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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  • Minot - Monday, February 20, 2006 - link

    Anand, did Newegg give you any insight into their refurbished product opteration? I'd be interested to know where the items come from (i.e. percentage from working returns and percentage from manufacturers) and how often they arrive at Newegg. I'b been buying refurbished parts from Newegg for years and I've found some brands that always come with full accessories and others that are hit and miss. Is there any rhyme or reason to know the accessory status of the item before you order?

    Great article! Keep it up! -MINOT-
  • JumpyBL - Monday, February 20, 2006 - link

    Any winners yet?
  • DAPUNISHER - Saturday, February 18, 2006 - link

    It is Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory for Computer enthusiasts :P
  • neweggvp - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    To confirm what Anand explained, Newegg did not pay Anandtech for this article. Anand and Newegg just thought it would be nice to show a little bit of the Newegg operations.

    Newegg also has no affiliation with EggHead.

    Hope this clears up a couple questions.

    Best Regards,

    NeweggVP.
  • andrep74 - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    It's completely a win-win situation. NewEgg gets advertising, costing them perhaps a lunch with Anand, several CPUs for a contest, and draws more consumers to their website. Anand gets a free meal, perhaps some free product, and draws more readers to his website with a contest. Now if that isn't capitalism, what is?

    My kudos to them both...
  • PWNettle - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    Thanks for the article - it's cool to read how NewEgg does its thing.

    I've bought parts for 3 builds and some additional components from NewEgg and I've always been very happy with it all.

    UPS el cheapo shipping usually takes 3-4 days to reach me but it's not THAT big a deal since that's still pretty quick.

    The only thing that irritates me is that when I order parts for a complete PC they usually get shipped from 2+ locations - and it's painful to have every part for a new build EXCEPT the case, which arrives the next day. :)
  • Davelo - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    Is Newegg related to EggHead Software? Remember them?
  • Glenn - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    What a way to start my day!! Read this article and was enlightened and impressed with the way an order progresses and how they get them to me so fast! As usual Anand~ good work and thank you!

    Then I read all these bulls**t childish comments! I could go on for hours about what I'm thinking but all I really need to say is~ Anand has earned the respect of most of us because of his informative website and articles. I've gained most of my computer knowledge from his website since I first signed on in 1996. I really don't know what I would do without it. In my opinion, NewEgg owes some of its success to Anand and the exposure they gained in his forums. Particularly early on! I really don't mind if they paid Anand for the article, in fact, I hope they did! He earned it well before this article was ever written! A good part of these etailers profits are directly attributable to Anands website! With so many of us having the ability to share experiences, information and recommendations on this website they have benefited greatly! Keep it up Anand and I wish you continued success! My only recommendation would be to have the mods filter out the childish jerks that never seem to have anything productive to say about anything!

    And jnmunsey, where do you come off with comments like that? What an idiot!
  • JBT - Thursday, February 16, 2006 - link

    Man I wish I could spend just 5 minutes in there with a shopping cart...
  • amish - Thursday, February 16, 2006 - link

    i used my work email addy for the contest. not like i'm going to win, but i hope that any email that could be sent makes it through my employers spam guard.

    anyways, the pic of all of those CPUs just sitting there was awesome

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