Your production line is the public face of your company. How well the packaging machinery works and what it looks like has important implications for the success of your business. 

In this post, we’re looking at the huge role end of line packaging machinery plays in a company’s success, what we call "Packaging Prosperity." 

Here are a few reasons worth considering:

Your Clients

Existing clients and new prospects make judgments by what they see. Especially if your end of line packaging machinery isn’t working properly. Poorly running case packers-tray packers and shrink wrappers means late deliveries, bad quality, and higher costs.  When they see packaging automation they view you as a forward-thinking company investing in the future. Packaging machines that run great by extension build confidence that your entire plant is working well too.

Your Employees

Consider all the times your packaging machinery line shuts down. Every crash causes frustration and extra work that no one likes.  You end up with employees who think if you don’t prioritize excellence, why should they? These frustrations can also lead to staffing issues and retention problems. Dedicated employees are essential to your success.

Case packing machines can offer an immense amount of value to retailers and wholesalers; specifically, case packers provide a fully automatic secondary packaging solution. When integrated correctly, case packers can help manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers reduce labor costs and improve productivity.

Now with a variety of secondary packaging options available, you may be wondering: are case packers right for my product? While shrink wrap machines or tray packers may be the better choice for certain products, there are still many products that are better suited for case packing.

These 3 industries can benefit greatly from using case packer machines.

The Refrigerated Food Industry

Many retailers can and do benefit from stocking cases of refrigerated foods, like cups of yoghurt or ice cream. Packing and storing these cups in cases make it easy for merchandisers to grab the right quantities needed to build attractive displays.

The Beer Industry

Ever wonder how variety packs of beer get put together? Case packing is the answer. With easy change over, case packers can package variety packs quickly and efficiently.

The packaging industry is growing thanks to an improving economy and more consumers shopping for goods online. According to a report by consulting firm Smithers, the world packaging market was valued at $917B in 2019 and will continue to grow steadily to reach $1.05 trillion by 2024.

A combination of unique design, technology to create storage containers and packing machinery, all make it possible for companies to store, ship and sell items. Here are some of the hottest trends emerging in packaging for 2020.

Sustainable Packaging

Increasing consumer awareness of ecological problems in the world and demands from regulatory bodies for greater sustainability has lead many packaging engineers and manufacturers to start working on ways to lessen the carbon footprint and improve the sustainability of packaging. We are still a bit away from edible plastic wrappers, but one practical and ready way to begin to add sustainability and green awareness to operations is with right-sized packaging. As the name explains, this is packaging designed to waste the least amount of empty space possible. Smaller packaging reduces truckloads and transportation requirements which have an effect on costs and benefits for the environment.

Clear & Concise Designs

In addition to how packaging is created and placed around items, there are also many new trends emerging in design and brand marketing. New colors, image styles, and text layouts are changing to meet consumer demands. To help brands stand out among the competition, designers are working on clean, concise and transparent designs that are eye-catching but still provide trustworthy, important details about the product right on its label. They’re also leveraging abstract designs, color gradients, and intricate designs to draw buyers in with packaging.

Connected Labels

Packaging with connected labels is also seeing growth in 2020. Consumers are already using their mobile devices to do everything else. Now, with “smart labels,” they can scan packages to get more information. Connected labels can also be tamper-evident, offer anti-theft properties and push authentication. In addition to serialized codes for a phone to scan and connect to the Internet, these labels can also be a form of sensor that physically senses changes taking place with a package. Where it’s stored, how it’s handled, if temperature exposures are affecting the contents of the packaging and more.

Secondary packaging is a lucrative necessity for retailers, wholesalers, and CPG professionals nationwide. Not only does secondary packaging help create attractive merchandising displays, it also helps to protect primary packages as they make their way through the supply chain to the customer. 

In 2020, the secondary packaging industry is embracing eco-friendly solutions and automation. Making such strides will help streamline processes and increase output. Here’s why automation and eco-friendly solutions are so important to the future of secondary packaging.

Automation Improves Output 

Mechanical case formers, band sealers, cartoning machines, and shrink wrappers can all be automated effectively. As we move into the new year, contract packaging companies will adopt automated procedures in order to keep pace with the growing demand for product delivery. 

Shrink wrapping offers numerous advantages to both retailers and wholesalers. From the consumer’s perspective, shrink wrapped products are easy to carry, and they appear fresher than items that are not. Of course, anything that benefits the consumer also benefits the wholesaler. Still, wholesalers gain a unique advantage as well: shrink wrappers give them the ability to offer certain products in bulk.

