Benefits Of Improving Packaging Equipment Efficiency

Companies always look to become more efficient. Whether with their human resources, accounting systems, or packaging, efficiency helps businesses achieve their goals and objectives. Here, we will discuss how some adjustments in the supply chain can make the packaging an efficient process.

Here is a quick overview of the key benefits of efficient packaging equipment.

Reducing packaging wastes

The word “efficient” is often associated with something capable of producing the desired result without resulting in a lot of waste. That essentially makes efficient packaging a solution to secure products without harming the environment. It also helps save costs. For instance, taping your boxes or shrink-wrapping your products manually makes you rely on a rough estimate of the use of the material.

On the other hand, relying on equipment allows you to use packaging materials in the right amounts. That eliminates the risk of using too little or too much material.

Ensuring consistency in packaging

Using equipment at various points of the packaging process guarantees a consistent result. For instance, you can label your bottles or other packages properly with the help of a label applicator. That way, every bottle or package will have a label in the right place. Reducing the number of errors or misplacements help you achieve consistency.

Labor efficiency

Deploying equipment along your packaging line makes your labor more efficient for several reasons. For instance, a worker will be at the risk of repetitive stress injury if he or she has to deal with a redundant task on the packaging line the entire day. It can slow that worker down and create problems in the final results. Allowing such workers to use equipment helps them work in a safe environment. On top of that, you will not need more people on your packaging line.

Reduced maintenance costs

Old machines, machines being used for wrong purposes, and machines that do not use proper consumables are all examples of how equipment can end up causing more harm than good. On the other hand, counting on efficient equipment not only makes your entire packaging line productive but also helps you reduce costs. You can discuss your requirements with equipment professionals while setting up packaging machinery to ensure an accurate installation.

Ensuring properly packed cases

Sometimes, companies end up delivering packages with wrong or missing items. It can be a significant problem for companies that package a lot of items per unit. It is pretty much like putting together a puzzle and finding out in the end that you have multiple pieces missing.

The best way to deal with this system is to use vision systems that utilize artificial intelligence to scan even packages and ensure that it encases every item before proceeding to the sealing process.

Cutting down on returns

Products returns can be costly in a lot of ways. They take a toll on the environment from the use of extra materials and transportation. They also take a toll on your business reputation. And, they take a toll on your company resources such as labor, materials, products, and many more. With the help of the right equipment, you can create better packages that remain undamaged during transit.

Amazon Paves the way for More frustration-Free Packaging

Amazon recently announced the frustration-free packaging incentive, which supposedly includes millions of products that allow for the giant to be supplied with packaging made for distribution that’s efficient and such. New vendors have also decided they’ll make packaging just for ecommerce too, and with easing frustration more and more people are behind this. Is this good for the long run? Yes! In the short-term, there are benefits too. Some of the benefits of this of course include: 

• It meets the demands for consumers by using less packaging. 

• Helps with sustainability goals 

• Lowers the packaging and transport costs 

• Lowers the  return rates for damages 

While there is definitely some focus on lowering carbon emissions, frustration-free packaging is another focus, since it does help with reducing packaging waste. The program that Amazon used started in 2018 where the durable goods, soft goods, and consumables that were larger than a certain amount or greater than 20 pounds were considered “non-sort” items. The sort items would be smaller products that fit in certain types of  items as well, including animals, beauty products, and the like as well. 

The incentive will increase the shipments of these types of packaging, reducing the portion of shipments in the traditional packaging, and the appeal that’s there, and also is good to help protect products that go through the supply chain. The flexible packaging is another one, since it is good for those who are looking to handle and eliminate packaging material as much as you can. You can optimize the product protection in order to limit the damages of this, and by expanding on this one you’ll be able to make it certified packaging that’s safe for you. 

Amazon first expanded on this in June of 2021, and right now, this is going to expand the incentives for the frustration-free packaging that is good for products which are sortable. They do range in price depending on the unit, and by unit, they mean a specific type of ASIN, and the number that identifies that. They do have a chargeback for frustration-free packaging that isn’t sortable, but they’re not expanding this right now to the sortable types of options for this kind of packaging. 

The goal of this incentive program is to help with transition costs, helping to accelerate the conversation of the packaging, and from there, make it not only more suitable, but also more sustainable too. All of the product packaging does pass the ISTA 6A text, and it does have its own ship in own container certification for this as well. From there, they look to see if there is a way to reduce the overall size of the packaging, and then from there, ensuring that the packaging is not only easy to open, but also totally recyclable. This new program supposedly reduces or keeps the volume for those who have incentives, so it definitely may reward vendors for maintaining the volume. The deadline for this new program can be as early as October of 2021, or as late as December of next year. But we hope that wit this type of packaging, and with reducing the frustrations of those that are going to be opening this, will definitely improve the way things are, and hopefully, as frustration-free packaging improves, more people will be able to use this, and also help their customers get the most that they can out of this, and also reducing the chances of hassle that come with the types of packaging that this has, and everything that goes on too.  

