Folder-Gluer Machine Guide: DGM Models, Box Types and Selection Criteria

A folder-gluer machine feeds die-cut carton blanks, folds them along the creases, applies glue to the side seam or crash-lock bottom and delivers the finished boxes flat, counted and stacked. DGM's high-speed models reach belt speeds of 300 to 500 metres per minute. In this guide we compare the folder-gluers, die-cutters and laminators of DGM (Degang Machinery), for which we have been the official distributor in Türkiye and the Turkic Republics since 2014, using data from the manufacturer's catalogue.

How does a folder-gluer work?

A folding carton reaches the folder-gluer line after printing and die-cutting. On the line, every blank passes through these sections in order:

1. Feeding: Blanks are taken into the line one by one at even intervals from the feeder belt.
2. Alignment: The blank is squared against a side guide before it enters the folding section.
3. Pre-folding: Creases are pre-broken and reopened, so the board closes later without cracking or springing back.
4. Crash-lock and corner folding: On crash-lock bottom, 4-corner and 6-corner boxes, the bottom and corner flaps are folded in this section.
5. Gluing: Glue is applied to the flap that will be bonded.
6. Final folding: The box is closed along its side and the glue area overlaps.
7. Pressing and delivery: Folded boxes are held under pressure while the glue sets, then counted and stacked.

C, AC, PC and SL: what do the box types mean?

The suffix in DGM model names shows which box types the machine can fold. Before investing, identifying which of these types your current and planned boxes fall into is the first step to choosing the right model:

Which DGM folder-gluer for which job?

DGM's folder-gluer range spans from thin folding carton to large two-piece corrugated boxes. The series differ by speed, material and blank width:

Smartfold and SmartVision: high-speed folding cartons

The Smartfold series runs at up to 400 metres per minute with board up to 800 g/m² and N, E and F micro-flute material. Smartfold Servo X comes in the same sizes; on the 1100 model the maximum speed rises to 500 metres per minute. PC versions fold straight-line, crash-lock bottom and double-wall boxes, and SL versions add 4-corner and 6-corner boxes.

SmartVision adds an inline vision inspection module to the same frame: it inspects boxes up to 600 × 650, 600 × 800 or 600 × 1100 mm (minimum 65 × 60 mm) at up to 300 metres per minute. In our catalogue you will find the Smartfold 650, Smartfold 800 SL and Smartfold 1100 SL with different setting options.

Technofold: a versatile series for board and corrugated

Technofold is the core series, handling both folding board and corrugated board at 300 metres per minute. The 1450 model accepts heavy material up to 1200 g/m². Technofold Servo X 1200 SL folds crash-lock bottom, double-wall, 4-corner and 6-corner boxes on the same line.

Related models: Technofold 800 SL, Technofold 1100 PC, Technofold 1450 SL and Technofold Servo X 1200 SL.

Megafold, G-Fold and T-Folder: corrugated board and large boxes

With corrugated boxes the material gets thicker, blanks get larger and speed becomes secondary. Megafold 1450 / 1650 folds and glues 3-ply and 5-ply corrugated board in E, C, B and AB flutes at 300 metres per minute. For even larger boxes, G-Fold 2000 / 2400 / 2800 processes two-piece boxes at 200 metres per minute.

T-Folder 2000 joins two-piece boxes with its double-feeder design: blank width is 650–2000 mm, and the open blank of a two-piece box can reach 4000 mm. The machine processes 300–800 g/m² board and A, B, C, E, K, BC, EB and AB flute corrugated board at 250 metres per minute; it works with hot-melt and cold glue and has a connected load of 50 kW.

Related models: Megafold 1450 SL, Megafold 1650 PC, G-2400 AC and the T-Fold Stitcher 2000 double-feeder two-piece folder-gluer in our catalogue.

Before folding: Technocut and Technofoil die-cutters

The capacity of a folder-gluer line has to be balanced with the die-cutter that feeds it. DGM's Technocut series cuts paper, board, corrugated board and plastic, and comes in two versions: without a stripping unit and with a stripping unit (S).

For foil-decorated packaging, the Technofoil 1050 series adds hot foil stamping to die-cutting: it cuts 7,500 sheets per hour and 6,500 sheets per hour when stamping, with 400 t cutting force, 20 heating zones and a maximum temperature of 200 °C. The maximum cutting size is 720 × 1020 mm, and it processes 80–2000 g/m² board and corrugated board up to 4 mm.

For laminating printed top sheets onto corrugated board, the SmartFlute X 1450 / 1650 carton laminators run at up to 160 metres per minute; they process E, F, B, C and A flutes, corrugated board up to 5 layers and top sheets of at least 250 g/m². Related models: Technocut 1050-S, Technocut 1650-S, Technofoil 1050-FC and SmartFlute X 1650.

Optional units that can be added to the line

The DGM catalogue lists these optional units for its folder-gluers:

• Glue detector: Monitors the glue line so that boxes with missing glue can be rejected.
• Smartfeeder: Helps feed blanks into the line evenly.
• SmartTurn: Turns blanks on the line to change their orientation.
• Semi-automatic packer and G-Pack: Collect the boxes at delivery and prepare them for packing; listed in our catalogue as G-Pack and Smartpack.
• Braille embossing system: Embosses the Braille text required on pharmaceutical cartons inline.

6 criteria for choosing the right folder-gluer

1. Box type: C is enough for straight-line boxes; choose AC or PC for crash-lock bottoms, and SL for 4-corner and 6-corner boxes.
2. Blank width: Your widest blank must fit the machine's maximum width (650, 800, 1100, 1450, 1650 mm, or above 2000 mm for two-piece boxes).
3. Material: Smartfold for thin board and micro-flute (N, E, F); Megafold, G-Fold or T-Folder for heavy board and 3-ply or 5-ply corrugated.
4. Real output: Box count equals belt speed divided by the blank length plus the gap. Example: at 300 m/min with blank length plus gap of 400 mm you get 750 boxes per minute; at 70% efficiency an 8-hour shift gives 750 × 60 × 8 × 0.7 ≈ 252,000 boxes.
5. Line balance: Die-cutting and folder-gluing capacities must match. A Technocut cutting 7,500 sheets per hour with 4 blanks per sheet produces 30,000 blanks per hour (500 per minute); in the example above the folder-gluer easily absorbs this flow.
6. Quality and options: Plan inline vision inspection (SmartVision), glue detection, Braille and packing from the start; adding them later lengthens the line and changes the layout.

About DGM (Degang Machinery)

DGM is a Chinese manufacturer of carton converting equipment with more than 36 years of research and development; its headquarters are in Huizhou. The manufacturer states that its main factory produces 500 machines a year with around 2,000 employees. It opened an automated factory in India in 2019 and has branches in Korea, Spain, the USA, Algeria, India and Thailand.

Özdemir Makine is the official distributor of DGM. Since 2014 we have handled sales of DGM folder-gluers, die-cutters and laminators in Türkiye and the Turkic Republics. We provide model selection, technical specifications, quotations, customs clearance, installation and spare parts directly from our offices in Istanbul and Krefeld (Germany).

You can browse the folding and gluing and die-cutting machines in our catalogue, and contact us for technical information and a quotation. For the steps before folding, see our die-cutting machine guide and our die-cutting and hot foil stamping guide; for laminated boxes, see our film laminating machine guide.

Technical values are taken from the manufacturer's current catalogue; the manufacturer may change them without notice. You can request the current technical specification from us for exact values.