Signode’s CEC: Where Corrugated Solutions Come To Life The pressure to make smart, scalable equipment deci- sions is nothing new for corrugated manufacturers. With time and money on the line, it’s essential to get it right the first time. At Signode’s Customer Experience Center (CEC) in Roselle, Illinois, manufacturers get exactly that: a dedicated space to put equipment to the test, validate per- formance with real product, and work through packaging challenges alongside the people who design and build the systems. Opened in 2023, the Signode’s CEC features a work- ing showroom, an ISTA-certified Packaging Lab, training and conference areas, and dedicated space for Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT).
gnode. “When we connect our products, like case equip- ment and strappers, for example, we’re showing how multiple technologies can come together to form one inte- grated solution.” Hantke said a customer saw a live demo of its case packing solution integrated with a strapper at PACK EXPO 2024, and later visited the CEC to request the exact con- figuration. Until then, the customer hadn’t considered pair- ing a strapper with a case packaging line, but seeing the full system together sparked a new conversation. Bundling and unitizing are the next critical points in the packaging process, where alignment, speed and system coordination come into focus. At the CEC, equipment like the automatic SIG-C, SIG-CORR, and SIG-VCS Tandem is presented in context, not isolation. These systems support a range of corrugated applications, from standard bundles to more complex or high-volume formats, and are config- ured in collaboration with customers to reflect real produc- tion goals, product types, and plant layouts. It’s not just about putting a new machine on the floor, it’s about making sure it works as a cohesive part of the line. Signode works closely with customers to assess pro- duction goals, product types, and plant layouts, helping configure equipment that performs as part of a unified line. Moving down the line, load containment solutions are run side by side, allowing visitors to compare stretch wrap- ping and hooding options based on product type, storage environment and handling needs. Whether it’s the fully automated Octopus S Series Stretch Wrapper or Lachen- meier Stretch Hooder, the equipment runs with the strap- ping and film materials developed specifically to support those systems, reinforcing how Signode’s consumables are engineered as part of the solution, not an afterthought. These conversations often continue into the Packaging Lab, where system recommendations are validated with real product, data and results. Warehouse solutions like Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and StorFast Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) demonstrate how Signode supports prod- uct flow beyond the line itself. While the on-floor display is built for demonstration, the underlying tech is designed for scalability—providing the flexibility to grow from a few hundred to several thousand pallet positions. “In the showroom, a lot of the equipment is grouped together, but the larger automation runs standalone,” says Longardner. “We’ve got AMRs that can pick up full pallet- ized loads and drive them to the strapper or wrapper lines, tying pieces together and showing how integration really works.” Once a load leaves the facility, control goes with it. From that point forward, it’s exposed to the realities of transit, including shifting, impact and material handling conditions that can threaten even the most well-packaged products. Signode’s protective packaging solutions, displayed on the showroom floor in an actual shipping container, include innovations like dunnage, air bags, lashing, and Signode’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 56
pack | bundle | unitize | warehouse | transport
YOU PRINTED, CUT, FOLDED. WE’LL
“We built the CEC to give our customers the ability to see firsthand how Signode solutions really fit within their own operation,” says Kent Longardner, Packaging Lab Manager. “We’re proving to our customers that we’re val- idating what we’re saying we can do and what our equip- ment can do.” On a CEC tour, the first stop is the Showroom, where visitors get a clear, overarching look at how packaging systems, automation, and materials come together to support every phase of the transit journey—from packing, bundling and unitizing to warehousing and transport. De- signed to follow the flow of a functional production line, the space gives corrugated manufacturers a tangible view of how Signode solutions can be customized and applied to their own operations. That level of integration is made possible by Signode’s broad network of specialized brands, including Little David case packaging equipment, Simplimatic palletizers and ro- botics, Lachenmeier stretch hooders, and Octopus stretch wrapping systems—just to name a few. Together, they rep- resent the depth and versatility of Signode capabilities. “For a long time, people have known us for individual products,” says Rick Hantke, Director of Marketing at Si- Kent Longardner, Packaging Lab Manger, left, and Rick Hant- ke, Director of Marketing, in front of Signode’s signature Sig-C Automatic Corrugated Bundler.
PROTECT IT FROM HERE. Your focus is your product. What’s ours? Packaging solutions to protect your product during transit. Partnering with Signode means spending less time on packaging and more time perfecting your products. Discover Signode and explore our portfolio of automation and transit packaging solutions at www.signode.com
TRANSIT PACKAGING SOLUTIONS
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April 28, 2025
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