The next logical question, then, is who specifically can benefit from using shrink wrap machines?

These 3 industries can benefit greatly from them:

The Beverage Industry

Bundled packages of water bottles are perhaps the most widely recognized example of effective shrink wrapping at work. In addition to bottles of water, shrink wrap machines can aid in the packaging of beer, energy drinks, soda, and more. When properly wrapped with bullseye ends, these bundles of beverages can look great on display. 

The Canning Industry

In addition to beverages, cans can also be bundled efficiently with shrink wrap. Small bundles of cans are very easy to transport when shrink wrapped. For large #10 cans, wholesalers can reap many benefits from adopting trays over cases.

 

If you eliminate just 30 minutes of down time per day, you’ll gain an incredible 15 extra days of production. That is assuming just 1 shift per day!  

There is perhaps nothing more important to a manufacturer’s bottom line than efficiency and productivity. If you sell products in retail or wholesale spaces, then you must know how vital your secondary packaging strategy is to your overall success. You cannot achieve optimal productivity levels unless your machines are in good working condition and have at least 10% higher capacity than your maximum production output.  

How do you know if your machines are running as efficiently as possible? Here’s how to tell.

Signs That You Need New Secondary Packaging Machines

It doesn’t matter if you’re using case packers, tray packers, or shrink wrap machines--if you can answer yes to one of the following points, then you can benefit from a new machine.

For any business that must bundle and wrap their products and goods for shipping and resale, understanding how shrinking wrapping works is a critical first step. Getting items properly packed and shipped is as important as knowing if the product you wish to package is a candidate for shrink wrapping.

Steps involved in shrink wrapping items include grouping items appropriately, choosing the correct shrink film and heat method as well and understanding the loading and stacking of products. Each of these elements plays a role in the ultimate efficiency and cost savings that can be achieved by choosing to shrink wrap.

AutoPack is one of the best-known brands in the packaging industry. For over 35 years it’s offered reliable and affordable packaging machines made of quality parts to reduce downtime. With their solutions, production lines move along quickly, space is saved, costs are being reduced - all while keeping machines running for long service life.

Small and large businesses across the globe depend on these machines to create seals that protect their products, enhance on-package marketing and even ease transportation and handling.

Other benefits that make shrink wrapping an appealing choice for businesses is the ability to protect goods from possible leaks or other damage as well as automation levels that can be achieved.

When it comes time to choose the correct shrink wrap machine for your needs, it’s important to not only look at the type of machine, but also the product.

Questions like: “What is the desired or required end result?” can help you to understand which machine will offer the best results.

 

A standard shrink wrap machine produces a bullseye hole pattern at the ends and is great for making a tough package of multiple items. An example of this would be at your local store where packages of bottled water can easily be picked up off the shelf using the openings on the side of the packaging.

Bullseye shrink wrapping is most often used for larger, taller or heavier bundles as well as shelf-stocking and efficiency considerations.

 

Case Study #1910

 

 

Careful Automation Overcomes Productivity Problems for New England Company                                  

A Connecticut company recently brought its production problems to Holland Packaging. After a required manual quality check on their products, it was discovered that they were also manually bundling and packing with over half a dozen employees. After upgrading the production line, now packing was the new bottleneck.

The company solution was to add six more people and a larger hand packing station. They were also concerned about continuing production during installation and the impact automation would have on their good and loyal people.

Pharmaceutical companies have exacting packaging standards to comply with FDA requirements and to meet the ever-changing needs of their customers. To make this all happen, they partner with shrink wrap experts like Autopack to get the job done.

Our popular Autopack shrink bundlers are used throughout the industry to collate and shrink wrap bottles or cartons in a tight shrink-wrapped package and also to provide pharmaceutical companies with peace of mind knowing their production lines are moving along efficiently and cost-effectively.

Holland Packaging’s Autopack Shrink Packaging Systems meet the very high standards expected at pharmaceutical companies for their production lines. Some of the key benefits include: 

• Compliance with strict specifications for each client.
• Stainless steel constructed machines.
• Allen Bradley PLC and HMI.
• UL and cUL certified electrical panels.
• Compact designs.
• The ability to run round, oval, and square containers on the same machine.
• Right angle infeeds.

And so much more!

