Stop Cleaning Glue Wheels. Start Making More Cartons: Valco Melton Launches AutoWheel

Valco Melton has announced the launch of AutoWheel, a complete drop-in replacement for traditional glue wheels used in folding carton production. The new solution eliminates recurring cleaning downtime, glue waste, and speed limitations, helping manufacturers increase productivity with no learning curve.

Turning Glue Wheel Downtime into Production Time

Glue wheels have long been the standard technology for side-seam gluing in folding carton manufacturing. However, as open glue pot systems, they require daily cleaning, manual refilling, and frequent operator attention, while also limiting machine speed due to glue slinging or splashing. These challenges result in lost production time, quality defects, adhesive waste, and higher operating costs.

AutoWheel was developed to address these limitations directly. In short, the goal is simple: stop cleaning glue wheels and focus on producing more cartons.

A Smooth Transition from Glue Wheel Technology

As a contact gluing solution, AutoWheel feels familiar to operators from day one. At the same time, its enclosed and automatically fed system eliminates the need for daily cleaning and glue disposal, while removing the risk of running out of adhesive during production.

“AutoWheel turns glue wheel cleaning time into production time,” said Bryan Casteel, Folding Carton Manager at Valco Melton. “It’s a rational replacement: no learning curve, no glue waste, no operator hassle, and a fast, measurable return on investment.”

Designed for Productivity, Quality, and Sustainability

AutoWheel directly addresses key performance indicators for folding carton manufacturers:

• Productivity: No cleaning downtime translates into higher uptime and increased output

• Quality: No glue slinging or missing glue defects, even at maximum machine speeds

• Operations: Fully automated adhesive feeding, combined with the AutoGlue feature for adhesive application, minimizes operator involvement

• Sustainability: Elimination of daily glue waste and associated disposal costs

As environmental regulations become stricter worldwide, reducing adhesive waste and improving process efficiency are increasingly important considerations for carton producers.

Modular, Drop-In Solution with Fast ROI

AutoWheel is a complete drop-in replacement that can be retrofitted to existing folder-gluer lines without machine modifications. Installation can typically be completed within a few hours, allowing manufacturers to quickly benefit from increased uptime and improved production output. The resulting savings make return on investment fast and easy to calculate.

The solution is built around Valco Melton’s industry-proven bottom-up gluing technology and a modular system architecture. Standard components include the bottom-up glue station, adhesive pattern controller, encoder, and pump, while optional elements such as the OneView operator interface and system stand can be added as needed.

This modular approach allows AutoWheel to be configured around existing equipment, minimizing changes to the production line while ensuring a precise and reliable side-seam gluing process.

Available Worldwide

AutoWheel is available immediately worldwide through Valco Melton’s global sales and service network.

For additional information, visit the AutoWheel page or contact us.