Rehber ·
Rigid Box Machine Guide: Horda Case Makers, Inner Laminating and Box Lines
How are rigid boxes made, what do case making and inner laminating machines do, and how many boxes per minute do they produce? We review Horda QZFM, ZFM, ZTC and DFM series and book-type and collapsible box lines.
- Reading time
- 6 min
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
A rigid box machine (case maker or automatic case making machine) wraps grey board with printed paper and folds its four edges to produce box lids, book covers and rigid box shells. Automatic models produce 20–35 pieces per minute and position the paper on the board with accuracy of up to ±0.1 mm. In this guide we review the case making, inner laminating and collapsible box machines of Horda, for which we have been the official distributor in Türkiye and the Turkic Republics since 2016, using data from the manufacturer's catalogue.
How does a rigid box and case making machine work?
On Horda's automatic case makers, cover production follows these steps:
- Paper feeding: The printed wrapping paper is fed sheet by sheet. Horda states that it was the first company in the industry to use a professional feeder dedicated to printing machines.
- Gluing: Glue is applied to the paper; the paper conveying structure is heated at constant temperature to stop paper sticking to the roller because of water vapour.
- Board feeding: A servo board feeder places 1–6 boards onto the paper.
- Correcting and positioning: Photoelectric sensors or a vision camera (CCD) align the board to the paper.
- Edge folding: The four edges of the paper are folded over the board; because mechanical folding is done in one plane, scratches are reduced.
- Pressing and collection: The cover is pressed and collected; on models with inner laminating, the cover is turned over and the lining paper is attached.
These machines produce boxes for mobile phones, liquor, cigarettes, mooncakes, tea, clothing, cosmetics and eyeshadow, as well as covers for folders, calendars, notebooks and hardcover books.
Which Horda machine for which job?
| Series | Operation | Max. size | Speed | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QZFM-700/1000K, B, B-II | Case making and inner laminating on one line | 450 × 700 / 600 × 1050 mm | 20–35 pcs/min | ±0.1–±0.25 mm |
| ZFM-700/1000K | Automatic case making (four photoelectric detection) | 450 × 720 / 600 × 1050 mm | 20–35 / 20–30 pcs/min | ±0.2 / ±0.25 mm |
| ZFM-1350A | Large-format case making (three photoelectric detection) | 750 × 1350 mm | 15–25 pcs/min | ±0.5 mm |
| ZFM-700/1000B and B-II | Irregular-shape cases (B), CCD camera cases (B-II) | 450 × 720 / 600 × 1050 mm | 20–35 / 25–35 pcs/min | ±0.1 mm |
| ZFM-500B | Round-corner box cases | 350 × 500 mm | 25–35 pcs/min | ±0.1 mm |
| ZTC-700/1000 | Automatic inner laminating (K, B-CCD, C) | 450 × 700 – 600 × 1050 mm | 15–38 pcs/min | ±0.1–±0.5 mm |
| DFM-1000B | Cover, collapsible box wings and inner laminating (3 in 1) | 600 × 1050 mm (wings 180 × 700 mm) | 25–35 pcs/min | ±0.1 mm |
| ZDH-700B | Collapsible box wings | 180 × 700 mm | 25–35 pcs/min | ±0.1 mm |
Source: Horda automatic case making machines catalogue. Paper weight is 100–250 g/m² on all series.
QZFM: case making and inner laminating in one machine
The QZFM-700/1000K is a fully automatic production line that completes four-side folding and inner paper laminating in one go. The cover is made first, then an intermediate conveyor carries it to the lining unit, where the lining paper is attached. The manufacturer states that the machine fills the market gap for multifunctional case makers.
For positioning it uses German LEUZE photoelectric sensors that keep the error within ±0.2 mm, and four sets of Japanese Panasonic servo motors raise the maximum speed to 30 pieces per minute. Board feeding also uses a Panasonic servo system. The CCD-camera QZFM-700/1000B-II reaches ±0.1 mm accuracy with visual positioning. On all QZFM models, paper weight is 100–250 g/m², board thickness 1–3 mm and the number of boards 1–6; power ranges from 30 to 42 kW.
Two design details lower running costs: the removable, insulated stainless steel glue tank makes cleaning easy and, according to the manufacturer, saves more than 60% energy compared with similar products. Platform-based mechanical edge folding folds all four sides in one plane, reducing scratches.
ZFM: automatic case making machines
On lines where inner laminating is done separately, the ZFM series makes only cases and boxes. The ZFM-700/1000K works with four photoelectric detectors and servo positioning, and the large-format ZFM-1350A with three photoelectric detectors. For irregular-shape cases, the ZFM-700/1000B, and the ZFM-700/1000B-II with vision camera and mechanical-arm board feeding, offer ±0.1 mm accuracy.
| Value | ZFM-700K | ZFM-1000K | ZFM-1350A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max. size | 450 × 720 mm | 600 × 1050 mm | 750 × 1350 mm |
| Min. size | 90 × 180 mm | 140 × 240 mm | 140 × 240 mm |
| Paper weight | 100–250 g/m² | 100–250 g/m² | 100–250 g/m² |
| Board thickness · number | 1–3 mm · 1–6 pcs | 1–3 mm · 1–6 pcs | 1–3 mm · 1–6 pcs |
| Min. spine · side-board width | 8 · 25 mm | 8 · 25 mm | 8 · 30 mm |
| Speed | 20–35 pcs/min | 20–30 pcs/min | 15–25 pcs/min |
| Positioning accuracy | ±0.2 mm | ±0.25 mm | ±0.5 mm |
| Power · weight | 16 kW · 3,500 kg | 18 kW · 5,000 kg | 19 kW · 6,500 kg |
ZFM-700/1000B and B-II: 450 × 720 / 600 × 1050 mm, minimum 90 × 180 / 120 × 200 mm, ±0.1 mm.