Holland Packaging’s SLM shrink bundler was recently selected by a major Montreal pharmaceutical company looking for a solution that met FDA requirements while also providing rapid and consistent changeovers in a tight production line space. Autopack was the clear choice!

Shrink wrapped packages are quite common these days--and for good reason. After all, shrink wrapping comes with some great benefits; however, as beneficial as shrink wrapping and bundling can be, many manufacturers are still not taking advantage of it. Why? Because many still believe that it’s either not as secure as corrugated, too expensive, a harm to the environment, or not versatile enough. These assumptions are often born out of misinformation. Today, we’re going to set the record straight.

 

 

The beer industry has been a longstanding winner among consumer goods, providing generations with malt-based beverages they love. According to the National Beer Wholesalers Association, the U.S. beer industry sells over $119.3 billion in beer and malt-based beverages to U.S. consumers each year. The 202.2 million barrels of beer shipped in 2018, equals over 2.8 billion cases of 24-12 ounce servings.

That’s a lot of 24 packs!

Whether your favorite brew is a traditional bottled style or a new small-batch craft – knowing that you’re drinking from a clean container for that first refreshing sip is important.

Speedier Packaging & High Impact Graphics

Shrinkwrapping plays an important packaging role at all types of production facilities. Creating goods that are easy to ship, handle, and maintains product hygiene are all important reasons to invest in Autopack shrink bundling systems.

Using eye-catching print film also increases sales dramatically compared to clear film packaging. These days virtually all soft drink and bottled water packaging use print film to stand out in the crowded field. Clear film packaging is no longer optional if you want to be a serious competitor. 

Benefits of Autopack’s CMOS for Packaging with Shrink Film

• Packaging in print film increases sales big time. Consumers make snap decisions that are often based on a product’s appearance. High-resolution graphics are displayed on the product wrapper without distortion. Print film with messaging is also a highly effective form of point of sale advertising.
  
  
• Autopack “CMOS” machines come in numerous configurations and product handling capabilities. Whether you pack cans, bottles, boxes, or whatever, Autopack probably has a machine to fit your needs.
  
  
• Shrink bundling often eliminates the need for corrugated trays, pads, and boxes. The saving can be huge.
  
  
• Less corrugated means less waste and that helps your customers to “Go Green!"
  
  
• Affordability! Autopack is an exceptional value.
  
  
• Small footprint. Use less valuable production floor space!

Get in touch today!

If you’re a wholesale food supplier looking to boost your bottom line and reduce waste, then it’s important to optimize your secondary packaging methods regularly. One of the easiest ways to cut costs while maintaining output quality is by packing #10 cans into trays instead of cases.

Why You Should Adopt Trays Over Cases

There is certainly a time and place for case packing, but when you’re supplying packs of #10 cans, then it’s smarter to use trays. Ultimately, you should switch from cases to trays if you want to...

There is perhaps nothing more important to a retail marketing strategy than an effective display. After all, If you want your products to jump off the shelves like hotcakes, they need to be visually appealing to consumers.

Now you may be wondering:

how can I make my product stand out from the sea of competitors? By leveraging the power of Secondary Packaging.

What Exactly Is Secondary Packaging?

To understand Secondary Packaging, let’s first define Primary Packaging. Primary Packaging is packaging that comes in direct contact with the product. Soda, for example, comes in bottles and cans; the cans/bottles are the Primary Package. When you purchase a pack of soda, it’s usually housed in cardboard so that the cans/bottles are easy to transport. The cardboard is considered Secondary Packaging. Why? Because it helps to protect the product’s primary package (the can/bottle).

Of course, cardboard is but one example of Secondary Packaging. Other common Secondary Packaging materials include crates, trays, cartons, and shrink wrapped bundles.

​ When it comes to secondary packaging solutions, retailers, distributors, and consumer packaging goods manufacturers (CPGs) often wonder whether they should opt for wraparound cases over regular slotted cases (RSC).  What Are Regular Slotted Cases (RSC)? ​​ Also known as a Knock Down case, RSC's are your "typical" container: when folded, the ...

By Rlsheehan - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

 

Shrink wrapping seems like a pretty basic concept. A film is placed over a product and is heated to enclose and seal it as packaging. You can expect savings of up to 70%* with shrink wrapping your products without the conventional corrugated case.  (*Number provided by customers based on their experience.)

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at different types of shrink wrapping and the benefits of bullseye enclosures.

Types of Film

One of the first things to think about when it comes to shrink wrapping items is the type of film that will be used. Some options include: