E-commerce isn't just about having a killer website and eye-catching products; it's about getting those goodies into your customers' hands as smoothly as possible. But the world of order fulfillment can be a bit of a rollercoaster. Have you ever felt the sting of delayed shipments, the frustration of shipping mishaps, or the weight of skyrocketing costs? These aren't just minor hiccups—they're major headaches that can send your customers running straight into the arms of your competitors.

An effective ecommerce fulfillment process can help your organization. This guide will share some tried-and-true fulfillment strategies to arm you with the knowledge you need to transform your fulfillment operation from chaotic to champion-level. Get ready to wave goodbye to those fulfilment nightmares and say hello to a smoother, more efficient, and, dare we say, even enjoyable e-commerce journey.

Automate Order Processing

In today's fast-paced e-commerce world, customers expect their orders yesterday, and any delay can mean lost sales and grumpy reviews. Enter the magic of automation. Imagine having a trusty tool that handles the nitty-gritty of order management while you focus on the big picture. That's exactly what ecommerce fulfillment solutions do. These digital dynamos take the reins on order entry, payment processing, label generation, and even inventory updates, all without you lifting a finger.

Here's how it works: a customer places an order on your website. The automation software swoops in, verifies the payment, generates a shipping label, and notifies your warehouse team for picking and packing. It's like having an efficient assistant ensuring each order gets out the door quickly and accurately.

Are you not sure where to start? There are plenty of order fulfillment options out there, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The key is to find a solution that integrates seamlessly with your e-commerce platform and meets your business's specific needs.

Optimize Inventory Management

The dreaded "Out of Stock" message. It's the e-commerce equivalent of a rain cloud on a sunny day, leaving customers disappointed. But the headaches don't stop there. Overstocking can tie up your cash flow and leave you with a warehouse full of products gathering dust. The key to avoiding these pitfalls lies in cracking the code of inventory management. Here's how you can optimize your inventory:

Understand your customers

Dig into your sales data, identify trends, and forecast what your customers are likely to buy and when.

Track your inventory

Use inventory management software to keep tabs on stock levels in real-time, so you always know what's available, what's on order, and when it's time to restock.

Maintain safety stock

Keep a buffer of inventory to account for unexpected spikes in demand or delays in shipments.

Choose your restocking strategy

Decide whether a "just in time" approach (ordering smaller quantities more frequently) or bulk ordering (for volume discounts) works best for your business.

By optimizing your inventory management, you'll hit the sweet spot between meeting customer demand and avoiding excessive stock. The results? Happier customers, healthier finances, and a smoother-running e-commerce operation.

Improve Warehouse Efficiency

Optimizing warehouse efficiency is key to reducing costs, improving order fulfillment times, and increasing overall productivity. Here are some strategies to consider:

Implement a Warehouse Management System (WMS):

Warehouse management systems can streamline operations by automating tasks, tracking inventory in real-time, and optimizing warehouse layout and picking routes.

Optimize warehouse layout

Design your warehouse to minimize travel distances for workers and equipment. Group high-demand items together and create efficient picking paths.

Adopt lean principles

Identify and eliminate waste in your processes. This could involve reducing excess inventory, optimizing storage space, and streamlining workflows.

Train and empower employees

Provide comprehensive training on warehouse processes, safety procedures, and the use of technology. Empower employees to identify and suggest improvements.

Regularly analyze and review

Track key performance indicators (KPIs), such as order accuracy, picking efficiency, and storage utilization. Use this data to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.

Implementing these strategies can create a more efficient fulfillment center that delivers value to your customers and your bottom line.

Partner with a Reliable Shipping Carrier

Efficient ecommerce shipping is essential for timely delivery and customer satisfaction. Partnering with a reliable ecommerce fulfillment provider can ensure your products reach customers quickly and in good condition. Consider the following:

• Research and compare: Research different fulfillment companies, insurance, and excellent customer service.
• Negotiate rates: If you ship in large volumes, negotiate with carriers to secure the best possible rates. Consider consolidating shipments to further reduce costs.
• Choose the right service: Based on the urgency and value of your products, select the appropriate shipping service. Options may include standard, express, or overnight shipping.
• Use technology: Leverage technology to streamline shipping processes. Use order fulfillment software to automate tasks, compare rates, and track order status in real-time.
• Build relationships: Develop strong relationships with your carriers to ensure smooth communication and priority service when needed.
• Monitor performance: Regularly monitor your carriers' performance. Track delivery times, damage rates, and customer feedback to ensure they meet your standards.

A well-chosen ecommerce fulfillment provider can become an extension of your brand, reinforcing your commitment to quality and service.

Enhance Packaging and Labeling Processes

Efficient and effective packaging and labeling processes are crucial for protecting your products during shipping, ensuring accurate fulfillment operations, and presenting a professional brand image. Consider the following strategies:

Choose the right materials

Select packaging materials that are appropriate for shipping products and provide adequate protection during transit. Consider factors like product weight, fragility, and shipping distance.

Optimize packaging size

Use packaging that fits your products snugly to minimize movement and reduce the need for excessive filler material. This can also help reduce shipping costs.

Automate labeling

Implement automated labeling systems to improve accuracy and efficiency. This can include printing labels directly onto packaging materials or using automated label applicators.

Branding

Incorporate your logo, colors, and messaging to create a consistent brand experience.

Sustainability

Consider using eco-friendly packaging materials to reduce your environmental impact and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

By enhancing your pick and pack processes, you can protect your products, improve efficiency, and enhance your brand image.

Final Thoughts

By optimizing each step of your e commerce order fulfillment process, you create a seamless experience that meets customer expectations and even exceeds them. This leads to increased satisfaction, loyalty, and ultimately, sustainable growth for your business.

Climate change is a pressing issue, and packaging waste is a significant contributor. Every year, millions of tons of packaging end up in landfills, incinerators, or our oceans. This packaging waste pollutes our environment, harms wildlife, and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

But there is good news! By taking steps to reduce your packaging's carbon footprint, you can make a positive impact on the planet. In this guide, you'll discover how you can implement carbon reduction strategies throughout your packaging process.

Understand Your Packaging

The first step to reducing your packaging's carbon footprint is understanding it thoroughly. Here's what you need to consider:

Materials

What materials are you currently using? Are they plastic, cardboard, paper, or something else? Each material has a different environmental impact. For instance, plastic production is energy-intensive and can release harmful chemicals.

Cardboard and paper are generally better options, but using recycled content is even more eco-friendly. Integrating a sustainable procurement policy can help ensure that the materials sourced are environmentally friendly. To find out more about this, check out some helpful resources online.

Quantity

How much packaging are you using per product? Can you lessen the amount of material used without compromising protection? Analyze your products and see if there are ways to streamline your packaging. Often, simple adjustments like using a smaller box or thinner cardboard can make a big difference.

Weight

Heavier packaging requires more energy to transport, so minimizing weight is important. Consider the weight of your product and choose lightweight packaging materials whenever possible. This will not only reduce your carbon footprint but also potentially lower your shipping costs.

Lifecycle

Consider the entire lifecycle of your packaging, from material extraction and manufacturing to transportation, use, and disposal. Look for ways to lessen emissions at each stage. For example, choosing recycled materials decreases the environmental impact of extraction and manufacturing. Designing packaging for easy disassembly can facilitate recycling by consumers.

 Understanding this process will point out opportunities to cut down on emissions.

Reduce Packaging Materials

Less is often more when it comes to packaging. Evaluate your products to see if you can use less material without compromising protection. This might mean redesigning your packaging or finding alternative materials.

Think about using minimal sustainable packaging. If your product doesn't need a lot of protection, consider using less material. This can significantly lower your carbon footprint.

