Tips on Purchasing a Food Packing Machine

Food packaging machine are often of two types – the fully automatic food packaging machine and the semi-automatic food packaging machine. Obviously, automatic packaging machine would be preferred choice for a majority of people as it tends to enhance the efficiency of the packaging processes.

A key purpose of packing is to extend the product’s shelf life. Which is why, it is absolutely necessary that a suitable packaging material and method is used for the product. Perishable goods that can go bad easily need to be packaged in a manner that its integrity stays unaffected for a long time, which can be possible with vacuum packaging using horizontal form fill seal machine.

Another key factor that needs to be considered when choosing packaging machine is the different kind of physical appearances of the different products. The different form of packaging is considered for the powder/granule and liquid products. However, these food products are packaged using a filling/sealing food packaging machine. Seals thereby prevent the granules or liquid from leaking out of the package and it also make the it air-tight in order to save it from the environmental contaminations. Such food packaging machines are more suitable for the products like powdered milk, tea, sugar, pharmaceuticals, and powdered chocolate.

Yet another key factor is the price of packaging when it comes to choosing a food packaging machine. However, it should be done such that the quality of packaging isn’t compromised in the process of cutting down costs.

Things That Must Be Included on Your Food Packaging

All consumers want their food packages to be printed with specific things, and it is especially true in case of food packaging. Packaging machine manufacturers will provide you with amazing flexible packaging solutions and will brief you on the important things that can be included on the food packaging which is expected by the potential customers. A few of these things aren’t required to be legally included but it can be a great thin if you really want to gain the trust and appreciation of the customer.

Here are key things that need to be included on the food packaging labels:

Environmental Labels

In case of sustainable packaging, the packages that are made of environment-friendly materials, the manufacturers need to let their customers know about the kind of material that they are using. These days, consumers have become more environment conscious, and they really care about carbon footprint being left by them and they will choose products based on eco-friendliness of the packaging. Letting your customers know what material is being used for packaging will make them aware of the extra effort that you’re making while offering sustainable food packaging. This has a huge impact, thus leading to positive image, and acknowledgement of your time and efforts.

Nutritional Information

Edible products – including pet food – need to display informative labelling and it needs to be added with another dimension, i.e., nutritional information. Today, food packaging must carry specific information on products like number of calories each serving, in products. Packaging machinery solutions and packaging design needs to include extensive and accurate list of ingredients.

Things That Consumers Look for in A Product Packaging

It’s likely that people won’t always consciously recognize the various ways in which the design of a product packaging affects their purchasing decision. However, there are definitely some intricate details that consumers actively look for when they are out shopping. Here are some basic product packaging features that consumers look for when buying products:

Storage Features And Protective Features

Consumers check products for good storage and protective features, especially on products such as ones that would be reused, including dry fruits and snacks. Today, food packaging machine has made such packaging solutions economical and easier to achieve. For such products, consumers check whether the product packaging is durable, easy-to-use, and compact. Resealable zipper option is considered a good addition to the product packaging.

Identifiable Packaging

Consumers expect product packaging to help them identify the product’s brand and also the product itself, rather easily. Additionally, more importantly, they want the product packaging to display the necessary info about the product to be highlighted and readable, including the nutritional value of the product, size of clothing, ingredients of the product, etc.

Sustainable Packaging

Consumers today show more interest in product packaging that is achieved in an eco-friendly manner, especially with the rise in awareness relating to sustainability. Product packaging that’s made with recycled material, and product packaging that could be recycled rather easily are very popular. Such product packaging is possible with today’s packaging machine. Additionally, there is more inclination towards the packaging design that is minimalist, as it requires fewer materials.

Best Practices to Help Improve Your Pharmaceutical Packaging

When it comes down to pharmaceuticals, it is critical that you use the same level of caution while packaging it, as you would while manufacturing those drugs. Market research suggests that more than 50 percent of pharmaceutical product-recalls are related to packaging and labeling errors.

Anytime pharma products are recalled and it reaches the customers without safety or full regard, the cost of it goes beyond that of the pharma product itself and it could impact consumer’s confidence as well as well-being.

