Inside Newegg: They give us a Tour and you a Prize
by Anand Lal Shimpi on February 14, 2006 3:31 PM EST- Posted in
- IT Computing
The Automatic Box Maker
An automatic taping machine isn't the only time saver at work in Newegg's warehouse, at the end of the production line there's an automatic box maker that takes collapsed cardboard boxes and folds them into a box that's ready for your order.
There's a stack of collapsed boxes on an incline that feed the machine as you can see below:
A set of four suction cups lunge at the first collapsed box attaching themselves to it and pull it out, thus expanding the box:
With the box fully expanded, the bottom flaps are folded in and the box is pushed along:
After it's done with one box, the machine resets itself and begins on the next:
The automated box maker makes a lot of boxes:
Between the picker, the extensive rolling conveyers, peanut guns, automatic box maker and taping machine things are bound to go wrong. Just in case you were wondering, Newegg does keep a handful of spare parts for all of the machinery in their warehouse:
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
122 Comments
View All Comments
Rapsven - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
What's that for?peldor - Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - link
I just want some stats.You know like megapeanuts/s.
Jynx980 - Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - link
The peanut guns are employed by security at the New Egg facility. They shoot about 15 peanuts in a tight grouping which leave painful welts for slacker employees and persons accused of theft.Howard - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
Strange.creathir - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
Though Anand, use your sway to get them to GET RID OF PEANUTS!I would MUCH rather get those plastic bags of air than messy peanuts...
- Creathir
CheesePoofs - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
Same here. Air bags are much cleaner and don't get everywhere like peanuts have a tendency to do.johnsonx - Thursday, February 16, 2006 - link
yeah, hate those peanuts. They're so hard to pick up if you happen to spill some.BUT, I bet peanuts are a good bit cheaper for such a high volume shipping operation. Do you want to pay more for bags of air?
F22 Raptor - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
Nice in depth article and pitures, it was very interesting!I also entered the giveaway!
:)
Cygni - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
I have to say, im pretty impressed. I didnt expect that level of automation and technology. Guess i shouldnt be surprised. It IS newegg, afterall.gerf - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
I expected a little more automation. Of course, I work for a company that makes things like this (similar at least). Mostly we do automotive machines though.But, there are a few factories in the world that are completely automated similar to this warehouse, but even more so.
Pallets can be tracked and moved to the exact part of the plant that the parts are needed, automatically loaded, and automatically assembled, including a multitude of safeguards for people, quality, machine production...
Yeah, it's neat stuff.