Technology has always had huge contributions in improving and reinventing product packaging. As more and more advanced machines are introduced in the packaging market, the system is developed even more. These changes are based on the roots of packaging, from its manufacture to its sorting in the warehouses to its delivery to the customers, every aspect is taken into account. There are several reasons as to why these improvements are important. They are aimed towards not only marketing of the packaging but also it’s labeling, product life prolongation, and lower impacts on the environment.
Gain an insight into how the industry of packaging is being transformed by the contributing technologies through the lens of this article:
Ever since the damnation of the use of plastics in packaging, industries, small or big, have set out to find alternatives in an attempt to stay in the game. Different technologies have brought different solutions to the table. For instance, the use of plant fibers in the construction of packaging materials by reducing them to micro levels first has proven effective in the development of material that is stronger and lighter than glass and carbon fiber. Besides, they can also be added to other packaging materials to strengthen them. However resourceful, scientists have yet to find a way of making this material on an industrial scale in tons rather than just a few grams in the laboratory. Another challenge is that such fiber-based materials can be viable to degrading factors such as light, oxygen, and water. Although this dilemma can be overcome through laminates or coating they are resistant to recycling procedures. So alternate solutions need to be discovered.
The e-commerce sector has been most benefitted by the futuristic robots that have proven effective in different areas of the packaging process. The accuracy and speed of robotic arms, in sorting and packaging small items into their respective delivery boxes, are truly exceptional; this has caused many manufacturers and retailers to shift their attention towards this proficient option. These robots are flexible in their functions and their arms can be replaced and designated for different tasks while the systems can be reprogrammed for other packaging tasks.
Another helpful technology that is an aid to packaging and warehouse facilities is the Autonomous Mobile Robots also called ARMs. These are especially intelligent robots that teach themselves new routes, unlike their former version that required input and fixed routes, around the warehouse to make the movement of packaging more efficient through taking on different routes when one is not available.
The packaging is no longer a thing on the store shelves but a phenomenon of its own ever since customers have started buying things off the shelves. As piracy of products grows as a concerning matter, manufacturers are starting to look at smart packaging solutions that not only help identify the genuine ones but also track the products throughout their delivery process. One such example is the STI Group, which has concealed RFID codes either printed hidden on the packaging or integrated into it. Upon scanning the code, customers get the product status instantly. The growth of the business world requires equal growth in packaging production and deliveries. This is also assisted with the concerns for the environment, on-time delivery of the products, and their wellbeing. New technologies are constantly being developed that are aimed towards the better end of packaging, speedy delivery of products, and exceptional customer experience. Making technology a part of the packaging process has forever changed the industry.