Here are the best practices that would help you ensure that your pharma products reach the shelf safe and intact:

Prioritize Compliance With Pharma Product Regulations

Pertaining to the very nature of pharmaceutical industry, staying at par with Good-Manufacturing-Practices regulations is necessary. There are regulations in place to protect the consumers and also to standardize formatting across all product types and brands, suggests a pouch packing machine manufacturer.

Design The Business Processes To Support Labelling Accuracy And Packaging Quality

Evaluate the processes as well as communication between the different departments to ensure that there aren’t any inconsistencies or gaps and it doesn’t lead to any labeling errors on the pharmaceutical packaging.

Regardless of the size of operations or even the complexity of your business processes, human errors can occur – and there are lives as well as your brand’s reputation at stake here. This is why it is so important to have a proper system in place that would allow for ample amount of double checks for accuracy.

Most Common Questions Regarding Shrink Film

 

In the packaging industry, shrink film is one of the most important material used, and sometimes there are some questions that get a lot of production managers and clients curious. While there are just too many questions, here are some of the common ones answered:

How many different types of shrink film are there?

There are three basic types/families of shrink films that are used by packing machine manufacturers and production houses – polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyolefin (POF). And within these families itself, there are various formulations that are used to create different sets of solutions for individual packaging requirements.

How many feet is available on a single shrink film roll?

The amount of shrink film that is available on one roll would depend on the gauge of the film that is being used. All the shrink films are wound to a same outer diameter generally. Single-wound shrink films are much longer in length; however, center-folded shrink films would have half the length but would contain a similar amount of shrink film as it’s folded in order to make it easier to be used on stand pouch packing machine and most other packaging equipment.

Is it possible to wrap the food products in shrink films?

In short, the answer would be ‘yes’; however, to clarify, shrink films are made for specifically the food-processing industry. The shrink films meet the requirements for intimate food contacts. All the POF shrink films are fully appropriate for freezer and there are films are even include anti-fog capabilities.

Choosing the Right Stick Pack Equipment

 For sachets or stick-pack packaging, the packaging machine manufacturers offers the best solutions. Here are some things to consider when choosing the best stick pack equipment that can be integrated with your packaging line.

Popular industries for stick-pack packaging

Stick-pack packing machine manufacturers offer packaging solutions that are perfect for a wide variety of granular, powder, as well as liquid products. Powder products could be fine, dense, particulate, or loose materials. Liquids could be substances having differing viscosities such as water-like fluids, pastes and gels.

Stick pack packaging is one of the most popular packaging solutions in a lot of industries, especially those that deal in powdered drink mixes, granular substances such as sugar, and powder and liquid pharma and nutraceuticals. Packaging machine manufacturers and packagers in the dietary and medical supplement industries highly favor stick-pack packaging equipment as well.

How can stick-pack packaging maximize the bottom line?

Single-serve and controlled dose packaging is highly popular with modern consumers, spanning across different generational demographics. Young professionals and millennials love the stick pack packages as it is portable, easy-to-use and fits unobtrusively into one’s busy lifestyle. The aging population too uses stick pack packages as they are easy-to-open and lightweight, thus making it much easier for people with limited dexterity to be able to handle/use the product. Parents are attracted to stick pack packages as they are able to feel their kids easily with single, controlled, and easy to open serving sized packages that need little cleanup afterwards and doesn’t require utensils too.

Strategies to Help Maintain Packaging Machines

For longevity as well as superior performance of packaging machines, it is necessary that its proper maintenance is taken care of, which can be done better with the help of some strategies. Here are some strategies, provided by the packing machine manufacturers, for maintenance of packaging machines:

• Autonomous Maintenance. When autonomous maintenance strategy is combined with preventive maintenance strategy, it works the best. It includes just a simple checklist of necessary, regular inspection, and routinely cleanup of the machinery. Such basic tasks are often performed by machine operators themselves. The packaging machine operators are the first line-of-defense when it all comes to packaging machine maintenance. There are well-trained and high skilled in properly understanding the basic functioning as well as the working principles of the packaging machine, suggests the packaging machine manufacturers, which makes them the best people to undertake the task of cleaning the machinery and ensuring its maintenance.

