Packaging Machines and OEM Equipment Design
Line equipment, feeders and OEM machine design.
General manufacturers and packaging companies often need one-off or small-batch machines that standard catalog equipment cannot supply. We design them to be simple, robust and easy to maintain.
Where We Help
- Special machines for one-off needs
- Feeders, fillers and handling units
- Small OEM machine design from sketches
- Redesign of problem equipment
- Cost-focused design for local manufacture
- Drawings ready for local workshops
Typical Equipment
- Feeders and hoppers
- Filling and handling units
- Small OEM machines
- Jigs and fixtures
- Line modifications
Simple, robust machines that are easy to maintain
Packaging and general manufacturing equipment often runs in plants with limited maintenance resources. The best machines here are simple: few moving parts, standard components available locally and adjustments that operators can make without special tools. LTM designs one-off, small-batch and OEM machines with that philosophy, for packaging companies, contract manufacturers and machine builders.
Machines and equipment we design
- Feeders, hoppers, vibratory and belt feeding systems
- Filling, capping and dosing units
- Carton, bag and product handling units
- Small OEM machines for series production
- Jigs, fixtures and change parts
- Line modifications, extensions and speed-up projects
Line modifications without long shutdowns
Packaging lines rarely stop for long. When a new pack size, a higher speed or an extra operation is needed, the modification must be designed so that installation fits a short shutdown window. LTM designs line modifications with that constraint in mind: new equipment is built and tested off-line where possible, interfaces with existing machines are measured and designed carefully, and installation steps are planned so the line can restart quickly.
Typical modifications include adding a feeder or reject station, extending a conveyor, changing a forming or filling station for a new format and raising line speed by upgrading a bottleneck drive. Each change is checked against the existing machine's structure and drives so the upgrade does not create a new weak point.
Where a line runs several products, the modification is also a chance to reduce changeover time. Adjustable guides with scales, keyed change parts and tool-free clamps can cut a format change from hours to minutes, which often recovers more output than a higher machine speed. Each modification is documented with updated drawings and a parts list, so maintenance teams have accurate records of the line as it is now built.
Designing for OEM series production
When a machine will be built in series, design decisions multiply. Part count, standard components, fabrication method and assembly sequence decide the build cost of every unit. For OEM machines we apply design for manufacture and assembly from the start, use modular sub-assemblies that can be configured for different customers, and prepare a complete BOM with vendor part numbers so purchasing is straightforward. Drawings are made for local workshops, so the machine can be built close to where it is sold.
Hygiene and product contact
For food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic packaging, product-contact parts are designed in suitable stainless steels and food-grade plastics with cleanable surfaces, minimal crevices and tool-free disassembly where the process requires frequent cleaning. Your hygiene requirements and applicable standards are confirmed at the brief stage.
Quick checks
Try our free pneumatic cylinder and gear ratio calculators for drives, and the fabrication cost calculator to estimate the build cost of parts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you design a machine that we will build and sell?
Yes. OEM machines are designed for series production with modular sub-assemblies, standard parts and complete documentation, under an NDA signed before drawings are shared.
Can you speed up an existing packaging line?
Often yes. We review the bottleneck station, motion profiles and drives, and design changes that raise output without replacing the whole line.
Do you design change parts?
Yes. Change parts are designed for quick, keyed and repeatable swaps when a line runs several pack sizes.
Do you design for food contact?
Yes. Product-contact parts use suitable stainless steels and food-grade plastics with cleanable, crevice-free design to your hygiene requirements.
Can you design equipment that local workshops can build?
Yes. Designs use standard sections, common materials and readily available components, with drawings clear enough for local fabrication and assembly.
How an Engagement Works
Brief
You share the function, loads, space, cycle time and any drawings you already have.
Concept
We propose a concept with a layout sketch and the key calculations, so you can approve direction early.
Detail design
3D model, calculations, GD&T drawings and BOM, reviewed with you at agreed checkpoints.
Release and support
Native files and PDFs handed over, with support during fabrication and assembly.
Have a project in mind?
Send a short brief with sketches or specifications. You get a clear scope and a fixed quote, usually within one business day.