Downstream equipment is easy to delete from the first invoice and expensive to add after the line is boxed in. Match it to the number you already calculated for the former.
Three stations, in the order plants actually need them
| Station | Buys you | Skip it when |
|---|---|---|
| Cup stacker | Nested sleeves without a person on every cycle | Output is a short-run hydraulic tool a crew can nest |
| Counter | Fixed count per sleeve | You sell only bulk, uncounted stacks |
| Packer | Bags or cartons at line speed | Cartoning is still a separate room and the former is slow |
A rim curler is not a stacker. If the cup design needs a rolled lip after forming, that station sits between the former and the nest. Putting a curler in “later” usually means a second layout of the hall.
Worked trigger — 36,000 cups an hour
20 cavities × 30 cpm × 60. Even if year-one speed is below the FS brochure, this rate fills a table faster than two people can sleeve it. Quote the stacker with the former. Add the counter when the customer’s carton is 50 or 100. Add the packer when those sleeves must leave in film or a box on the same shift. A first LS-750-360-II Mini line can stay manual until the second shift appears.
Pack format decides the machine
- Cup height and stack shoulder
- Count per sleeve
- Bag, carton, or bulk only
- Cups per hour you will actually staff
- Whether a rolled rim is required
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a stacker on day one?
If two operators cannot nest the real output for a full shift, yes. A 20-cavity tool at 30 cpm is 36,000 cups an hour. That is not a hand station.
Is a counter the same as a stacker?
No. The stacker nests. The counter cuts the sleeve at 50 or 100 or whatever the carton says. You can stack by hand and still need a count, but usually the stacker comes first.
When is a packing machine justified?
When sleeves must go into bags or cartons at the same rate as the former. If a crew still cartons by hand and the former is a small LS, wait.
Will the stacker fix a bad cup rim?
No. It needs a stable rim and a consistent stack shoulder. Fix the mold before you automate the reject.