Choose Sustainable Materials

The materials you use for packaging matter. Opt for sustainable options whenever possible. Here are some ways to make sustainable choices:

Recycled Content

Opt for packaging made with post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. These products are crafted from materials previously used by consumers, thereby reducing the demand for virgin resources.

Biodegradable and Compostable Materials

These materials break down naturally over time, leaving behind no harmful residues. This is a great option for packaging that will be thrown away after use. Examples of biodegradable and compostable materials include plant-based plastics made from corn starch, sugarcane, or cellulose.

Alternative Materials

Explore innovative packaging solutions made from sustainable materials. Some interesting options are bamboo, sugarcane pulp, and ocean water plastic.

Using sustainable materials for packaging can decrease environmental impact and promote a circular economy.

Optimize Packaging Design

The way you design your packaging can make a big difference. Efficient packaging design lessens material waste and transportation emissions. Consider the shape, size, and structure of your packaging.

Use packaging design tools. There are software programs that can help you optimize your packaging design for efficiency and sustainability. These tools can help you cut back material usage and minimize waste.

Improve Packaging Efficiency

There are many ways to improve the efficiency of your packaging process. Reducing waste, optimizing transportation, and increasing recycling rates are all key areas to focus on when implementing sustainable practices in business.

Consolidate the shipments. Sometimes, combining multiple orders into one shipment may help limit the number of delivery vehicles on the road, lowering carbon emissions.

Invest in Recycling and Waste Management

Recycling is crucial for reducing packaging's carbon footprint. Implement effective recycling programs within your business. Encourage customers to recycle your packaging as well.

Explore waste reduction strategies. Look for ways to decrease packaging waste throughout your operations. This could involve process improvements or redesigning packaging to lessen waste.

Consider partnering with recycling companies or waste management services that prioritize sustainability. This collaboration can help you improve your recycling efforts and minimize your overall environmental impact.

Measure and Monitor Your Progress

Tracking your progress is essential for making continuous improvements. Set clear goals for reducing your packaging's carbon footprint. Monitor your performance and make adjustments as needed.

Use carbon footprint calculators. These tools can help you measure the environmental impact of your packaging. This data will guide your decision-making process.

Conclusion

Implementing carbon reduction in packaging is a practical and impactful way to contribute to a healthier planet. By following these steps, it's never impossible to reduce your carbon footprint. Remember, every small change adds up. Start today and make a positive difference for your business and the environment.

Malaysian based Hexachase Flexipack, one of three divisions of the Hexachase Group, has installed a Nordmeccanica Super Simplex laminator fitted with Vetaphone corona technology at its production facility in Cheng, Melaka.

Founded initially as Hexachase Labels in 1996, with Hexachase Packaging added in 2002, Hexachase Flexipack was opened in 2015 with a mission to create innovative and sustainable packaging solutions with a strong ‘green conscience’.  The company specialises in converting primary flexible materials, including film and laminates into single or multiple layers high quality printed packaging materials. The flexible packaging is supplied in roll form or as pre-made pouches.

The company prides itself on using advanced technology to serve a variety of market sectors in which the maintenance of strict quality management practices is essential to meet the specifications of multi-national as well as local companies.  According to Executive Director Chai: “Hexachase aim is to deliver versatile, eco-friendly flexible packaging solutions that combine protection with shelf-appeal on custom designs that are sustainable.”

The materials (substrates) in most use are PP and PE and to laminate these films successfully requires surface treatment before they are rotogravure printed on one of three presses.  Hexachase has four Nordmeccanica laminating lines running 90% solvent free.  The latest laminator was specified with two Vetaphone corona treaters, supplied through the Danish manufacturer’s local agent Colorblend.  These are VE1C-D (C4) models with a 1420mm web width and a 6kW power rating, capable of running at sustained speeds of 450 m/min.

Rayson Ng, Business Development Manager at Colorblend takes up the story: “Hexachase knew Vetaphone had a good reputation for design, and following a recommendation from a customer, we arranged to do a livestream demo for them from the manufacturer’s showroom in Denmark.”  Three things really impressed Hexachase: the iCorona ‘intelligent’ generator, the easily removable cartridge that allows the operator to clean and maintain the electrodes, and the integrated iCC7 panel that offers touchscreen control.

Speaking for Vetaphone, Sales Manager for Asia-Pacific Holger Selenka commented: “We are delighted to be onboard with such a vibrant company as Hexachase and look forward to extending our business with them.  To be able to demonstrate our technology with a live link to our showroom in Denmark proved crucial in securing this order, and we see it as an asset for all those companies who are too far from Denmark to visit in person.”

Hexachase Flexipack will continue to grow its business from a current annual sales figure of around $25m, 30% of which is exported to nearby Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, as well as Europe. 
 

In today's fast-paced world, the convenient click of a button on your phone or computer can bring almost anything to your doorstep. In addition to the item you ordered, there’s another important component that’s often overlooked - the packaging material.

From sturdy cardboard boxes to bubble wrap and foam peanuts, these materials ensure your products reach you in pristine condition. Yet, once you've unwrapped your items, you're left with the daunting task of disposing of them. 

For perspective, research by environmental charity, Hubbub shows that waste from takeaway and fast-food lunches generates around 11 billion separate waste items per year. The kicker? This is in the UK alone. 

Data like the one presented motivate disposal experts such as those at www.samedayrubbishremoval.com.au and others to double their waste recycling and management efforts. Their efforts may not be in vain, as when correctly managed, packaging materials can be repurposed, recycled, or even serve as a resource for energy generation.  

To that end, here are six smart options to consider when disposing of packaging materials:   

1. Recycling    

As consumers, you may encounter various forms of packaging daily. Materials such as cardboard and paper are often readily accepted in government recycling programs. Others, like glass and plastic that are difficult to recycle, also end up in relevant government programs for safe disposal.   

Generally, a good practice is to dispose of non-recyclable packaging materials in a proper bin for proper dumping, and the same should be done to recyclable materials. Dumping non-recyclable packaging materials in a container meant for recycling is not advisable, as it can contaminate the recycling stream.    

2. Composting    

Composting is a natural form of recycling for specific types of materials. You can easily shred and compost biodegradable packaging materials like cardboard and paper and add them to a compost pile in your yard.     

As these materials decompose, they enrich the soil with essential nutrients, promoting a healthier plant growth environment. This practice aligns with the circular economy principles, turning waste into a valuable resource for gardening purposes. You can grow vegetables, fruits, and spices or maintain your yard with this waste.  

Also, composting reduces the amount of waste that goes to landfills, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions and a packaging waste crisis.  

3. Repurposing   

The adage, 'waste not, want not,' rings particularly true when considering the repurposing of packaging materials. Creativity and innovation allow these materials to enjoy a second life in another role.     

Cardboard boxes, for instance, have excellent reusability potential, serving as practical storage solutions or canvases for creative DIY projects. Retaining bubble wrap and air-filled plastic packets for future shipping needs can also reduce the need for new materials, reducing overall waste generation.    

4. Donation   

Donating reusable packaging materials to local charities, schools, or small businesses is a practical and community-oriented waste reduction strategy. Charity organizations, for example, can use boxes to pack warm meals for people living in shelters or even clothes for people experiencing homelessness or in dire need. 

On the other hand, small businesses can also use the same materials to repackage their goods for their retail customers.    

Clean materials that can serve a secondary purpose not only help these organizations but also conserve resources by prolonging the life of the packaging materials. This practice exemplifies the sharing economy concept and promotes a sense of communal responsibility toward waste management.   

5. Eco-friendly Disposal Services    

Leveraging the expertise of waste management companies can be particularly beneficial when dealing with large quantities of packaging material. These organizations possess the necessary infrastructure to dispose of or recycle these materials ecologically and responsibly.  