Biotech invents always-Upright Shipping Containers

Biotech, a company that focuses on alternative packaging, has created a new container. This is called the InSphero, which is an InFloat container that keeps everything upright, regardless of the orientation of the packaging. Being able to ship microtissues to bio and pharmaceutical companies along with academic laboratories, this is a strange machine that looks like a gyroscope, with a floating ball that keeps an internal temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, and 40 degrees Celsius all year round, which is good for the contents since they can handle the with pressure changes that go through the air cargo compartments. 

InSphero is one of the biggest leaders in specialized and functional 3D types of microtissue, aiding with drug discovery. These handle delicate microtissues in plates that involve various tiny wells, which are used in drug screeners and researchers. This does preserve the psychological function of the shipping, making sure it’s not trivial. The microtissue plates are totally vertical during all of this, but even then, they can sometimes flip, which is a challenge for a lot of 3D cell cultures since you can’t control everything that happens within the boxes after they leave the bioproduct in places. 

But this product was inspired by seafarers, and this type of system helps with the weights, preventing them from capsizing, using a principal that hasn’t been used in other packaging solution. The InFloat system does reduce the risks of shipping along with uncertainty, since they allows for the carefully packaged plates of tissues to float in water until they get to the destination. They fully patented the concept, and just recently InSphero did approach someone to demonstrate it.  It’s been developed and manufactured by a company called Taracell AG, which is in Switzerland, which is also a company that specializes in particle foam shipping and packaging for sensitive items. 

You may wonder if they’re going to license any of this to other companies, and the answer is yes. They want to create a more adapted version based on this concept so that more companies can benefit from this. Right now, the shipper itself will keep the microtissues alive for up to 3 days between the two locations, however this is dependent on the type of microtissue that they’re going to be transporting. For oxygenated microtissues, they’re still working on the logistics of this since the containers normally aren’t oxygenated. But in one instance, a shipper was held up during a snowstorm in Boston, where the plates were kept intact. The cargo wasn’t live microtissue, but the shipper seemed to hold the contents pretty easily, and hopefully, as they continue to work on getting this together, and making this more functional, they’ll be able to do a whole lot more with this. 

With this type of container, right now there isn’t a total singular type of price on that, and right now, if you’re already working with the company, and have purchased the in vitro models in the labs, you’ll get this, otherwise it’s best to enquire to them what exactly the costs is, and what it would take for you to get this one. As for the sizes, there is currently only one size, and it’s only sized to fit each of these components, since the microtissues do sit with the assay plate technology, sealed in sterile, film conditions, and they’re wrapped to keep the sterility there. But it does come with differ boxes for each of these cultures. Hopefully, as we see more use from this, more people are able to take advantage of this cool type of packaging option. 

Candy Supply Store

I work as a regional manager at a large warehouse for Hershey Inc. I started in this field as just a line worker, checking the quality of different products that were to be shipped out to different stores and manufacturers all around the world. After years of proving my competence, ability to work well with others, and a desire to move up in the world, I received enough promotions to make it to a management position. Many companies like to promote from within because it can be super useful to have someone in charge of employees who has been in their shoes. I know what it’s like to work in almost every position at this warehouse because I myself most likely worked in that position at one point. 

One problem that we have been running into recently has come with ever-changing problems associated with the pandemic. We have seen huge shifts in the economy as a whole, which then creates change within local markets. Given everything going on with COVID, supply and demand have been volatile depending on the good or service. Here at Hershey, we have seen a huge decrease in the amount of product ordered by restaurants, such as bakeries or cafes. Normally, these types of customers buy our candy boxes and chocolate in bulk to put into their baked goods or desserts that they serve to their own customers in their storefront. However, since the COVID lockdown started back in May, many stores were forced to close or do take-out only, and therefore could not sell their products as well. This meant that we saw quite a change in the amount of product we were sending to these customers. At first, this was somewhat alarming to our management and stockholders. However, it was made better by our retail and online sales increasing a large amount.

Most of our sales come from retailers like supermarkets and grocery stores. Thankfully, these numbers were still up due to COVID. Since people were spending a lot more time at home, there was an increase in the amount of Hershey’s chocolate being bought by the everyday consumer. Whether it be for baked goods, smores, or just eating right out of the candy boxes, people were buying a lot more of our chocolate than usual. This meant that we had a lot of stores ordering a lot more products than normal. Walmart was especially busy, and we found ourselves having to divert a lot of manufacturing in order to keep up with the demand from retail stores all across the country. The good news is that this increase in demand balances out the decrease we saw in the restaurant industry. 

As a manager at this warehouse, I had to make sure that the right amount of products were being sent to the right places every day. With all the complications caused by COVID and the extreme shift the market was taking, this was no easy task. However, I made sure to communicate well with my employees to ensure expectations were set and our company goals were being met. This time of uncertainty was an opportunity to assess my management style and to make sure that I was staying on top of my game. I am looking forward to what the future brings and hope that we are able to adapt well to whatever turn the market (and the world) takes next.

