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:


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A set of four suction cups lunge at the first collapsed box attaching themselves to it and pull it out, thus expanding the box:


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With the box fully expanded, the bottom flaps are folded in and the box is pushed along:


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After it's done with one box, the machine resets itself and begins on the next:


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The automated box maker makes a lot of boxes:


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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:


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Packing your Order and the Peanut Gun Shipping and the UPS/FedEx Debate
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  • Postoasted - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link

    First off great article. Have never bought from Newegg before, but after reading about it here I feel assured that they're not some fly-by-night chop shop. As a potential customer the fact that my package will come with peanut styrofoam is a big negative. But if the price is right I guess I can live with it.
  • allometry - Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - link

    I'm not sure if NewEgg is using the biodegradable peanuts made from a corn starch base. When you finally do place an order, grab one of those peanuts and run it under some water to see if it disapears.
  • plonk420 - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link

    have you a solution as versitile as peanuts? i sure don't
  • plonk420 - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link

    how soon until they pay off the setup and their prices can go down to what they were when they first started? i miss those days...
  • lsman - Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - link

    Not when they are expanding to like China and rest and have to pay for those. :D
  • shabby - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link

    Looks like a basement operation to me, they sure fooled me....
  • Zebo - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link

    Always like to read about orgins. Maybe next time. I've never had a complaint with newegg but there are others "just as good" and cheaper too such as Mwave.com Zipzoomfly.com for example. What really sets newegg apart is thier fantastic database for customers to search for exactly the prodcuts they are looking for and once found get a set of wonderful 360 degree pictures of the product! Great job!
  • Hondaman4ever - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link

    This is a good article for those Industrial Engineers, pretty interesting facility layout.
  • JumpyBL - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link

    Wow, great article. I used to do recieving work and Newegg's setup really makes me want to work there, looks fun, scanning in all the new products and handling tech stuff all day. Looking at all the CPU and memory products laying about is enough to give any tech enthusiast a stiff one. Thanks for the article and the contest Anandtech.
  • thatsright - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link

    GREAT Article!!

    One of those rare AT article that held my attention 100%, and I read EVERY page.

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