Their adherence to environmental protection regulations and standards ensures the disposal process doesn't contribute to pollution or landfill overcapacity. It provides a sustainable and hassle-free waste management solution.    

6. Energy Recovery  

The process of energy recovery offers a viable solution for non-recyclable packaging materials. Waste-to-energy facilities incinerate waste at high temperatures, and the resulting heat produces electricity.     

These facilities typically handle combustible packaging materials with high energy content, such as paper, cardboard, and plastics. This method effectively utilizes waste that can't be recycled and transforms it into a valuable resource. By doing so, the energy recovery systems contribute significantly to a more sustainable energy and environmental landscape.   

Act Now   

The issue of packaging waste is a complex one that requires careful consideration and action. The change can start with you exploring the various options for reducing, reusing, and recycling packaging materials. 

Remember, every package you encounter is a chance to make a sustainable choice and contribute to a better future. It would help if you considered embracing these opportunities to work towards a world where packaging waste is no longer a problem, one package at a time.  

Innovative SENSE™ software enhancements allow M30 R-Series metal detection range to bring next-level automation and affordable compliance to manufacturers looking to boost performance and productivity.  

Salford, Manchester, UK, 17 April 2023 – Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection has launched a new software update for its M30 R-Series metal detection systems designed to offer practical improvements that can help boost productivity and make compliance easier. The highly innovative SENSE™ software offers increased metal detection security and performance capabilities at an affordable price and addresses multiple food safety regulations and standards facing manufacturers all over the world. 

“This next level in SENSE™ is a huge leap in the metal detection field,” said Rob Stevens, Metal Detection Systems Product Inspection Specialist, Mettler-Toledo. “By automating the processes further, we can now offer our customers a game-changing way to future-proof their production lines, resulting in less room for human error and more consistent productivity and efficiency. The digitalisation of data reporting and storing also offers manufacturers the chance to improve their green credentials at a time when increased sustainability is so fundamental. We are looking forward to sharing this new technology with our customers and prospects at Interpack in May.”  

Where the upgraded SENSE™ metal detector software really stands out is in the future-proof benefits available to manufacturers and co-packers. The new software enables the M30 R-Series metal detection system to automatically integrate with ProdX™ data management software. This results in streamlined processes, automated reporting of inspection activities and easy data collection in real-time at the touch of a button, plus simplified and paperless data storage and quick retrieval of information. The intelligence that can be gleaned from the reported information supports full visibility and transparency of the product journey and helps digitalise food safety compliance.  

For easy filtering of historic Performance Monitoring Routine (PMR) testing information, SENSE™ software provides PMR Log and Report capabilities and functionality to help improve operational efficiencies. This efficient digital process offers instant retrieval of data which can be used easily to assist with management reporting. It also helps to improve production line efficiency and makes the process far less susceptible to human error.   

With an innovative PMR Wizard, the system offers an end to end, structured and guided performance test process, from initiation to reporting, including test due alerts, a guided test process wizard and test frequency and scheduling.  

The software has the ability to set up products using imperial or metric units and the facility to customise the HMI language at an individual user level therefore offering flexibility to manufacturers across the globe. 

The smart SENSE™ software also offers a range of automation capabilities. Automatic product set-up allows for high detection sensitivity to detect all types of ferrous and non-ferrous metal contaminants and stainless steel contaminants and, by default, reduce any existing operational challenges. With no operator intervention required, human errors are greatly reduced, helping to ensure increased functionality and improved productivity.  This improved automation uses no paper records as everything is stored digitally, offering manufacturers and co-packers the chance to improve their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with improved sustainability across their production lines.  

SENSE™ metal detector software enhancements make it even easier to meet all standards set within the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). This means that manufacturers can feel safe and confident in the quality they are able to provide, negating the opportunity for human error when trying to uphold standards.  

Existing Mettler-Toledo M30 R-Series metal detectors can now be updated with the new version of SENSE™ to gain access to the new features. All new units purchased will automatically have the latest SENSE™ software. 

The M30 R-Series is the first product family from Mettler-Toledo built around the leading-edge SENSE™ software technology, bringing new levels of intelligence and innovation to metal detection. Visitors to Interpack 2023 will be able to view and get a live demonstration of the M34R and M33R which are part of the M30 R-Series product line, on the Mettler-Toledo booth located at A60 in Hall 11 at the Messe Düsseldorf, Germany.  

For more information,
click here or visit www.mt.com/md-m30-rseries-pr 

About METTLER TOLEDO 

METTLER TOLEDO is a global manufacturer of precision instruments and a service provider. The company ranks highly in a number of market segments and is a global market leader in many areas. METTLER TOLEDO is a large provider of weighing systems and analysis instruments for use in laboratories and in-line measurement within demanding industrial and food production processes. 

The Product Inspection division of METTLER TOLEDO designs automated inspection technology. The division includes metal detection systems manufactured by METTLER TOLEDO Safeline Limited, alongside Safeline X-ray inspection, Garvens and Hi-Speed Checkweighing, CI-Vision and PCE Track & Trace brands. The product inspection solutions help to improve manufacturers’ process efficiency and compliance with industry standards and regulations. METTLER TOLEDO systems help to ensure consistently higher product quality, thereby working to protect both consumers as well as the reputation of manufacturers and their products and brands. 

For more information, please visit:
www.mt.com/pi-pr 

Cologne, April 2023 – In research and industry, it is getting more and more important for users of vacuum systems to be able to control individual pumps and to use their operating data. Vacuum specialist Leybold has developed a controller precisely for this purpose. With the Multi-VAControl, users have a solution to control, monitor and synchronise pumps in central vacuum systems as well as in Roots pump systems. This enables them to comprehensively control the pumps, provide data for quality management and intelligently manage their energy consumption.

Smart control of vacuum performance
Especially against the background of scarce resources and rising prices, customers are increasingly demanding smart control of their vacuum performance. The Multi-VAControl prepares the relevant pump data and meaningful KPIs for these cases. At a glance, the status of the vacuum pumps, important performance data and the efficiency of the entire system are shown on a display. Additional use-specific functions can be integrated as required. With this data, processes can be monitored, controlled and optimised in real time.

Maximum uptime, high production quality
Based on real-time data and programmed warnings, maintenance can also be carried out as needed, eliminating unplanned process and maintenance costs. If approved by the customer, Leybold Service teams access the VAControl remotely and provide rapid support for necessary updates, optimisations and diagnostics. This ultimately ensures maximum uptime and high production quality of the systems.

Control via various interfaces and devices

"Because of this requirement profile, the focus during the development of the Multi-VAControl was primarily on customer benefits and user-friendliness," explains the product manager Niels Gorrebeeck. For these user benefits, the system records important pump data, such as the pressure values. Then the encrypted data is transmitted to authorised users either locally, via remote connectivity or via cloud. Control can be done directly via various interfaces and devices. With the VAControl, the energy consumption of vacuum processes is also continuously recorded and made transparent. In order to minimise the total energy consumption of a system, the load of the vacuum pumps can be regulated by the controller in such a way that pumps are only switched on when necessary and then run at the required minimum power.

Installation and operation is straightforward and intuitive
Installation and operation of the Leybold controller via the user interface is straightforward and intuitive – the pump manual is stored so that it is always at hand for operators. Subsequent integration of additional pumps into the system is easy and can also be done at any time after commissioning. Moreover, the Multi-VAControl can also be used with pumps and systems from other manufacturers. The bottom line is that its functionality is versatile and oriented towards the needs of modern vacuum systems – all applications and processes from the fields of research & development and industry can be intelligently controlled with it. Customers can use the controller to maximise the efficiency, service life and reliability of their systems while keeping overall life cycle costs low.