How much are Custom Printed Boxes

Custom printed boxes are not just a novelty product, they’re actually a low-cost means to make sure that you have the best branding for your business. With a lot of people moving away from brown boxes, this is a branded packaging choice that does attract and excite customers. Custom boxes offer a personalized branded experience, and usually, it can offer a really great opportunity for the company. It’s something that can help you. But how much does it cost? Read on to find out a little more about the costs of branded packaging. 

The size 

You want to make sure that it’s big enough for the products to be held as they’re ordered, but not big enough that it causes problems with the shipping. In general, the bigger the box, the more you will have to pay, but that isn’t always the case. Standard boxes will be a little less expensive than the custom ones because there’s more standard stock. But if you do want to get custom boxes you can always get quotes for how much this will cost. 

The order Size 

The total amount of boxes that you need also plays a part in this. In general, the more boxes you order, the lower the cost for every unit is, so even though the totals will be higher, the cost of custom boxes is a bit lower, which means that companies will be taking much larger margins. A lot of box companies usually have a minimum order for this, so you may need to order like a hundred or 500 for this to be in place, since this is usually because, for every design, they do need to have different plates. There is also the size of the boxes too. Standard sizes are a lot cheaper than custom sizes, so if you need custom options, which will indeed increase too. 

Colors 

Every company usually has a branded design that comes to life with this, and for the company, they do need to make new plates for this, and also need different ink for each order. You can get plates and stamps for this on your own, or have companies do this with flexographic kinds of printing. A lot of times, this does eat up the costs if you’re using a lot of colors. If you are going to use more than one color, this can get costly quite fast. It also does get pricey if you’re going to put different logos on there, so the larger the logo the bigger the costs. 

Is it Worth it? 

Yeah, it can be good for you. They show the customers that you’ve actually cared about the way the products are presented outside of the box, and if you’re willing to pay a bit more for printed boxes, it can add to the value. There is also a chance that it may offer a different kind of value to someone. 

They also offer a more professional image that definitely is hard to beat. Think about amazon boxes, they all have their own custom printing. There are so many different kinds of boxes, and we all know of them because they communicate the same feelings of professionalism and the product too. They offer a lot of different packaging options for your business. It may be viable if you’re printing a lot and can sustain the costs. But some people aren’t able to, so it may not be worth it. Call to figure out if you need to use these and get a quote for how much this will cost you as well.

Is Packaging an Abstract Art

In general, when we think of abstract art, we have well, abstract artists to think about. We normally don’t think about that with product packaging, right? Well, let’s look at this a bit differently now. Fine art, along with packaging are two things that are rarely together, but the thing is, they actually can offer a lot of different benefits that may not otherwise be found here. 

How do they Connect 

How do they actually connect with each other? When’s the last time you truly felt yourself lost in the packaging of a product. As crazy as this may be, this works for tens of brands, and it can actually be a major plus point for your packaging as well! 

When you use abstract art as a tool of branding, there are so many different examples out there. Sometimes it’s packaging that’s put on abstract art too. The cool thing about this, is that it’s creative packaging that really compels the imagination to work in overdrive.Also, the outstanding designs can help to inspire and get buyers to get interested in your products, and it does make a difference when you’re trying to stand out in the world of packaging too. 

You might not think it, but packaging, done with today’s supplies, throwing through a neural network, can indeed be abstract art. There are so many differ ways to use this.  You can also run these through neural networks, creating different interpretations of the image depending on the network and the web tagged with the packaging name as well. 

Typos of Packaging 

There are different packaging that’s used to create this sort of abstract art, which we’ll touch on now. The first, is shrink film, which is flexible packaging for thousands of products. This is a sealer that’s sealing one side or another, and it heats up to create the seal. You then see the film fit almost perfectly over pretty much anything, and it’s how a lot of electronics, books, games, and other goods too are packaged. 

This type of packaging can be turned into abstract art because of how it’s sealed. Next, we have stand up pouches or flex pouches, and they are considered abstract because of the almost psychedelic looks and patterns that are put on this, and for the most part, they’re made from foils, and they also use papers and other materials. They are super popular, and tons of customers love these because they reduce the carbon footprint, and don’t cut into costs too. 

They also can be abstract because of their cool graphics and font types as well, so it’s definitely a fun packaging that does tap into the art aspects as well. Finally, we’ve got blister packaging or blister packs, which are considered carded with a bit of plastic there, and usually have interesting dynamics. There is a thermoformed blister along with a backers there, and the back is usually paperboard, and it’s connected with a seal to this as well. They’re used in everything from car and hardware papers, to even medicines and batteries, and they’re designed with easy capabilities, and it won’t cause wrap rage too. 

How is this one abstract? Well, think about the weird ways the products stand out on this? They can create unique shapes, and when using the right graphics and whatnot, they draw the user into the product, so they can see what it is, but it’s not going to take away from this. 

Packaging is hart, and here, we went over the types of abstract art packaging tends to have too.