How to Adapt for Multi-Product Packaging
The last few years have seen big changes in the packaging industry across all sectors. Many manufacturers have diversified as a result and increased their flexibility, concentrating on continuity amid widespread industry hurdles.
Whether you’re expanding your product range or looking for a way to reduce heavy reliance on manual resources for multi-product packaging, you’ve likely already come across some form of automation as a solution. With so many options available, however, how do you adapt your business practices and ready your teams for automation?
As packaging machine manufacturers with over 100 years' of experience, we’re here to help you find a way forward. We work with all industries to streamline operations and tailor production lines to fit precise requirements. During the last couple of years, we’ve seen many manufacturers diversify into multiple products and thrive as a result. We want to share some of the ways we’ve helped them adapt.
Defining the requirements for multi-product packaging
Multi product packaging can be defined in two ways in the packaging industry. It can refer to the process of packaging multiple items in one package and also running different products in separate production runs.
Semi-automation can provide significant benefits when putting together multiple items in a single package, increasing consistency and quality control and accelerating output.
Typical of medium-sized operations, different product runs often require manual changeover before continuing operation. For these types of multi-product packaging processes, full automation can completely transform the packaging line and offer further opportunities for expansion.
Tailoring your solution is the best way forward and it is important to find the right packaging machine supplier to work with.
Precise packaging line tailoring examples
Opening lines of communication in the earliest stages is key to adapting to multi-product packaging. Here at Jacob White, we rarely sell a standard packaging machine but ensure that it is selected to uniquely fit precise packaging needs.
Case study one
We worked with a Lebanon-based producer of cereal-based products to deliver a solution that helped them adjust their packaging range for multiple products. They needed the functionality to change size options quickly and maintain fast packing speeds on a daily basis.
We had worked with the client before and were able to provide a time-sensitive solution that ticked all the boxes. The RSB 3 was equipped with an easy size changeover system requiring no change of parts with minimal downtime and met hygiene requirements for food packaging. Read the full case study here to find out more.
Case study two
A UK frozen food storage company came to Jacob White with a plan to diversify into contract packaging. They needed a robust, compliant machine that could handle each of the different contract packaging clients’ needs.
After visiting site to fully understand their requirements, we were able to recommend a TFS-NS manual packaging machine. The client did not have high speed as a priority, but rather improve consistency and efficiency and gain the ability to adjust sizing as appropriate for each contract client. Read their case study here to find out more.
Adopting a simple approach
Your teams will adapt to multi-product packaging if the process is fully streamlined and simple to operate. With training minimised and operation simplified, downtime can be significantly reduced, and routine maintenance planned more easily.
We understand this aspect of implementation and consider it in all our packaging machine development. Our machines offer a simplified approach and can be quickly adjusted to suit a range of sizes and speeds with no parts required.
This means that the doors of opportunity are left wide open in terms of operational flexibility. Reducing the heavy reliance on manual resources can in turn offer manufacturers the chance to increase running time and manage resources more efficiently. Fewer operators on the ground at any given time also support the current need to increase health, safety and hygiene standards, particularly in the food production sectors.
Keeping it simple is the core message for manufacturers diversifying and adapting to multi-product packaging. It avoids the need for excessive downtime or disruption to operations and supports existing teams with minimal training schedules.
If you would like some experienced advice on multi-product packaging, talk to us. We work in all industry sectors and build high-quality, tailored packaging machines to suit all needs.