The Multi-VAControl is suitable for many areas of application, for example:

Central Vacuum solutions typically in Food Processing, Packaging, general industry, thermoforming, glass.
 

For further information please contact:

Christoph Angenendt
Vice President Communications Industrial Vacuum at Atlas Copco
T: +49 (0)172 29 650 75
Christoph.Angenendt@atlascopco.com
Niels Gorrebeeck
Global Product Management
Niels.Gorrebeeck@Leybold.com

One of the global packaging industry’s most eagerly-awaited events is back. After the cancellations and postponements imposed by the pandemic, the Düsseldorf exhibition centre is finally preparing to host the 2023 edition of Interpack, to be held from 4 to 10 May.

Marchesini Group is ready once again to welcome its customers, suppliers and partners on hall 15 - stand A42 1-6, offering its usual warm hospitality in genuine Italian style. Sustainability, digital innovation, sterile packaging, inspection, traceability and tailor-made solutions are the guiding motifs in the Group’s exhibition experience, conceived as a journey of discovery through the machines, lines and services designed to meet all the pharmaceutical and beauty industry’s needs.

The stand, of more than 1500 square metres, will accommodate about 50 machines and will be subdivided into various themed areas, including a zone dedicated to sustainability and the lines which package products with eco-compatible materials such as paper, recyclable mono-material plastics, R-PET and aluminium.

A specific area will also house process and laboratory machines for small and medium pharmaceutical outputs, while a large zone will focus on sterile packaging, displaying a new no-contact monobloc machine for the high-speed automatic inspection of syringes, with integral denesting and renesting unit. 
Various stand-alone solutions will also be on show, including one for counting, filling and capping solid products, not to mention various secondary packaging technologies, including the new MA 360 cartoner.

The Group’s Beauty Division will also play a leading role at this edition of Interpack: making its first appearance, it will exhibit a vast range of machines and lines for the complete packaging of cosmetic products.

Last but not least, the stand will contain an area dedicated to the new frontiers in technology and artificial intelligence. Together with its partner Eyecan – a startup born from a Bologna University spin-off – the Marchesini Group team will provide a demonstration of how AI can be involved in robot picking applications. What’s more, artificial intelligence will also be the foundation of the “Morpheus” predictive maintenance solution, full details of which will be available at the show, together with complete information about the customer portal (online digital documentation for machines, Service Platform for managing service requests) and augmented reality size change. 
 

NSY 600 AND MA 360: the latest innovations on show on the stand

In the large area reserved for sterile packaging, at Interpack 2023 the Group will unveil a no-contact monobloc machine for the high-speed automatic inspection of syringes, with integral denesting and renesting unit. This solution is the outcome of close cooperation between two of the Marchesini Group’s divisions: Corima, a Siena-based company which specialises in technologies to guarantee the total sterility of the injectables production process, and CMP Phar.ma from Vicenza, which produces pharmaceutical inspection machines. 

The monobloc consists of a unit which performs robotised picking of the syringes from tubs/nests and feeds them into the inspection phase in a single row with no contact between syringes or with metal parts. The heart of this solution is inspection itself, which can achieve speeds of up to 36,000 syringes/hour. This part of the machine is able to contain up to ten inspection stations to inspect every zone of the syringe: flange, stopper, particle detection, filling level, needle shield, defects in the glass walls and integrity inspection using HVLD (High Voltage Leak Detection) technology. 

The monobloc features five reject lanes which can be customised to differentiate the rejected syringes and is designed to deliver approved syringes in a single row, without any contact between them or with metal parts. Last but not least, the machine, which has a robotised unit for renesting the syringes in tubs/nests from the denesting station, can be equipped with a variety of optional accessories, including a camera to inspect for nest completeness and the relative syringe count, or coding of the nest or tub by labelling or inkjet or laser printing.

In the stand-alone and secondary packaging area, on the other hand, the Group will exhibit the new MA 360, a high-speed continuous motion horizontal cartoner for packaging products in cartons with tuck-in or glue closure. This solution, able to produce up to 400 cartons a minute, completes a range of new cartoners featuring toothed belt main product and carton conveyors, which are increasingly popular and in-demand on the market. 

The MA 360 is compact, rugged, reliable and quiet; designed in accordance with GMP standards, it offers absolute visibility of the inside of the machine and the production cycle, while ensuring easy operator access. Systems developed during the design phase cut reduce energy use, as well as providing easy, simple size change. Another new feature of the MA 360 will be the new-concept HMI, with user-friendly graphics and design and new functions that ensure the greatest ease of use, thanks also to the Keba system for remote safe controlling of the machine.

The surprises in store also include a new, innovative-concept robot, which will be shown for the first time at Interpack, a special edition at which the famous restaurant serving traditional Bologna cuisine will also be in operation. 

Düsseldorf (Germany) – Amongst the biggest innovations the Marchesini Group will be showing at the Düsseldorf exhibition from 4 to 10 May will be a large area dedicated to sustainability and solutions for packaging pharmaceutical or beauty products with environment-friendly materials.

So visitors to the company’s stand of more than 1500 square metres (Hall 15 – Stand A42 1-6) will enjoy a close-up view of a number of machines and lines able to package products with different types of materials, including paper, recyclable and recycled mono-material plastics and aluminium. Each of these solutions is the outcome of research and development work directed at meeting the market’s demands: “More and more customers are calling us in for projects that involve the sustainability of packaging materials,” Group CEO Pietro Cassani tells us. “Good results in this area require a high degree of cooperation between ourselves as automatic machinery constructors and the suppliers of the packaging materials; the issue must be tackled with a holistic approach that considers all the requirements involved and increasingly embraces the packaging’s entire lifecycle.”

Machines and lines on show in the sustainability area

The stand will exhibit a machine designed to carton vials in paper trays. This solution is presented together with a new-design paper tray, researched and developed entirely by the Group itself, which generates savings of about fifty percent in paper and about fifty percent in glue compared to the models currently on the market.

What’s more, the new paper tray is less thick, providing space savings of thirty percent when products are combined inside the case, with obvious benefits during shipment in terms of load capacities and relative CO2 emissions. The Group, which has been developing paper tray solutions as a valid, safe alternative to thermoformed plastic for more than ten years, has created this new prototype with the aim of guaranteeing even more responsible use of packaging material, while further reducing production costs and avoiding waste.

Also on show in the sustainability area will be a complete line for blister products, comprising first and foremost an integrated, robotised solution which inserts tablets in a packaging consisting of seventy-five percent PVC-free aluminium, an entirely recyclable, infinitely reusable material, and then in a cardboard carton. The line is completed by a monobloc comprising a case packer and a palletiser equipped with an innovative robot.

Apart from the all-aluminium primary packaging, this line’s truly innovative feature is the installation on the machine of a Track & Trace technology by SEA Vision: from blister serialisation through to pallet aggregation, a single solution to protect the brand and safeguard the product against counterfeiting.

Visitors to the stand will also be able to view a thermoforming machine for forming mono-material trays in R-PET, PET recycled material, designed to take vials, and a line comprising a Schmucker 12-lane stick packaging machine, a stick inspection system and a cartoner. This line is designed to process PP-based packaging materials (with and without PE) such as 100% recyclable mono-material plastics like OPP or BOPP with a metallised intermediate layer.

Due to its suitability for food contact, this material is a worthy polyolefin-based substitute for the classic PET/ALU material for production of high-barrier flexible packaging.

Last but not least, the area dedicated to green solutions contains a new, versatile machine model which uses only cardboard as packaging material: it can serve as a case packer for small sizes, eliminating the need for plastic bundles, or as a cartoner for large sizes.

