Few industries benefit from technological advancements as much as packaging. At its very core packaging strives to be faster, use less material and produce customizable output that can seamlessly sync with food/beverage lines in the same facility.
Innovation has been delivering improvements in the packaging industry for more than 100 years. Today, manufacturers can make not only the packaging, but also product that goes in it, using multiple high-speed modular lines that create a flexible and reliable operation.
Plants are using 3D design software to create virtual lines for multiple SKUs with quick changeovers. Standardization enables a modular approach to processes, functions, assemblies, parts and drawings. The virtual lines can then be analyzed from design to cost to determine value.
The trend toward less cabinet space also continues. More lines are incorporating devices with IP69K protection to keep control local without thermal-management issues, but washdown requires higher-rated ingress protection.
Technology trends, fundamentals and examples
This State of Technology Report explores in greater detail these and other technology trends in the arena of packaging. Drawn from the most recent articles published in the pages of Control Design, this special report includes articles on emerging trends, basic primers and illustrations of the latest technology in action. We hope that you find it useful.
