The Complete Guide To Buying Packaging Machinery

The Complete Guide To Buying Packaging Machinery

How To Choose A Packaging Machinery And Materials Supplier:

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When it comes to choosing a supplier for your packaging materials and machinery, it is important to do your homework and ask yourself a few questions. You should investigate at least three different suppliers and learn about several important dynamics from each of them.

Location

It is a good idea to choose a packaging machinery supplier who is relatively close to your geographical location or can easily travel to you. This will have an impact on your business when there is a need for repairs or emergency service for your equipment. Pick a supplier who is in another country and you may find yourself dead in the water for days on end. Choosing a supplier with technicians who are local is always a smart idea. When it comes to your materials, you don't have to be as worried about the physical location as most supplies can be shipped timely.

Technicians

It is important to choose a packaging machine supplier with experienced and certified technicians who are professionally trained to work on your packaging equipment. Without the proper certifications, you are taking a chance with your equipment. You could end up paying big when risking service with non-certified techs.

Customer Service

It may be tempting to source the cheapest packaging materials in an attempt to save money, but if you buy from a company with poor customer service, you may end up losing the anticipated savings anyway. Poor service often means lost dollars. Check out reviews of each vendor and if possible, reach out to current customers and ask about their vendor's customer service and if they would recommend buying from them.

Cost

There is an old saying in the packaging industry and that is "shrink film is shrink film". While there are some brands with flashy marketing and sales gimmicks with a premium price, chances are, there are several less costly alternatives that are of equal quality. If you are looking for comparisons, there are generally low-cost films that have lower clarity and higher-cost films that will shine more and have better clarity. Choosing an inexpensive film may cost you in shelf presence.

Snake oil and elevator pitches can blur the line between reality and illusion. At the end of the day, you will want to purchase from an honest supplier who carries multiple offerings at different price points and provides superior customer service.

Parts

Depending on how often your machinery is running, your downtime due to repair needs or emergency service will vary. As time is money, it is important to ask your machine supplier about lead times, parts availability, and preventative maintenance programs.

Ask each potential vendor what their average response times for emergency calls are. In most cases, it should not be more than 24-48 hours.

Which Packaging Materials Should You Use?

Different types of machinery require different types of materials and utilize different amounts of materials based on the make and model of equipment. For example, while you can save money upfront by purchasing a manual L-Bar Sealer, your cost of goods will likely be higher as a more expensive automatic sealer will generally use less material than the manual machine because the machine will generally be optimized to do so.

That being said, the quantity of product that you will be producing must also be taken into consideration. An automatic sealer won't be the right machine for a small business that is only running a couple of thousand items or less each week.

This is due to the fact that each model is designed to work with specific maximum and minimum capabilities and materials. Every machine is different. Your packaging line's unique needs must be taken into consideration when choosing the appropriate machine for your application. This can result in higher production costs if your choice of machinery cannot run thinner gauge shrink film. Using thinner gauges of shrink film can result in significant cost savings.

Conclusion:

Buying packaging machinery is a major investment. The various dynamics of choosing machinery include; safety, budget, physical layout, electrical supply, materials, and a whole host of considerations that can make your head spin.

When moving forward with the buying process it is important to start by reviewing the appropriate KPIs with an emphasis on safety first. Next, you will want to be sure to complete the packaging machinery pre-investment checklist. After filling out the information in this valuable tool and getting your results back, you will want to move on to getting quotes from at least two or three vendors.

Getting an analysis of your packaging department and collecting data on your current machinery, manual labor, materials, physical footprint, electrical requirements, production levels, types of products and the other important dynamics of running a safe and productive packaging line is key.

Once you have been able to fully analyze every aspect of your packaging line, asking for quotes from each of the vendors you are giving an opportunity to quote will provide you with peace of mind that you are going get the best deal and receive the best of what each vendor has to offer.

In addition to requesting information and pricing on the packaging machinery you are looking to purchase, be sure to also acquire information about the cost of service, installation, any training available, supply, and repairs. Ideally, you should consider getting a quote for a long-term preventative maintenance plan as this type of program will ensure that your machinery is always running at peak performance and that downtime will be limited when it does occur.

Once you have chosen a vendor to buy from, meeting with your representative and reviewing the machinery offerings that they have will allow you to open a conversation about pricing. Here you can ask about special offers, rebates, additional options, leasing versus buying, and other related dynamics that will help you to get the best price and best plan implemented for your specific budgetary restraints and packaging line needs.

Finally, it would do you well to schedule quarterly, bi-annual or annual meetings for review with your chosen vendor's sales representative and one of their maintenance technicians.

This will allow you to review data from one meeting to the next and identify places where your machinery and materials could be improved upon to further reduce your cost of production, increase speed to market, create greater efficiency and produce a superior performance on your packaging lines KPIs.

Once you have purchased your new machinery and have worked with your chosen vendor to install the machinery, train your operators, and all else has been said and done, be sure to schedule your first review before your representative leaves your building.

If you heed the information in this guide, we assure you that you will make the best possible choice of packaging machinery for your packaging department. Furthermore, you will be able to ensure the purchase and implementation of the best materials for your products and may rest assured that you have done everything in your power to have the best possible packaging line for your business.

Should we not have produced answers to some of your questions or content that is crucial to your particular needs in regard to buying new machinery, contact us directly. Your voice can help others in your position in the future!

Our dedicated packaging professionals can and will answer any questions that have not been answered by this guide. In addition to what you have read here, we invite you to peruse our blog which is absolutely packed to the brim with useful information, free tools, and quality content that will make for a highly useful adjunct to this guide.

Last but not least, you will find a selection of free tools below that will help you on your journey to finding the best packaging machinery for your packaging line.

From all of us here at Industrial Packaging, we wish you well on your quest and again would implore you to contact us if you need anything else that you could not find in this guide.

Packaging Equipment | Automated ...

Browse All Packaging Equipment

Packaging equipment can dramatically reduce labor, optimize your packaging process and increase your company&#;s productivity. With packaging equipment, you can automate your packaging line and reallocate your personnel to where they are needed most.

Production automation allows companies to increase efficiency without sacrificing quality or craftsmanship. Robotic packaging automation, in particular, mimics human movements accurately to increase process yields. Handling and placing items, packing cases, and palletizing become more efficient when robotic solutions are utilized. 

At TPC Packaging Solutions, we have been a supplier of packaging and shipping products for over 50 years. Our experience and knowledge tell us there isn&#;t always a one-size-fits-all solution for automating a packaging line. That&#;s why we provide many options of packaging equipment to make sure your facility receives an optimized solution.

Types of Semi and Fully-Automated Packaging Equipment

TPC Packaging Solutions has many types of semi and fully automated packaging equipment. Our products can be customized to meet the needs of each application and help increase efficiency and workplace safety. The following are some of our most popular automation solutions. 

Shrink equipment performs shrink-wrapping processes. Only two components are needed to perform this process: heat and shrink film. Using these elements, nearly anything can be packaged to be weatherproof, waterproof, and/or tamper-proof. Shrink equipment accomplishes this quickly and reliably, even on large or awkwardly shaped products. 

TPC provides a diverse selection of shrink films, including:

• Anti-static films for electronics

  Kinsun contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

• Shrink tubing

• PVC, polyethylene, and polyolefin 

• Shrink bands

• Printed shrink labels

Product Identification (Marking, Coding, and Labeling) 

Product identification refers to the use of labels, marks, and barcodes (including 2D, and QR) to facilitate product traceability and brand protection. By adding these identifiers to items, manufacturers can better track their movement through the manufacturing process and to the end-user. This makes it easier to manage resources within inventory, trace a problem back to the source, and, if needed, recall products from retailers and consumers. These identifiers can also provide important product information to retailers and consumers and prevent product tampering or counterfeiting.

Companies can use several different methods for product identification, including: 

• Marking & Coding.

  Product marks and codes can be printed directly on products or secondary product packaging. This print will represent regulation-required information (e.g., lot codes, barcodes, serial numbers, best by dates, etc.), specific product   information (e.g., batch codes), brand information (e.g., logos and graphics), and/or logistics information (e.g. storage or shipment details). Direct printing on

  primary

  packaging generally requires the implementation of a CIJ (continuous ink jet) printer or laser coder and the choice is dependent on application factors such as location of mark, production speeds, production line footprint, safety measures, and maintenance.  Direct printing on

  secondary

  packaging (i.e. boxes and bags) will require the selection of a print technology (graphics, thermal ink jet, drop on demand) that is dependent on factors such as information required to print, print space allowed on the substrate, production line footprint and environment.

  When possible, many users prefer direct printing over labeling as the cost and maintenance savings when printing directly is quite substantial.

  
  

• Labeling.

  In applications that require a label instead of a direct mark, product labels can be applied either from pre-printed stock or created in-line and printed as needed. Labels can be of varying materials including paper, polyester, and foil. They are also considered to be either &#;thermal&#; or &#;thermal transfer&#; (requiring ribbon) with their selection based on application needs and/or customer requirements. Label applicators play a critical part in labeling  both primary and secondary packaging but also complement automation in tertiary (pallet/container) labeling as well, where they provide critical information on contents, storage, and shipping details.TPC offers a variety of products and equipment for primary and secondary marking, coding, and labeling operations, including: 

• Bar Code and Graphics High Resolution Printers

• Direct to Panel Box Printers

• Print and Apply Label Applicators

• Adjacent Panel and Corner Wrap Label Applicatorss

• Semi-Automatic/Automatic Bottle Labelers

• Laser Coders

• Hot Stamp Printers

• Label Creation SoftwareLabel Dispensers

Which Packaging Materials Should You Use?

Different types of machinery require different types of materials and utilize different amounts of materials based on the make and model of equipment. For example, while you can save money upfront by purchasing a manual L-Bar Sealer, your cost of goods will likely be higher as a more expensive automatic sealer will generally use less material than the manual machine because the machine will generally be optimized to do so.

That being said, the quantity of product that you will be producing must also be taken into consideration. An automatic sealer won't be the right machine for a small business that is only running a couple of thousand items or less each week.

This is due to the fact that each model is designed to work with specific maximum and minimum capabilities and materials. Every machine is different. Your packaging line's unique needs must be taken into consideration when choosing the appropriate machine for your application. This can result in higher production costs if your choice of machinery cannot run thinner gauge shrink film. Using thinner gauges of shrink film can result in significant cost savings. bels, marks, and barcodes (including 2D, and QR) to facilitate product traceability and brand protection. By adding these identifiers to items, manufacturers can better track their movement through the manufacturing process and to the end-user. This makes it easier to manage resources within inventory, trace a problem back to the source, and, if needed, recall products from retailers and consumers. These identifiers can also provide important product information to retailers and consumers and prevent product tampering or counterfeiting.