The sustainability of packaging materials is only one of the many frontiers in which Marchesini Group is investing in order to comply with the paradigms of the circular economy: it is also engaged in other activities such as the business of Rinova, the company created to give new life to pre-owned original Marchesini lines and machines. In fact, through a remanufacturing process the Group is able to offer customers a solution more advantageous in both economic and environmental terms, with the same quality and reliability specifications.

13 April 2023
 

The traditional PulPaper event has been fully redesigned. The next generation for PulPaper, Pulp & Beyond 2024 is the leading forum bringing together the latest forest-based bioeconomy innovations, products, services and technologies as well as key people throughout the ecosystem. It offers new encounters, inspiration, networking and business possibilities for marketing global and sustainable solutions. The event provides the widest available showcase on the latest trends, and supports learning, employer branding and competence development. The new event format will have a strong focus on sustainability, efficiency and functionality. Pulp & Beyond will be arranged on 10-11 April 2024 at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre in Finland.

“Now it is time to look forward and take one step ahead. You are welcome to join us on a journey into the future and beyond.  Instead of the traditional PulPaper we are going to arrange a totally new event which will be inspiring, human-focused and enabling. Pulp & Beyond is a compact two-day event on 10-11 April 2024 starting with an international conference on 9 April 2024. Now it was definitely time to start something new and open a new Nordic Arena for innovations”, says Managing Director Antti Lindqvist from Finnish Forest Products Engineers’ Association PI.

Pulp & Beyond offers exhibitors an easy and sustainable way to participate one of the leading and most influential forest industry events in the world. For visitors, the event it is a great place for networking and learning.

Efficient, easy and sustainable participation alternatives

The new efficient event concept will focus on easiness, time saving, sustainability and high impact. Companies can choose between four different turn-key participation packages, including everything needed for the participation. The stand constructions are fully made of sustainable and recyclable materials. In addition to sustainability, turn-key packages also mean efficiency and easiness for the event partners. As the organizer takes care of all practical matters, the event partners can fully focus on networking and business. Sustainability will also play a central role when it comes to catering and travelling. Visitors will have possibility to compensate possible travelling emissions and only responsibly produced food will be served.

Focus on functionality and networking

Except the international Pulp & Beyond conference on Tuesday, the actual event area will feature three different program stages during Wednesday and Thursday: The Main Stage for top-level panel discussions and keynote speakers, Speakers’ corner for event partners’ technical and business presentations and Lab Stage for co-creation, workshops and hackathons. The event will be full of discussions, forums, meetings and networking. There will be social lounges, remote work areas and a lot of other activities for visitors. Evening programs and excursions will be also arranged in connection with the event.

Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre – sustainable experiences

Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre was the first Finnish event organizer to receive the ISO 14001:2015 certification. The aim is to have 110 % carbon neutrality by 2029. The goal will be achieved by reducing energy consumption, by increasing the share of renewable energy, and by recycling and making responsible purchases. As an example, since 2019 there have been 1589 solar panels on the roofs producing 553 MWh of energy yearly. Helsinki Expo and Convention uses the latest building service technology: solar power, geothermal heating, district cooling, heat recovery and LED technology. Over the past ten years, Helsinki Expo and Convention  has reduced water consumption by 50%,  heat consumption by 20%, and  electricity consumption by 15%. All facilities are equipped with recycling opportunities. Pulp & Beyond aims to be the most sustainable event organized at Helsinki Expo and Convention  in 2024.

Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre organises the Pulp & Beyond 2024 event in cooperation with the Finnish Forest Products Engineers’ Association (PI).

#pulpandbeyond  www.pulpandbeyond.com

For further information please contact:
Communications Manager Teija Armanto, +358 50 376 0804, teija.armanto@messukeskus.com, Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre
Business Manager Marcus Bergström, +358 44 562 4524, marcus.bergstrom@messukeskus.com, Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre
Managing Director Antti Lindqvist, +358 40 725 2543, antti.lindqvist@puunjalostusinsinoorit.fi , Finnish Forest Products Engineers’ Association PI

New Air Knife Coater greatly increases company’s capacity for coated Tyvek® and reinforced papers for various medical device, pharmaceutical & diagnostic applications.

Wayne, PA – TekniPlex Healthcare, which utilizes advanced materials science expertise to help deliver better patient outcomes, is installing a new state-of-the-art air knife coater. The new infrastructure not only will extend the quality of TekniPlex Healthcare’s precision coated barrier products, but also add substantial capacity that is urgently needed in the industry. In particular, the air knife coater will allow TekniPlex Healthcare to significantly increase its supply of coated Tyvek®, heat seal coated reinforced paper, cold seal coated paper and film for various medical device, pharmaceutical and diagnostic applications. 

Scheduled to complete validation in Q4 of 2023, the machinery addition is exceedingly well-timed, coming at a crucial confluence of global supply chain challenges, increased demand, and heightened requirements for higher performance barrier solutions. The investment allows TekniPlex Healthcare to stay ahead of the supply and demand curve while further improving product performance. 

“Our engineered barrier solutions, including our coated Tyvek and coated paper products, have experienced substantial growth in recent years,” said Chris Qualters, CEO of TekniPlex Healthcare. “The state-of-the-art air knife machine will ensure we can meet escalating product demands in the North American market while also allowing us to further expand in other geographies like China, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe.” 

TekniPlex Healthcare’s proprietary coating formulations and application technology result in products designed to meet demanding performance and sterilization requirements. The division’s coated Tyvek® combines robust sterile barrier with optimal breathability, while offering a clean peel and compatibility with a wide variety of flexible and rigid film materials. 

Meanwhile, TekniPlex Healthcare’s high-performance coated paper is a high-volume solution for a broad array of breathable and non-breathable medical products, including drapes and gowns, gloves, procedural kits, tubing and syringes. The coated papers offer both clean peel and compatibility with multiple paper grades. TekniPlex Healthcare also produces a range of latex-free, cold-seal options ideal for adhesive bandages and dressings, nasal strips, swab sticks, and certain medical devices. 

About TekniPlex Healthcare
TekniPlex Healthcare utilizes advanced materials science expertise and technologies to develop and deliver critical solutions for medical and diagnostic devices, drug delivery systems and healthcare packaging applications. With a global reach, the division’s deep understanding of the greater pharmaceuticals and medical landscape helps it produce exemplary barrier properties for drugs and precision medical devices for interventional and therapeutic procedures. TekniPlex Healthcare’s ever-evolving portfolio helps meet demands for high-leverage medicines and mission-critical healthcare products that benefit care providers and patients. For more information visit www.tekni-plex.com/healthcare. 
 

As discussed in last week’s blog, different antimicrobial agents have different activities against different pathogenic microorganisms due to their diverse physiologies. Research over years helps determine which agent acts best against the works of a particular microbe.

In this blog, we have consolidated extensive tabulated data on various agents. The categorization is based on their activity, integration into packaging and targeted microorganism. Additional categorization is added to detail active packaging systems and technologies and their associated applications in food preservation.

Table 1: Antimicrobial agents incorporated into food packaging systems

 Table 2: Active Packaging Technologies

Table 3: Encapsulation Techniques for Antimicrobial Agents

Adopted from: P. Suppakul, Chapter 39 - Cinnamaldehyde and Eugenol: Use in Antimicrobial Packaging, Editor(s): Jorge Barros-Velázquez, Antimicrobial Food Packaging, Academic Press, 2016, Pages 479-490, ISBN 9780128007235, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800723-5.00039-5.

As an entrepreneur, you aim to be a well-known, memorable brand. You want to provide great products or services, have a solid culture, and offer perks and benefits that your team members will love. One way to make your employees and customers feel valued and show off your business pride is through corporate merchandise. 

