-300.
5. Check board and leaflet. Carton board of 250–350 g/m² suits the KDZ-300, 250–450 g/m² the KDZ-130; both fold leaflets 1–4 times, and the KDZ-130's leaflet station is optional if your packs carry none.
6. Add up utilities and floor. All three need compressed air; the DPP-260 and KDZ-130 are listed for 380 V 50 Hz (the KDZ-130 also 220 V 60 Hz) and the KDZ-300 for 220 V/380 V. Allow for the KDZ-300's 4800 mm length and 4500 kg weight, and for the DPP-260's tap-water circulation cooling. Options such as date coding, camera inspection and check-weighing are specified at order.

Send your product, carton drawing and target boxes per minute through the enquiry form and we will propose the machine and options; the packaging machine category page lists all three models, and our production capacity page shows our workshops.