Looking to streamline your company’s packaging process? Investing in the best packaging machinery will make it possible.
But first, you need to know how to choose the right packaging machinery for your facility. This requires you to consider everything from the speed of packaging machinery and its operating costs to the flexibility of machinery and its environmental impact.
We’ve created a comprehensive guide on selecting the right packaging machinery. Take advantage of the tips provided below.
Understanding Packaging Machinery Types
Are you familiar with all the different types of packaging machinery available today? Learning about them is a great place to start when narrowing down your options.
Primary Packaging Machinery
Primary packaging machinery refers to any machinery used directly on the products your company produces. Examples include:
- Filling machines
- Sealing machines
- Capping machines
Secondary Packaging Machinery
Secondary packaging machinery is used on products that have already worked their way through primary packaging machinery. This machinery is typically utilized to group these products during handling. Examples include:
- Cartoning machines
- Bundling machines
- Palletizing machines
Tertiary Packaging Machinery
Tertiary packaging machinery is used for bulk handling and transport purposes. Examples include:
- Shrink-wrapping machines
- Stretch-wrapping machines
Automation and Smart Packaging Trends
If you have experience purchasing packaging machinery in the past, you might not think you need to re-learn how to choose the right packaging machinery in 2024. However, certain trends have changed how companies buy machinery, including the game-changing innovations that may have emerged since you last found yourself in this position.
Automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and machine learning have revolutionized the packaging process in leaps and bounds. When you invest in packaging machinery that allows your company to use these trends to your advantage, you can:
- Increase efficiency
- Improve precision
- Reduce human error
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing Packaging Machinery
Make sure you consider the following key factors when picking out new packaging machinery for your facility.
Production Volume
Some types of packaging machinery can handle more production volume than others. Assess your company’s throughput requirements so you can find machinery capable of keeping up with your operations.
Product Characteristics
How large are the products that will pass through your packaging machinery? What shape are they? Are they consistently the same size and shape, or do they vary?
Answer these questions while considering the characteristics of your company’s products. This will enable you to find packaging machinery that is the right fit for your products.
Packaging Material
You can package your company’s products with many different materials, including:
- Plastic
- Glass
- Paper
You may even want to explore using eco-friendly packaging options. Select packaging machinery that is compatible with the packaging materials you plan to use.
Space and Facility Layout
Even the best packaging machinery in the world might do more harm than good if it doesn’t fit nicely within the layout of your facility. Decide where you will place packaging machinery and measure this area so you know how much space you can devote to it.
Give thought to where packaging machinery will fit in within your facility’s current workflow, too. This will make it simpler to integrate it into your operations seamlessly.
Scalability
If your production demands begin to increase in the coming years, you need to rely on your packaging machinery to keep pace. Project where your company is headed, and search for packaging machinery that can scale with it.
Evaluating Machinery Features and Performance
Figuring out how to choose the right packaging machinery calls for you to do more than just consider your own needs. You’ll also have to compare the features found in modern-day packaging machinery before selecting the options that will perform up to your expectations.
Speed and Efficiency
The speed of packaging machinery is one of the most important factors to consider as you look for the right machines for your facility. Analyze the throughput and speed capabilities of different machines. Home in on the ones that are quick and efficient enough to meet your production goals.
Accuracy and Consistency
Packaging machinery must exhibit precision during the filling, sealing, and labeling processes. Assess the accuracy of different machines and ensure they can deliver the consistency your company needs.
Flexibility and Adaptability
You’ll likely need packaging machinery to handle more than one product type, so flexibility is essential. Find machines capable of working with multiple product types and packaging formats.
These machines should also offer adaptability, so you won’t have to part ways with them as your company grows.
Ease of Operation and Maintenance
Incorporating new packaging machinery into your facility will require some staff training, but you shouldn’t have to train your employees multiple times before they learn to use them.
Strive to find packaging machinery that is easy to use. You’ll also be responsible for fulfilling your machinery’s ongoing maintenance requirements, so search for machines you can maintain easily.
Integration With Existing Systems
Unless you’re determining how to choose the right packaging machinery for a brand-new business, you probably already have existing systems within your facility. See that you can integrate new packaging machines into these systems without enduring downtime or other complications.
Ideally, your new machines should also support scalability so they can grow with your company while continuing to carry out their roles effectively.
Cost Considerations and Return on Investment (ROI)
Cost shouldn’t be your only concern when deciding how to choose the right packaging machinery. You should also be aware of your return on investment while shopping for new packaging machines for your facility. Here are some calculations to keep in mind to make the most of this consideration:
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
What is the total cost of ownership for a new piece of packaging machinery? To find out, look at the upfront costs associated with buying this machinery. Look at other costs as well, such as:
- Ongoing operational expenses
- Anticipated maintenance and repair costs
- Energy consumption
ROI Analysis
The money you spend on the right packaging machinery should earn you a great return on investment. Perform a complete ROI analysis on a piece of packaging machinery by considering:
- Efficiency gains
- Labor savings
- Improved product quality
- Scalability
Long-Term Savings
Try to think long-term whenever your company needs to make a large investment in something like packaging machinery. You may feel more comfortable spending money on new machines when you know they’ll result in:
- Reduced labor costs
- Less downtime
- Increased production efficiency
Compliance With Industry Standards
The last thing you want to do is invest in packaging machinery only to learn that it doesn’t comply with industry standards. Keep them in mind as you weigh your options.