Corporate merchandise helps advertise your brand, make a lasting impression, and provide people with something they can use and enjoy. However, choosing the right merch is only half the battle. To give customers the full brand experience, you also need to invest in high-quality packaging. Your packaging design will also influence how well-received your merch will be.

Here are six tips to get you started:

1. Consider The Type Of Merchandise

What type of merch is it? How big is it? What material is it made of? The answers to these questions will help you determine any logistic essentials. Here are a few examples:

• Branded Coasters 

Branded coasters represent a low-cost branded merchandise option that can be sent out in bulk, and that customers and employees will find useful. Coasters tend to be usable items, which means people are always looking for new coasters, and is one of the reasons charity organizations tend to favour them in postal drops. You can add your company logo and colours to the coasters to ensure your brand is always at the front of your client's mind.

For the packaging, you can use custom boxes that are quick to assemble and highly presentable. To protect the coasters, stick on fragile handling labels.

• Mugs

Mugs are essential household items that are used often. They make great gifts for clients and employees, and can be used in the office or at home. 

The key to packing mugs is to use the smallest box you can find so the item has less room to move around during transit. Keep it tightly bubble-wrapped and fill any empty space with air pillows or packing peanuts.

• Lanyards

A budget-friendly option, lanyards are ideal for conferences or events where people need to hold onto their ID badges or conference passes. They can also be used as keychains. 

To keep them safe, use small, custom drawstring bags with your logo. Go for reusable bags that your employees and customers can repurpose.

• Pens

Pens are one of the most popular company types of merchandise for a reason—they're useful, and people always need more of them. You could also get creative with the pen design and add a unique element as a light-up feature or a built-in stylus. 

Use a presentation box (the magnetized ones are a great premium option!) to better protect the pens and prevent any leaks during transit.

2. Incorporate Company Values Into The Packaging Design

Packaging is a valuable tool in your branding and marketing efforts. The right merch packaging should reflect your brand identity and company ethos. 

For example, if you’re a luxury brand, choose a simple and elegant packaging option. Use traditional fonts, rich colors, and high-quality materials to give your merch a special and exclusive touch. On the other hand, if you offer budget-friendly products or services, opt for good-quality packaging options that don’t come with a high price tag. Go with neutral colors and carefully chosen graphics to create a trendy, accessible feel.

3. Make Sure The Packaging Is User-Friendly

Make sure you’re taking into account the overall brand experience of the recipient when you’re designing the packaging for your company merch. In a survey conducted by Aytm, 62% of the respondents said that they’re unlikely to patronize a company that uses packaging that is difficult to open. 

Difficult-to-open packaging constitutes an impediment preventing the customer from accessing and using your merch. It can frustrate them and leave a negative impression of your brand in their minds. So, opt for time-saving and efficient options that take into account the needs and limitations of the people opening the package.

4. Create An Unboxing Experience

Unboxing videos are a popular genre on YouTube. It might sound odd—watching people open a box. But that’s where its power lies. An unboxing video captures the excitement of experiencing or seeing something for the first time. In fact, reports show that millennials prefer watching unboxing videos before they make a purchase.

Since unboxing videos are crucial for your marketing strategy, a plain box and bubble wrap may not cut it for your company’s merch packaging. Instead, go for an unboxing experience that can capture people's attention and reinforce your brand messaging. Here are some tips you can consider:

• Use custom branded boxes.
• Print some great graphics on the box’s interiors.
• Use unique packing materials such as compostable inserts.
• Include a short message at the internal bottom of the box.

5. Choose Eco-Friendly Packaging Options

According to the 2021 Global Green Buying Report, 67% of consumers prefer packaging materials that can be recycled, and 70% said they’re willing to pay more for products that are packaged sustainably. These results also apply to company merchandise. Eco-friendly packaging doesn’t just reduce your carbon footprint, it also makes your company more attractive to potential employees and customers. 

Takeaway

Don’t overlook the importance of good packaging when you’re distributing your company merchandise. It can tie together your merch and brand identity into a neat, little surprise that your employees and customers can enjoy. While you may have to spend more to get it right, custom packaging adds a personal touch to an otherwise impersonal experience.

New Delhi, 1 October 2022: ITC Limited, one of India’s leading multi-business conglomerates and an exemplar in sustainability, is making significant contributions to the Swachh Bharat mission by rapidly scaling up its integrated waste management and sustainable packaging initiatives.

“We at ITC are immensely proud to be able to contribute meaningfully to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of a Swachh Bharat through large-scale solid waste management interventions. The Company has deployed the principles of circular economy to implement scalable, sustainable and replicable models of waste management, besides investing in cutting-edge innovation in the area of sustainable packaging that substitutes single-use plastic,” said Mr. S Sivakumar, Group Head, Sustainability, Agri and IT, ITC Ltd.

Solid waste management: Through its multi-dimensional efforts, ITC went past plastic neutrality in 2021-22. It collected and sustainably managed more than 54,000 tons of plastic waste across 35 states and Union Territories in India. ITC’s flagship community-based programme, ‘Well Being Out of Waste’ or ITC WOW has an outreach of over 4.6 million households, 5.2 million school children and over 2000 corporates since its inception. The benefits of ITC’s integrated programme are many – they prevent waste from reaching landfills, improve supply chain efficiencies, encourage innovation and create jobs, another critical national need.

The Company also runs a separate community-driven programme of decentralised solid waste management in 10 states, covering 14.6 lakh households. Under this programme, it also builds capacity of municipalities and panchayats on implementation of waste management practices that reduces the amount of waste reaching landfills significantly. In addition to the existing 10 PPPs in solid waste management, the company has also recently collaborated with the   Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India’s initiative with India Sanitation Council to create 35 “lighthouse” villages demonstrating best practices on Solid and Liquid waste management across 17 districts in 10 states. ITC has also spearheaded a first of its kind multi-layered plastic (MLP) collection and recycling program in Pune leveraging the R&D expertise resident within the ITC Life Sciences and Technology Centre. Another unique effort, ITC’s Green Temple initiative, is a closed loop waste management model that processes waste generated in places of worship and provides biogas to temple kitchens and compost for gardens.

Sanitation: ITC also runs an extensive sanitation programme that has led to the construction of 39,400 individual Household Toilets (IHHTs), leading to 100% of project catchments becoming Open Defecation Free. The programme has also enabled construction of 112 community toilets and over 2,000 toilet blocks in schools which are now being sustained and maintained by the community, with women and girl children being the key beneficiaries

Sustainable packaging: ITC’s Paperboards and Packaging Businesses are actively engaged in developing and promoting sustainable packaging solutions on the laminated board and moulded fibre platforms to substitute single-use plastics. Innovative packaging offerings include the recyclable ‘Filo’ series, the biodegradable ‘Omega’ series, ‘Bioseal’, ‘Oxyblock’ as well as ‘Germ free coating’, a solution for microbial free packaging. These solutions are increasingly being used by Quick Service Restaurants, food & beverages as well as takeaway segments, amongst others. ITC’s Personal Care brands such as Vivel and Fiama are also leveraging ITC’s sustainable packaging expertise. For example, Fiama Shower Gel bottles are now made with 30% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) material.

As part of ITC’s bold Sustainability 2.0 agenda driven by Chairman, Mr Sanjiv Puri, ITC will endeavour to ensure that 100% of packaging is reusable, recyclable, compostable or biodegradable over the next decade.

ITC, over the decades, has demonstrated pioneering environmental stewardship efforts through an array of large-scale sustainability initiatives including water conservation, afforestation, biodiversity management, development of green buildings, increasing use of renewable energy, as well as adopting a 360-degree circular economy model.  It holds the distinction of being the only company in the world to be carbon positive, water positive, and solid waste recycling positive for more than a decade.

