Blog : Our team looks into the crystal ball.

Major Trends for Packaging

As Australian packaging machinery manufacturers, we're heavily invested in the trends affecting our industry.

And we're talking to customers all day, every day, so we have our ear to the ground.

Here's our team's take on the future of packaging in Australia (and globally).

Earle Roberts, CEO, Foodmach

Sustainability, Onshoring and Blockchain

Obvious trends are increased use of sustainable materials in primary and secondary packaging, in an increasing range of formats.

This is not just more recycled content or ease of recycling but a move away from plastics in all one-way packaging.

As packaging automation manufacturers, this requires a shift in our design approach as the performance of some of these materials is markedly different. Equipment flexibility is key to providing our customers with a solution that will work for them now and into the future.

Onshoring of the supply chain is both a challenge and an opportunity that is consuming many of our customers (and our procurement team) at present.

The use of blockchain is streamlining supply chains and operations both internally and externally.

We use blockchain to provide a pay-only-for-output finance model for new packaging equipment, which enables customers to upgrade their lines without major capital expenditure.

Blockchain will be the enabler for advanced technologies such as augmented reality and will unlock the full potential of Industry 4.0 connectivity.

Gavin Alder, Control Systems Manager, Foodmach

The continued march towards Industry 4.0.

As more manual tasks are automated, packaging and production lines are becoming smarter – through AI and machine learning, faster, more flexible, and efficient.

To accommodate this transition, we’re seeing increased demand for sensors, vision and IIoT connectivity, as well as the all-essential horizontal integration of plant machinery.

When we say integration, we mean both the conveying that connects equipment as well as machine-to-machine communication.

The latter is required to feed data into higher-level systems for performance management, quality management, lean manufacturing, demand planning and forecasting and workforce and asset management.

There is a corresponding need for increased cybersecurity.

Phil Biggs, Director, Foodmach

Integrated Traceability

Traceability is critical for supply chain management and product safety recalls, but its potential goes way beyond that.

Consumers are demanding more information about products.

In a world of resource constraints, ethics concerns and sophisticated counterfeits, trust is everything.

There is more awareness of exaggerated health claims and the desire for research-based educational content presented in a timely, contextual manner – and ideally through a smartphone.

Manufacturers themselves are looking for deeper market knowledge and enhanced customer communication.

All these needs can be met with an advanced cloud-based traceability and authentication platform.

First published as part of an article by Food & Drink Business

Read more about Industry 4.0 and line integration: