SHANGHAI, China, August 2, 2026 — Zray has officially released the fourth generation of its ZLC series gift box lid closing machine, the ZLC-400, featuring a fully redesigned closing mechanism, enhanced automation capabilities, and seamless integration with the company’s carton forming machine assembly lines to create a continuous production flow from blank sheet to finished lidded carton. The new model replaces the third-generation ZLC-200 and incorporates feedback from over three years of field performance data collected from more than 40 installed units across 11 countries.

The ZLC-400 introduces a redesigned lid handling mechanism based on a six-axis articulated robot arm from KUKA, replacing the previous pneumatic cylinder-based lid placement system. The robotic solution provides programmable lid placement paths that accommodate non-rectangular lid geometries, off-center lid placements, and alignment-critical applications where lid-to-base registration tolerances of less than 0.3 mm are required. The system achieves a throughput of 25 lidded cartons per minute, a 25% improvement over the ZLC-200’s maximum rate of 20 per minute.

Integration with Zray’s carton forming machines is achieved through an in-line conveyor bridge module that transfers formed cartons directly from the forming machine’s discharge station to the lid closing machine’s infeed, eliminating the intermediate carton handling that previously required manual transfer or separate conveyor systems. The bridge module includes a buffer accumulation zone with a capacity of 15 cartons, providing operational decoupling that allows either machine to operate independently during brief stoppages on the other unit.

The control system represents a significant architectural upgrade from the ZLC-200. The ZLC-400 utilizes a Siemens S7-1500 PLC with an ET 200SP distributed I/O system, providing faster scan times, integrated safety functionality via PROFIsafe, and native OPC UA server capability for connection to plant-level SCADA and MES systems. The HMI has been redesigned with a 15-inch widescreen touch panel displaying 3D visualization of the machine status, live production KPIs, and an integrated maintenance scheduler with step-by-step guidance for routine service tasks.

“The ZLC-400 represents a generational leap for our lid closing technology,” said Mr. Chen Hao, Zray’s European Market Manager. “We listened carefully to our customers’ feedback on the previous generation — they wanted higher throughput, tighter alignment precision, and genuine single-operator operation when the lid closing machine is paired with a carton former. The robotic lid placement and in-line conveyor bridge deliver all three of these requirements, and the early adoption interest from customers in the cosmetics and premium spirits packaging sectors has been very encouraging.”

The ZLC-400 is available for order immediately, with the first production units scheduled for delivery in October 2026. Existing ZLC-200 customers will be offered a trade-in program providing a 15% discount on the ZLC-400 purchase price, with comprehensive integration engineering support for retrofitting the new model into existing production lines.

About Zray

Zray specializes in the design, manufacture, and export of carton forming machinery and packaging automation equipment. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, the company serves customers across the CIS, Eastern Europe, and EU markets with a product range spanning single-piece formers, three-piece formers, lid-closing machines, and high-speed double-head forming lines. All equipment is CE and EAC certified.