Regulatory Requirements
Your company’s packaging equipment must comply with local and international regulations. Organizations like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) exist to enforce these regulations. Check to see that new machines comply with the latest regulations.
Certifications and Safety
Safety is paramount when introducing new packaging machines into your facility. Verify that machines meet or exceed safety, performance, and environmental standards before buying them on behalf of your company.
Vendor Selection and After-Sales Support
The global packaging machinery market is worth a whopping $60 billion. Its value is also projected to grow to over $70 billion within the next few years. This growth has led to a surge in the number of vendors that sell packaging machinery.
Select the right vendor to provide the necessary machines and after-sales support.
Evaluating Suppliers
When choosing a packaging machinery supplier, consider these kinds of factors:
- Industry knowledge
- Experience
- Customer reviews and reputation
- Selection
- Prices
After-Sales Support
You’ll often rely on a packaging machinery supplier for after-sales support. You may need them to provide:
- Technical support
- Staff training
- Access to spare parts
Be sure a supplier is responsive from the start. Avoid working with one that won’t show up later when you need them most.
Warranties and Service Agreements
Most suppliers will extend warranties on packaging machinery, but not all warranty policies are created equal. Review a supplier’s warranty terms and service agreement contracts to ensure the long-term performance and reliability of the equipment.
Industry-Specific Considerations
The industry your company operates in is another factor to consider when learning how to choose the right packaging machinery. Companies trying to find machines that can help with the various types of food packaging should consider different factors than those in another industry.
Here is how companies in several specific industries should approach buying packaging machines.
Food Packaging
Many food packaging machines exist. If your company needs to invest in one, consider the hygiene, sanitation, and food safety regulations your company faces.
Stay in constant compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food packaging regulations by remembering them while shopping for food packaging machines.
Pharmaceutical Packaging
If your company operates in the pharmaceutical industry, you must comply with stringent industry regulations. Prioritize tamper-evident seals, traceability, and sterility by buying the right packaging machinery.
Consumer Goods Packaging
Packaging consumer goods that will land in retail establishments requires you to consider a whole separate set of factors when purchasing packaging machinery. You must strike the right balance of:
- Aesthetic appeal
- Branding opportunities
- Consumer convenience
Knowing how to choose the right packaging machinery could determine the success of your consumer goods once they’re on store shelves.
Future Trends in Packaging Machinery
Packaging machinery trends are always coming and going, especially with technology changing as quickly as it does these days. Staying on top of them is the key to buying packaging machines built to stand the test of time.
Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Packaging
Is your company making a push to become more sustainable by incorporating eco-friendly packaging into the mix? Search for packaging machinery that can:
- Accommodate recyclable or biodegradable materials
- Reduce waste
- Minimize energy consumption
Smart Packaging Technologies
Smart packaging technologies can help make your company’s facility more efficient than ever before. Look for packaging machines that use technologies like:
- Productivity-boosting machine learning
- Predictive maintenance
- Real-time efficiency tracking
Any new packaging machines you incorporate into your facility should also be compatible with its Internet of Things (IoT) network.
Customization and Flexibility
Packaging machinery must provide more flexibility than in the past to keep up with the growing demand for adaptable machinery. The best packaging machines are often the ones that can handle diverse product lines and meet custom packaging needs.
Post-Purchase Considerations
Buying new packaging machines for your company’s facility is only half the battle. You also need to make post-purchase considerations when it comes to working this new machinery into your day-to-day operations.
Installation and Commissioning
The packaging machinery you invest in for your facility should be easy to install. You should also find it simple to integrate it into your existing production lines.
Training and Employee Education
You’ll need to give your company’s employees the proper staff training before using any new packaging equipment. This will ensure safe, efficient, and effective machinery use.
Ongoing Maintenance and Monitoring
Scheduling regular maintenance for new packaging machinery can benefit it in many ways. Doing it can:
- Prolong the machinery’s lifespan
- Prevent breakdowns
- Ensure optimal performance
Discovering how often maintenance is needed is another factor to consider when choosing the right packaging machinery.
Start Shopping for the Right Packaging Machinery for Your Facility Here
When your company is on the hunt for new packaging machines, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Even if you know exactly how to choose the right packaging machinery, the sheer number of options can make it difficult to narrow them down.
Consider key factors like production volume, product characteristics, scalability, regulatory compliance, and future trends. Also, make sure you align your immediate business needs with long-term growth, sustainability, and technological advancements.
Evaluate your specific needs carefully and consult with industry experts to make informed, strategic decisions on packaging machinery investments. Contact us at TDI Packsys at 877-834-6750 to get more information on our state-of-the-art packaging machines and other production line solutions to make your operation seamless.
