History

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The Pacepacker range of products have been manufactured for over 30 years, below is a brief history:

 

1976: Robert Christy Engineering formed in Maldon, Essex, to fill the need for compact and economical automatic sack placing and closing machines.

 

The first sack placing machine is called the “A” Type, with a vertical sack magazine and vacuum operation to separate and open the sacks. It continues in manufacture until 1988. The first Closing device is called the “Automator” or “Stitcher Feeder”, and continues in manufacture to the present day. Robert comes up with the name “Pacepacker” and Pacepacker Ltd is born.

 

1979: The first export order is received, from Caribbean Milling in Jamaica.

 

1980: Pacepacker launch the V-Track Conveyor – another innovative solution, perfect for automatic sack closing.

 

1981: The “B” Type Sackplacer is launched for thinner paper sacks. Similar to the “A” Type but the sacks lay down on a tray. Pacepacker design their first palletiser, the Mk1. It uses the latest “PLC” technology to control hydraulics that lift and “tip” the bags onto the pallet. The pallet is rotated, also using hydraulics.

 

1982: The “C” Type Sackplacer is launched for plastic sacks, along with a special “Feeder”, designed to automatically feed bags into a heat sealer.

1984: The Company moves to Braintree, Essex.

 

 

 

 

 

1988: The “A” Type is finally dropped from the range. The latest MkIII “B” and “C” Types now use PLC control. The MkIV version Palletiser now has hydraulic/electric operation and inverter drive for turntable control.

 

1990: The “Topform” is launched, Pacepacker’s compact, universal bag top forming machine for accurate operation on all types of bag. It is a huge seller right through the “nineties” and is still available today for special applications.

 

1991: The “T” Type Sackplacer is launched for both paper, plastic and woven poly sacks. With a new level of performance and advanced features, it proves an instant hit and quickly takes over from both the “B” and “C” Types.
The “B” Type continues in production until 1994 for the Korean market.

 

1992: Pacepacker launch the replacement for the old MkIV Palletiser, the “F1” Palletiser. It is a larger and more complex layer plate machine and is faster and much more advanced than its predecessor, with all electric operation and innovative touch-screen controls. A new factory unit is taken on specifically for manufacturing these larger palletising systems.

 

1996: To celebrate 20 years of Pacepacker, the “T” Type is re-named the “T20” and re-designed with improved electrical and pneumatic systems. The “C20” is launched as a budget sackplacer.  Compact and simple, it is based on the old “C” Type and proves very popular.

 

It becomes Pacepacker’s best selling sack placer and continues in manufacture to the present day. All Pacepacker machines are now painted in a gloss white finish to give a new, smart image to the Company and its products.

 

1997: Pacepacker form an agreement with the robot manufacturer “Fanuc” and begin to supply Robotic Palletising Systems. The benefits of robotic palletising are quickly apparent, in terms of flexibility, speed and suitability for many different products. The “F1” Palletiser continues (for select applications) to the present day, but the vast majority of palletising systems now use robotics.

 

1999: Pacepacker introduce “Total Bag Control”. This new system replaces the “Topform” as the new standard in bag closing. It is Pacepacker’s biggest selling product, right through to the present day.

 

2000: The “T20” and “C20” are re-launched as the “T20M” and “C20M”. New control systems mean a more modular design and better connectivity between systems.

 

2002: The “G900” is launched as a new high-speed sackplacer. Robot Palletising Systems are now available with double, or even triple bag grippers for speeds in excess of 1200 units per hour.

 

2004: Pacepacker design a pick and place robotic system and supply 10 units for packing meat into supermarket trays.

 

Pacepacker Ltd becomes Pacepacker Services Ltd, following the retirement of Robert Christy and relocates to new premises at Great Bardfield.

 

2006: The “T20M” and “C20M” are re-launched as “MX” versions. The “MX” control system means even more functionality is available, including high speed communications, simplified wiring and remote diagnostics. “Total Bag Control” is upgraded to “MX” version and now has a gusset reforming option with adjustable and interchangeable bag clamps.

 

2008: Pacepacker introduce a new high-speed pick and place robot system – “DeltaPac”.

 

2009: Pacepacker introduce “BluRobot”- a low cost robotic palletising solution using pre-owned robots. With Pacepacker’s expertise and range of well proven grippers and ancillaries, this solution fills a gap in the market. Export sales now account for over 30% of annual production.

 

2010 and beyond……..Pacepacker Services continue to build on a solid foundation of providing innovative and cost effective packing solutions. Further enhancements to the well established Sackplacing and “Total Bag Control” systems are planned, as well as exciting developments in pick and place, robotics and Palletising.

 

 

 

 

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