When every order is a different size, stock boxes waste cardboard, void fill and freight space. Edda’s CNC box-on-demand machines cut a made-to-measure corrugated box for each product, one at a time or in batches – and the Themis line measures the product, cuts the box and closes it automatically. For e-commerce and furniture fulfilment, spare parts, components and long items.
The problem with stock boxes
A warehouse that ships many different products usually keeps a few standard box sizes and fills the empty space with paper, air pillows or foam. Every oversized box costs cardboard and void fill, takes more space in the truck and is billed by carriers on its volumetric weight. Products also move inside a box that is too big, which is how corners get crushed and returns start.
- Dozens of box sizes in stock, and still no exact fit for many products.
- Void fill and extra cardboard on every shipment.
- Higher freight costs when carriers charge by volume.
- Manual measuring, box selection and taping at the packing table.
Machines for made-to-measure boxes
Start with a CNC box machine and add feeding, measuring and closing as your volume grows.
Neobox
CNC box maker – independent tools
Cuts, creases and slots board up to 2500 mm wide and 2–7 mm thick, with independent axle-driven tools. 50+ box styles in EDDAWORKS®.
Optibox
CNC box maker – belt positioning
Same board range as Neobox with a tool-carrying belt and gripping positioning. Up to 16 longitudinal stations.
Themis
Measure, cut and close in one line
3D scanner, CNC box machine and Sealmaster combined: each product leaves in a closed FEFCO 0410 box that fits.
Sealmaster
Automatic box closing
Folds and glues FEFCO 0410 wrap-around boxes with hot-melt glue in three stations – no tape.
C-Suite 6-8-10
Fanfold magazine
Holds six, eight or ten fanfold boards behind the box machine so mixed orders run without changing board by hand.
Scanning Station
3D product measuring
Measures width, height and length on the conveyor and sends them straight to the box machine.
How box on demand works
- The product dimensions are entered in the EDDAWORKS® software – or measured automatically by the Scanning Station.
- The software picks the box style (more than 50 predefined styles, or your own design) and calculates the blank.
- The CNC machine cuts, creases and slots the blank from fanfold or sheet board in the right width.
- The box is folded around the product – by an operator, or as part of the Themis line.
- FEFCO 0410 boxes are glued and closed by the Sealmaster; other styles can be closed with tape.
The board is fed as continuous fanfold or as sheets. The C-Suite magazine keeps several fanfold widths ready, and the Safia sheet feeder loads sheets from a stack, so the operator does not have to feed each order by hand.
Key figures at a glance
| Neobox / Optibox | Themis line | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Cuts made-to-measure boxes | Measures, cuts, forms and closes |
| Board | 2–7 mm; E, B, C, F/E, E/B, E/C, B/C flutes | 2–7 mm, up to 2500 mm wide |
| Box size | Min. box length 350 mm | Closed box 100–1200 × 300–2800 × 28–250 mm |
| Power | 220 V single-phase, 2.5 kW | 380 V three-phase, 15.5 kW |
| Footprint | Compact single machine | 7120 × 3382 × 29520 mm |
Full specifications are in the product catalogue.
Which products suit box on demand?
Box on demand pays off when your product sizes vary and your boxes are medium to large: furniture parts and flat-pack components, panels and doors, spare parts and assemblies, lighting, sports equipment and other long or bulky items. The minimum box length on Neobox and Optibox is 350 mm, and the Themis line measures products from 100 × 20 × 300 mm up to 1000 × 250 × 3000 mm.
For very small parcels or a single fixed box size, a standard carton and a carton sealer such as the Easytape X is often the simpler choice.
See the machines at work
What to check before investing
- Size range: your smallest and largest products, and how many different sizes ship per day.
- Box styles: wrap-around FEFCO 0410, regular slotted cartons or custom designs.
- Board: flute types and thickness, fanfold or sheet supply.
- Automation level: a stand-alone CNC machine, a fanfold magazine, or a full Themis line.
- Closing: hot-melt gluing in the Sealmaster or taping.
- Software: connection between your order data and EDDAWORKS®.
Frequently asked questions
What is box on demand?
Instead of keeping stock boxes in many sizes, a CNC machine cuts each box to the exact size of the product from fanfold or sheet board. You save cardboard, void fill and freight volume.
Which boards can the machines process?
Single and double wall corrugated board 2–7 mm thick, in E, B, C, F/E, E/B, E/C and B/C flutes, up to 2500 mm wide.
What is the smallest box?
The minimum box length on Neobox and Optibox is 350 mm. The Themis line closes boxes from 100 × 300 × 28 mm (W × L × H).
Do I need an operator?
A stand-alone CNC machine needs an operator to enter sizes and fold boxes. With the Scanning Station and Sealmaster in a Themis line, measuring, cutting and closing are automatic; an operator folds the blank around the product.
What is the difference between Neobox and Optibox?
Both cut boards up to 2500 mm wide at the same axis speeds. Neobox positions its tools with independent axle drives; Optibox uses a tool-carrying belt with gripping positioning.
Can boxes be closed without tape?
Yes. The Sealmaster folds and glues FEFCO 0410 wrap-around boxes with hot-melt glue in three sealing stations.
What information do you need for a quote?
Your product size range, number of orders per day, preferred box styles, board grades and whether you want a stand-alone machine or a complete line.
Further reading
- What is a box on demand machine? CNC boxes and FEFCO 0410
- All box on demand and CNC cardboard machines
- Furniture packaging machines
Get a quote for box on demand
Tell us your product size range, daily orders and the box styles you use. Our team will come back with a proposal.