If your team is still folding and taping RSC cases by hand, you're paying for this machine every single shift-but only if the speed and case size range line up with what you actually pack. The 2018 Lantech C400 is a used automatic case erector with an integrated bottom taper, listed at USD 17,500. Before you commit, here's how to think through it.
Quick verdict
The Lantech C400 is a real production upgrade for operations that run RSC, HSC, or FEFCO cases through a cartoning line. It erects the case, folds the bottom flaps, applies tape, and discharges a ready-to-fill box automatically. Rated up to 8 cases per minute, it replaces a repetitive manual step and does it with an 8-cup vacuum pick-up system and a 3-inch tape head. It is not a high-speed wonder, but it is a dependable-looking mid-speed erector for the right facility.
Who it suits
This machine is built for packaging rooms that already have 230-volt 3-phase power and compressed air at 80 PSI. If your operation uses corrugated cases within the listed size range-7⅞" to 24⅜" long, 5⅞" to 17¾" wide, and 9⅞" to 25⅝" high-the C400 can handle the box sizes you're likely feeding into a cartoning or case-packing line. It also fits facilities that want a single unit to both erect and bottom-tape, rather than managing separate equipment.
What stands out from the listed details
- 8-cup vacuum pick-up gives the machine a firm grip on the blank case during erection.
- Bottom taper with a 3" tape head means the case arrives sealed on the bottom and ready for product loading.
- Toolless changeover is a real time-saver when you switch between case sizes throughout the day.
- Powered belt discharge moves each erected case away without manual pushing.
- Allen-Bradley Micro820 PLC offers a straightforward control system for automating the cycle.
- Stationary flap folding with 90-degree lock-in helps keep the bottom flaps aligned.
The machine also includes Lexan guarding, a multi-color indicator beacon, E-stops, and stainless floor levelers. Those details speak to a safety-conscious, production-minded setup.
Meaningful trade-offs
Speed is the first thing to check. At up to 8 cases per minute, this is a solid pace for many manual and semi-automated lines, but it will bottleneck a high-volume operation that needs 20 or more cases per minute. Make sure your packers can keep up with it-and that your upstream filling or cartoning equipment doesn't starve it.
The case size window also matters. The minimum erected size is 7⅞" L × 5⅞" W × 9⅞" H, so if you run very small cases or very large ones, this unit won't cover those extremes. You'll need to compare the specified range against your actual box inventory.
Finally, the C400 requires 230V / 60Hz / 3-phase electrical service and 80 PSI of compressed air at 3-5 scfm. If your line only has single-phase power or inadequate air supply, plan for that infrastructure before purchasing.
Product spotlight
2018 Lantech C400 Automatic Case Erector with Bottom Taper, Box Former
Choose this machine if you want one unit that erects and bottom-tapes RSC, HSC, or FEFCO cases automatically. The 8-cup vacuum pick-up, powered belt discharge, and toolless changeover remove the manual box setup step from your process. Its limitation is throughput: rated at 8 cases per minute, it's best matched to mid-speed cartoning and case-packing lines rather than high-speed production, so confirm that rate against your line's needs.
Bottom line
The 2018 Lantech C400 is a well-equipped automatic case erector and bottom taper at USD 17,500. It's not the fastest option on the market, but for a facility doing regular case erecting within the listed size range and with the right power and air utilities, it can take a repetitive task off your crew's hands and keep your cartoning line moving. Match the 8 CPM rate to your actual throughput before you buy, and this machine could be a practical fit.