The ZFM-500B is designed for round-corner box cases: it produces cases from 60 × 120 mm to 350 × 500 mm with ±0.1 mm accuracy. Our catalogue lists Horda's ZFM 700-A, ZFM 900-A and ZFM 1000-A automatic case makers.
ZTC: automatic inner laminating machines
The ZTC series attaches lining paper to the inside of a finished cover or box. The ZTC-700/1000K works on covers up to 450 × 720 and 600 × 1050 mm at 20–35 pieces per minute with ±0.2–0.25 mm accuracy; the CCD-camera B version reaches ±0.1 mm. Across the series, board thickness is 1–4 mm and paper weight 100–250 g/m².
Book-type and collapsible box production lines
Horda designs its machines as lines as well as stand-alone units. The book-type box line combines inner paper laminating, cover making, rigid box making, metal sheet pasting and assembly; the manufacturer states that the line saves more than 50% in cost and runs with 1 master and 3 operators. The collapsible box line adds wing making and a box forming mechanism, and runs with 1 master and 5 operators. The line plan is prepared to suit the customer's site and operators.
The DFM-1000B combines case making, collapsible box wing making and inner laminating in one machine for small-batch, high-end custom orders. It was developed jointly with Zhejiang University; after size presetting, mode changeover is completed within 10 minutes. With 23 sets of servo motors, dual manipulators and a visual positioning system, it runs at 25–35 pieces per minute with ±0.1 mm accuracy; side-board thickness is 0.5–2 mm.
Auxiliary machines for the line include cardboard slitting, spine cutting and angle cutting machines, flattening machines and hole-punching machines. Horda also makes the BK-500/800 automatic frame stretching machine for canvas frames, running at 8–12 pieces per minute.
6 criteria for choosing the right rigid box machine
- Product type: ZFM for cases and boxes; QZFM for case making and inner laminating on the same line; DFM-1000B or ZDH-700B for collapsible boxes; ZFM-500B for round corners.
- Size: Your largest cover must fit 450 × 720 (700 models), 600 × 1050 (1000 models) or 750 × 1350 mm (ZFM-1350A); the minimum size should also be checked.
- Accuracy: If luxury packaging and print-to-edge registration are critical, choose the CCD-camera B-II models (±0.1 mm).
- Real output: A machine making 30 covers per minute produces 30 × 60 × 8 × 0.8 = 11,520 covers in 8 hours at 80% efficiency.
- Changeover: For small, frequently changing batches, the DFM-1000B's 10-minute mode change is decisive.
- Labour and line: A line design (book-type: 1 master + 3 operators) reduces labour compared with stand-alone machines; water, electricity and compressed air at the site should be planned from the start.
About Horda
Zhejiang Horda Intelligent Equipment develops and manufactures high-quality packaging equipment in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, China. Its products are CE certified; it holds more than 60 invention and utility model patents and ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification. It is the main drafter of the industry standard for automatic case making machines and a National High-tech Enterprise. Its products are exported to more than 50 countries and regions, including the Americas, Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and it has more than 6,000 customers.
Özdemir Makine is the official distributor of Horda. Since 2016 we have handled sales of Horda rigid box, case making and inner laminating machines in Türkiye and the Turkic Republics. We provide model selection, line planning, technical specifications, quotations, customs clearance, installation and spare parts directly from our offices in Istanbul and Krefeld (Germany).
You can browse the binding machines in our catalogue and contact us for technical information and a quotation. For preparing the wrapping paper, see our film laminating machine and screen printing machine guides; for folding carton production, see our folder-gluer machine guide.
Technical values are taken from the manufacturer's current catalogue; cost and energy saving figures are the manufacturer's statements, and the manufacturer may change values without notice. You can request the current technical specification from us for exact values.
Frequently asked questions
Horda automatic case makers produce 15–35 pieces per minute depending on the model: the ZFM-700K 20–35, the ZFM-500B and ZFM-B-II 25–35, the ZFM-1000K 20–30 and the large-format ZFM-1350A 15–25 pieces. In the QZFM series, four Panasonic servo motors raise the maximum speed to 30 pieces per minute.
A case making (automatic box making) machine wraps grey board with glued printed paper and folds the paper's four edges over the board. Rigid box lids, hardcover book covers, folder and calendar covers are produced on this machine.
An inner laminating machine attaches lining paper to the inside of a finished cover or box. The Horda ZTC series does this on a separate machine, while the QZFM series completes case making and inner laminating on one line in one go.
On Horda machines, accuracy ranges from ±0.1 to ±0.5 mm depending on the model. QZFM-K models with LEUZE photoelectric sensors keep the error within ±0.2 mm; the CCD-camera B-II models, the ZFM-500B and the DFM-1000B reach ±0.1 mm.
For collapsible boxes, side wings are produced in addition to the cover and joined with a box forming mechanism. The Horda DFM-1000B makes the cover, wings and inner laminating on one machine; the ZDH-700B makes only the wings. Horda's collapsible box line runs with 1 master and 5 operators.
On Horda case makers, wrapping paper is 100–250 g/m² and board thickness 1–3 mm (1–4 mm on ZTC inner laminating and some B models). 1–6 boards can be used in one cover, and collapsible box wings use 0.5–2 mm board.
Özdemir Makine has been the official distributor of Horda in Türkiye and the Turkic Republics since 2016. It provides model selection, line planning, quotations, customs clearance, installation and spare parts support from its offices in Istanbul and Krefeld (Germany).
The price depends on size, inner laminating, CCD camera, wing unit and the scope of the line. For a quotation configured to your needs, contact Özdemir Makine, the official distributor of Horda.