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New €5 million R&D centre at Mondi Steinfeld, Germany, to meet customers’ growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions
Facility to strengthen customer collaboration, insight and knowledge transfer
When completed, will include pilot lines for both plastic- and paper-based solutions as well as an analytical laboratory and a customer experience centre

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, is investing around €5 million in a new research and development (R&D) facility at Mondi Steinfeld, in Germany. This investment will support customers by helping them to develop solutions that achieve their sustainability goals. 

Construction of the facility has commenced, and when completed, will include pilot lines for both plastic- and paper-based solutions, from coating, film extrusion and printing to filling lines for multiple products. The centre will also have an analytical laboratory as well as a floor dedicated to a customer experience centre, which will provide an open environment to meet and collaborate with customers at an early stage in the development of new innovations. 

The R&D centre will bring together experts with extensive knowledge of different materials and packaging types. Extrusion coating, aqueous coating and siliconisation will be available, as well as various printing machines. Filling lines for different materials, including both horizontal and vertical filling, forming and sealing equipment will allow customers to conduct trials without interrupting their own running production. The facility also enables Mondi to work with its customers to develop pilot-scale solutions on site and to accelerate the process from idea to a scaled solution.

This R&D centre demonstrates our hands-on approach to developing sustainable packaging solutions at Mondi. We look forward to working with our customers, combining their knowledge with ours to meet their sustainable packaging goals. The investment helps to contribute to our own Mondi Action Plan 2030 sustainability goals, specifically our target to make 100% of our products reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.

he research and development centre will open its doors at the end of 2023 and will complement Mondi’s other research and development centres such as the recycling and food safety laboratories in Frantschach, Austria.

Germany was the first country to formally set up and implement EPR once its definition included a dedicated waste management stream for household packaging waste. In the 30 years since then, the EPR system and channels have been modified multiple times and have simultaneously seen significant growth and development.

The Verpackungsverordnung, or Packaging Ordinance, was the legal framework for EPR, initially passed in 1991, by Das Kabinett Kohl IV with approvals from both the Bundestag and Bundesrat.

Through multiple amendments, DSD, an operator of a dual system* known as Der Grüne Punkt (The Green Dot in English), lost its monopoly over waste separation and waste prevention. DSD was first incorporated in 1990 and its non-profit dual system emerged in 1991 right before the Packaging Ordinance came into force.

On 1 January 2019, Verpackungsverordnung was replaced by Verpackungsgesetz (Packaging Act) with a focus on recycling.

The driving motives of the Packaging Act are to enforce the obligation of registering with the Central Office as well as the obligation of licensing in a dual system. The Act states that failure to comply with the obligations stipulated could result in a complete sales ban along with fines of up to €100,000.

On 20 January 2021, Germany’s Federal Cabinet approved a new Draft Law transposing the Single Use Plastics Directive (EU-Plastics Directive 2019) and the Waste Framework Directive into the Packaging Act (VerpackG).

With the 2022 amendment to the law, further regulations came into force on 1 January and 1 July 2022. Now, there is an obligation to pay a deposit for all one-way beverage containers without any exception whatsoever. Furthermore, the obligatory recycling rates were increased, such as that of composite packaging and beverage cartons. Also, all manufacturers were mandatorily made to register all packaging (categories, types, and numbers) in the central register LUCID since 1 July.

It has also been sanctioned that from 1 January 2022, there will be a minimum recycled content sales ban on PET bottles containing less than 25% recycled plastics, and from 1 January 2030, there will be a sales ban on all one-way beverage bottles containing less than 30% recycled plastics.

*Dual system - On behalf of industry and trade, the task of a dual system is to organize the nationwide collection, sorting, and recovery of used packaging subject to system participation and to document the fulfillment of the recycling targets in accordance with the law.

Rejects accumulate in various forms and quantities during beverage filling. WEIMA will be presenting disposal solutions for all types of packaging at drinktec 2022. The three PUEHLER presses on display cover the entire spectrum for the economical draining and compressing of cans, PET bottles, TetraPaks, pouches and even labels. In Munich, the focus is on WEIMA’s new PUEHLER E.200 – the flexible entry-level machine for beverage producers.

There are many reasons for waste generation: Overfilling or underfilling when starting or stopping production. Damaged packaging or incorrect labeling. Rinse batches due to recipe change and returns. They all have one thing in common: They take up valuable storage space and must be disposed of – preferably quickly and cost-effectively.

WEIMA will be demonstrating how this works at drinktec 2022 in Hall C5. With the compact PUEHLER E.200 draining press, scrap can be easily pressed directly at the production line. Placement next to the conveyor belt reduces internal waste traffic and simplifies intralogistics. The workplace also remains clean – no more sticky floors due to leaking metal containers that have to be driven around far too often because they are overfilled. Pressing can reduce the waste material volume by up to 90 percent. The packaging and contents are cleanly separated from each other and can be optimally recycled or disposed of properly.

Alternatively, the PUEHLER E.200 can also be set up flexibly outside the production halls and thus becomes the central point of contact for disposal. An optionally available large feed hopper even makes machine loading by forklift possible. The machine compacts and drains around two cubic meters of waste material per hour.

For those who want to centrally process even larger volumes, the PUEHLER G.200 Recycling press is available in Munich. As with all PUEHLER machines, this model also uses a hydraulic cylinder for the compression and emptying of all kinds of packaging. In contrast to conventional screw compressors, it is practically wear-resistant, mechanically simple and robust and impresses with high material throughputs. The PUEHLER G.200 can compact around five to six cubic meters of waste. Even ten to twelve with the PUEHLER G.300.

Last but not least, WEIMA will also be presenting a solution for the treatment of label waste usually found during bottle cleaning. These include classic body labels, shoulder labels, metal or PVC sealing capsules, bar code labels, as well as paper, PE film or aluminum foil back labels. The PUEHLER A.300 turns them into handy discs with a diameter of 300 mm

All PUEHLER machines from the A, E and G series are made of stainless steel – including the exhibited PUEHLER A.300. The hydraulic label press impresses with its compact design and can be integrated ideally into an existing production line. Expressed lye can be safely transported away and recycled. The residual moisture of labels is only minimal due to the draining. This saves on expensive disposal costs.

WEIMA will be presenting its PUEHLER drainage presses, packaging presses and label presses at drinktec 2022 in Munich in Hall C5, Stand C5.324.

We are WEIMA:

More than 40,000 machines sold worldwide! WEIMA has been manufacturing robust shredders, briquetting and drainage presses for the disposal and processing of all types of waste for more than four decades. Our machines include single-shaft shredders, four-shaft shredders, cutting mills, briquette presses, packaging and drainage presses. The popular blood orange machines are used in the wood, plastics, paper, metal and waste-to-energy industries.

Made in Germany. Built for the world.

Shredders, briquette and drainage presses from WEIMA are exclusively made in Germany and come from production plants in Saxony-Anhalt and BadenWuerttemberg. Every year, more than 300 employees work on around 1,200 customer solutions from around the globe. We have long-standing sales and service locations in the USA, Poland, India and China. More than 80 representatives supplement this global presence.

Intelligent control VAControl CAB provides smart performance management and high energy efficiency

Cologne, July 2022 – In industrial vacuum processes, the requirements for smart performance management and energy efficiency are constantly increasing. For more intelligence, variability and efficiency in coating, drying and heat treatment processes, vacuum specialist Leybold has therefore developed the VARODRY VDi vacuum system with integrated VAControl CAB control. The pump systems of the new series consist of the air-cooled, oil-free VARODRY screw pumps, the dry-compressing Roots pumps of the RUVAC series as well as the VAControl CAB control for smart management of all pump processes.