• Preventive Maintenance. One of the most important things that needs to be done when it comes to maintenance of packaging machines is devising an effective preventive maintenance strategy. The tasks that are included in a preventive maintenance strategy is generally performed by only professionals and skilled machinery-maintenance personnel and it is carried out on strict preset schedules, usually once a month, or on a quarterly or even annual basis, as per the needs and requirements of the machinery. Adhering to these schedules and practices is essential for an efficient functioning and longevity of packaging machines. The tasks that are involved in preventive maintenance strategy include lubricating the machinery, replacing the worn-out parts, etc.

Packaging Safety Tips to Safeguard Employees

Food packaging machine manufacturers tend to face constant challenges from the various industries to add more motion or/and automation, such that the flexibility demands of the industry can be successfully addressed. Such demands could create several safety issues within packing and packaging industry too. However, it isn’t something to get restless about – there are many solutions to this that could unite successfully the safety of the operators and the flexibility of the machines.

The competition within the industry increases pressure on the food packing machine manufacturers to improve the productivity of its machines, while the innovation cycles are only getting shorter. All these factors continuously demand a greater need for increased flexibility in food packing machine. Such demands cause a significant decrease in multi-pack runs as well as batches built, thus requiring the packaging machines to be able to provide multiple packing solutions from single machine. Such kind of flexibility needs to include an in-built ability to maintain a proper level of efficiency, all the whole performing a swifter product changeover.

Finally, when it comes to the introduction of flexibility in packaging machines, a question tends to arise: “what would be the impact of such flexibility on the safety factor of the machine operator?” this concern has caused the manufacturers to instead look for alternative solutions to packaging machine innovations, which wouldn’t just maximize the productivity, but would provide more flexibility as well. Motion control system paired with automation of machines have been able to provide the packaging industry with such level of flexibility, while keeping operator-safety in mind.

What Do Consumers Look for In Product Packaging?

It is more likely that people wouldn’t always be able to recognize, consciously, the different ways that the design of the product packaging is affecting their purchasing decisions. However, there surely are some details that consumers tend to actively check for while buying products. Here are some features, suggested by the food packaging machine manufacturers, that consumers often look for in product packaging:

• Identifiable packaging. Consumers expect that the product packaging would help them in identifying the brand of the product and the product itself, easily. Additionally, most of the important and necessary information relating to the product must be highlighted and easy-to-read, on the product packaging itself, such as the size of the clothing, nutritional value, ingredients, etc.

• Protective & storage features.People look for good protective & storage features as well, especially on some specific products, such as those that would be reused, like snacks and dry fruits. Today’s packaging machinery solutions have made such packaging easier and economical. For such products, the consumers would check whether or not the product packaging would be easy-to-use, durable, and compact. A resealable zip option is often a great addition to product packaging.

• Stainable packaging. People nowadays are showing more and more interest in eco-friendly, sustainable packaging solutions, especially with rise in awareness regarding sustainability. Packaging that are made with recycled materials, and product packaging that can be recycled easily are highly popular nowadays. Also, there’s an increased inclination towards packaging designs that’s minimalist, as it would require fewer materials.

Advantages of Flexible Packaging Solutions

In today’s time, one can find so many different varieties of products available in the market, with each product vying to stand out uniquely – this presents brand-owners with new challenges, now more than ever. A great way of differentiating your product from others is with unique packaging and a great packaging machine. For added functionality as well as greater attractiveness, flexible packaging solutions must be used.

Pouch packing machines are a great example, when it comes to flexible packaging solutions, as it can be seen in almost all departmental stores today. Stand-up pouch packaging is manufactured using multi-layer aluminum, plastic materials, and/or other type of packaging materials. Pouch packaging solutions are strong and flexible and offer more durability as compared to most other packaging solutions.

Here are some great advantages of flexible packaging solutions:

• Flexible packaging solutions tend to be highly customizable, suggests food packaging machine manufacturers. It can be tailored and customizes with much ease to fit and suit the needs & preferences of the product manufacturers. Packages can be made in any shape and size, thus providing the brand owner with a unique packaging solution and competitive edge.

