Important changes are prevalent in today’s packaging market dynamics. Historically, consumer goods manufacturers shipped pallets to warehouses and then to stores. Increasingly, consumers are making purchases online, rather than at brick and mortar stores. The warehouse-centered model, with more shipments bypassing retail outlets and going directly to consumer homes, calls for different automation efficiencies than that of the conventional retail supply chain. As a result, many consumer products require added packaging protection to prevent damage during shipment. And, packaged quantities and carton sizes vary more widely so manufacturers can optimize warehouse-to-consumer shipping costs.
Demand is rising for consumer goods packaging applications, such as pick & place, mixed pallets and cases, cartoning and packing for shipment. Machine builders and system integrators must be vigilant about identifying areas of savings. Bottom line machine costs come down to parts count including gearing, motor, inverter or servo drive. Design engineers leave money on the table if they build machines according to outdated specifications for drive efficiencies as low as 50-60%. Savings can be substantial by switching to new gearing technology that yields 90-95% efficiency.