After three decades of fully manual pallet production, Tree Brand Packaging was looking to automate its operations. The American manufacturer now runs three Mychrome lines across its plants, and the reasons for choosing Mychrome had as much to do with people as with machinery.
Before investing in Mychrome machinery, Tree Brand Packaging operated as a fully manual facility. Founded in 1990, the company has grown to operate multiple plants across the US, including facilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas.
The transition to automation began in the early 2020’s, as the company started exploring machinery solutions across Europe and Asia. To see the technology in action, Tree Brand Packaging arranged a trip to visit existing Mychrome customer sites.
– Visiting plants where companies had been running Mychrome machinery for a long time gave us a high level of comfort. Working with a smaller family-owned business also allowed us to build a direct, personal relationship, which is vital when you are investing in long-term automation, says Chris Helms, President at Tree Brand Packaging.
Today, Tree Brand Packaging operates three Mychrome lines: a block line in Alabama, a stringer line in North Carolina and a smaller leg machine in Texas.
Working with a smaller family-owned business allowed us to build a direct, personal relationship.
The intuitive control systems of the Mychrome machines have made a significant impact on daily operations, allowing Tree Brand Packaging to switch between different customer recipes and custom sizes without difficulty. Beyond efficiency, the transition from manual work has dramatically improved workplace ergonomics.
– Inputting new recipes and sizes into the machines has been very straightforward for us. The main reason you automate is to reduce physical strain. Now, an operator can go home at the end of the day and still have the energy to play with their kids, Helms says.
For other pallet manufacturers considering a transition to automation, Helms believes that building a strong personal relationship and seeing the equipment in action are key.
– My advice to anyone looking at Mychrome is to go visit their plant, talk to operators who run the lines, and get to know the team. Creating a strong relationship is the most important first step, Helms concludes.