• Flexible packaging solutions often use high-quality packaging materials that are FDA-approved, and this makes the product contaminant-free and much safer for use.

• These days, retailers tend to prefer products that have packaging that can be displayed on the shelves and have attractive-looking packaging too. Flexible packaging solutions, like standup pouches, can be placed on shelves easily and look great too, when displayed on shelves.

How to Safeguard Your Products During Transit?

There are millions of fragile, delicate items that are transported every hour, each day, all round the year. While packaging such delicate products, the possibility of damage to products pertaining to transportation shocks needs to be taken into consideration. It could be caused by various external factors, while the products are in transit.

Following are some questions that one should consider while determining appropriate packaging solution:

1. How fragile is your product(s)? Electronics as well as glass items will surely have a different kind of requirements when it comes to packaging. Packaging suitable for durable items such as metal objects wouldn’t be enough here. A pouch cushioning would help keep the delicate items safe. Products packaged with stand pouch packing machine needs to be wrapped or boxed properly too to avoid spillage and damage.
2. How would the product(s) be transported? The kind of vehicles that would be used for transportation of products would affect the protection level that the products would have against transit shocks. Different vehicle types have different vibrations and exterior factors. Such factors tend to have deep impacts on transit shock that’s received by the product.
3. How far does the products need to be transported? The distance of transit also affects how much transit shock the products and packaging would be required to bear. Packaging with horizontal form fill seal machine enables the product to be transported across long distances. Longer distance would likely have more consistency in transit shocks as compared to shorter distances.

Benefits of Stick Packages in The Pharmaceutical Industry

When it comes to stick pack packages, its benefits have been highly recognized by the global foods & beverages industry. Stick pack machines provide slim, tube-shaped, and securely-sealed packages, meant for single servings. Stick pack packages ae easy as well as convenient to be used and it is popularly preferred by the consumers and manufacturers alike. Stick pack machine for sale is gaining popularity very quickly in the field of healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

Here are a few great reasons why stick pack is so popularly used in the pharma industry:

Product Safety

A key concern for most pharma companies is how any type of product packaging could affect the product integrity. And to ensure safety of the product and the safety of the consumer’s well-being who would be consuming that product, certain rigid parameters need to be in place, which includes having controlled production environment. In order to provide better product safety, the stick pack packages need to be packaged in a highly controlled environment, that too, with low relative-humidity, and a controlled temperature, as well as residual oxygen levels.

Improved Compliance

Stick packages provide dosages of single servings, and this is especially beneficial for the pediatric dosages, thus providing taste-masking, which leads to much better acceptance rates.

Stick pack packages that are filled using pouch filling machines are very convenient to be used, since it comes in single-use dosages. Stick pack packages can be easily carried along in handbags, or could be even conveniently tucked into your pockets.

Packaging Tips for Better Protection & Safety of The Employees

The manufacturers and designers of packaging machines are constantly faced with numerous challenges to add more automation as well as motion to the packing machines in order to address the increasing demands of the packaging industry for more flexibility. Industry demands for greater flexibility could cause several safety issues along the line. Therefore, there are some solutions that could help unite the flexibility of packaging machines and the safe as well as protection of the packaging machine operations and workers, successfully.

It is true that lately the innovation cycle has become much shorter, with new innovations being developed at a fast pace. The immense competition today in the marketplace has increases pressure on the food packaging machine manufacturers to come up with and develop innovations for greater efficiency and productivity. Such factors do demand a constant requirement for better flexibility in machinery and equipment. Such demands have also led to a fall in the batch-build and multiple-pack runs, thus consequently needing each machine to offer several packaging solutions. This kind of flexibility needs to be accompanied with a higher-level f efficiency & performance for swift changeovers of the products.

A key question that rises when it comes to introduction packaging machine flexibility is – What impact would the flexibility have on safety and protection of machine operators. Such concerns have led packaging industry to further come up with some alternative packaging solution, such as in pouch packing machine Mumbai, that provides increased productivity all the whole providing better flexibility.