Compare CASE ERECTORS or CASE FORMERS. Case erectors or case formers are the first step in the packaging process. A case erector works primarily with corrugated boxes. The case erector takes the knocked down (KD) blank, pulls it open, folds the bottom flaps and seals them with glue (hot or cold) or with tape (contact adhesive or wet adhesive). Once the bottom is sealed, the case is rigid and can then be moved to the station for loading the product.

The knocked down (KD) case blanks are usually loaded by hand into the case erector. Some equipment for automating this step is available, but is usually of custom design. The number of KDs that the in-feed will hold is important, because it determines how often the case former has to be reloaded.

The bottom, or side seal needed for the case to be loaded can be done by the case sealer, this is not the case in all case erectors. Whether a tape seal or glue seal are needed has to be determined. Case formers are mostly semiautomatic or automatic feeding into a case loading process. Manual operation is possible to provide cases for manual filling.

Recent introductions of case erector or former models include case marking as part of the erecting, forming step in a packaging process. It reduces the number of separate components needed to form a complete packaging line