Dry vacuum solutions, high pumping speed, lots of flexibility

"In concrete terms, users today expect dry, flexible vacuum solutions with a high pumping speed. Therefore, quick and uncomplicated adjustment possibilities of the vacuum performance to the respective process conditions are necessary," says the responsible Product Manager, Dennis Schröder, outlining the requirement profile. Schröder adds that, especially with rising energy prices, customers do not want to worry about unplanned process and maintenance costs. To meet their profitability and sustainability goals, the energy and resource consumption should therefore be as low as possible and calculable.

Accelerated pump-down process, maximum pumping speed

To achieve this, the VDi system can be configured by the operator according to the process requirements: This allows users to set their own vacuum capacities as needed to match the pump-down process and the pumping speed. Another advantage: To protect against critical gases and particles, the VARODRY VDi vacuum system can be equipped with gas ballast and purge gas. This increases the service life and system availability. In some application environments where steam or dust is present, additional filter options ensure an uninterrupted vacuum supply. Additional energy savings and even wear are ensured by the Energy Saver Kit

VAControl CAB control offers intelligent functions

More intelligence in the applications is provided by the heart of the system - the integrated VAControl CAB control system specially programmed by Leybold. With its smart software functions, the processes can be controlled and optimised in a user-friendly way. Users can choose between local, remote or cloud connectivity. Different authorisation levels can be created for the individual user accounts.

High transparency, optimum quality

During the vacuum processes, all pump data is recorded and stored. The operating logs, which can be viewed at any time, provide maximum transparency for users and ultimately ensure high production and product quality. The powerful computer generates maintenance and service recommendations depending on use - some of the maintenance, such as changing the belt on the VARODRY, can be carried out by the operator himself. "The software updates are available for download from Leybold. Many additional software options are planned for the future“, assures Product Manager Dennis Schröder.

With these features, the VARODRY VDi system with integrated VAControl CAB is suitable for the following areas of application, for example:

- Optical coatings for spectacle lenses; decorative coatings for bathroom fittings

- Cryogenic pump regeneration

- Lithium-ion battery productio

- Transformer and high voltage component manufacturing

- Composite applications where the resin is degassed

- Use in heat treatment furnaces to improve the material properties of metals.

The packaging sector uses vast machinery and equipment depending on the material or product. Most TV shows that reveal what goes on in production facilities will feature various machinery, one of which is the form fill seal (FFS) machine.

If you're unfamiliar with this type of machinery, it's primarily used for packaging, forming, filling, and sealing packages on the same system. Depending on your business type, the packaging machine plays an important role in ensuring your brand has the right packaging. The two main types of FFS machines are vertical and horizontal. 

When you plan to upgrade your products' packaging, it might be time to consider an FFS machine. If you want to learn how the packaging system works, reputable websites like tdipacksys.com and other similar sites are a good place to start.  

How Does A Form Fill Seal Machine Work?

In facilities with the form fill seal (FFS) machine, it's fed with packaging material that the machine shapes and seals according to your company's specific requirements. The packs or bags are filled, sealed, and segregated.  

Most FFS machines nowadays are highly complex, featuring computerized interfaces and control networks. Regardless of the sector in which the machine is being used, it adds speed and adaptability to overall operations. Vertical (FFS) machines can produce almost any shape or size, ranging from standard bags and packs with seals on all sides to custom shapes and sizes.

What Products Are Packaged By FFS Machines? 

The FFS machines can utilize a wide range of material types. Most are used in various industries, including food, cosmetics, chemicals, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and medical, to name a few.

Some products commonly packaged by FFS machines include nuts, rice, bread, condiments, capsules or pills, sugar, confectionery, pet food, and many more.  

A Glimpse Of Different Types Of FFS Machines

As previously stated, there are two popular types of FFS machines: vertical and horizontal. If you want to know the differences between the two machines, read below. 

• Vertical Form Fill Seal (VFFS) Machine

A vertical form fill seal (VFFS) machine boasts an assembly-line product packaging procedure with automation features. The system is widely used in the packaging industry for food and other products due to its efficiency.

The machine works by constructing plastic bags out of flat rolls of film while at the same time filling the bags with product and sealing them. A VFFS machine is capable of packaging both solids and liquids. Some of the products a VFFS can handle include bulk products, powder-based products, and many more.

• Horizontal Form Fill Seal (HFFS) Machine 

A horizontal form fill seal (HFFS) machine is suited for packing non-flowing solid products. The machines are built with molding and sealing stations so that shifting from one size to another can be done automatically without downtime. This feature makes it ideal for industries that experience frequent changeovers or adjustments.

The machine comprises a filler component and a bagging unit. The product filler is in charge of determining the amount of product to dispense.

Generally, an HFFS machine is suitable for fragile products and those that can’t endure a high drop. Some organizations prefer this packing equipment to produce stand-up pouches with zippers and spout pouches due to the high demand since they facilitate convenient product opening and consumption. The machine is an excellent solution for businesses requiring shaped pouches with improved aesthetics and shelf presentation.  

How Does FFS Technology Work?

The FFS technology involves an automated computer that aids in efficiently preparing products. Most manufacturers prefer packaging technology because of its ability to produce better packages at a faster rate while maintaining product quality.

The system is ideal for minimizing contamination during production in a closed sterile chamber. It reduces the possibility of contamination during the production of sterile products.

For example, the packaging system is crucial in packaging intravenous infusion bottles. Generally, steps such as forming the container, filling material, and sealing are performed consistently, consecutively, and automatically in a closed sterile chamber.  

What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of FFS Machines? 

Like any piece of machinery, FFS machines have their share of advantages that make them a must-have for many companies. However, it also has some drawbacks that may not make it suitable for some.  

Here are the advantages of the FFS machines in various industries: 

• Consistent packaging rate  
• Materials used for the packaging are at an affordable price range compared to pre-made containers. 
• Boasts a better production rate and lowers the number of shifts  
• Simple clean-out between production batches  
• Online film printing ensures that the bar code and product information are visible and readable.
• Less movable components, specifically with the vertical FFS  

The FFS machine might not be applicable in some industries. Some of the system's drawbacks may include: 

• Inability to handle paper or accommodate multiple packaging materials
• Not economical for short production runs. 

Demand For Form Fill Seal Machines And Advancements  

The demand for FFS machines is expected to rise in the coming years. Changes are likely to happen due to the continuous expansion in the packaging industry.  

The latest FFS systems can accommodate a vast range of packaging options at high speeds and deliver packaging formats that ensure convenience to consumers. The machines continue to evolve to allow manufacturers in different industries to cope with the changing market needs when it comes to packaging size and format. 

The trend focusing on mass customization and production of small batches requires machine designs equipped with quick-change modules. Generally, the systems can make mechanical adjustments seamlessly from one packaging format to another. The advancements allow a single machine to accommodate packaging size and style adjustments. In the long run, it allows the production of aesthetically pleasing and functional packaging faster and more efficiently. 

A clear example is a recent demand for stand-up pouches. As a result, there’s a greater demand for bags and pouches. It also benefited bakery and snack manufacturers in meeting the demand for single-serve and portion-controlled packets, among other possibilities. 

Final Thoughts 

Form, fill, and seal (FFS) machines will always play an important role in the packaging aspect of various products in different industries. By improving the overall packaging speed of various products or materials along with top-level efficiency, the system is a must-have for any company. Investing in FFS machines is a worthwhile long-term investment if you want to ensure a superior level of packaging and a system that can easily adjust to changing consumer needs.

Coca-Cola is adding attached caps to its plastic bottles in a bid to ramp up their recyclability.