Machinery

Digital Label Sales Revisited: Did Expansion Meet Expectations?

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

After predicting last year that digital printing would dominate 15% of label sales by 2025, Paul Edwards of INX International provides an update. We sat down with Paul again to ask 1) if digital label sales grew as much as anticipated and 2) what lies in store for digital label sales going forward. Get Paul’s projections and the underlying factors behind them.

Combating Rising Plastic Costs with Pallet Solutions

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

North American resin costs have soared to historic highs, with no clear end in sight. Ric Lee of Atlantic Packaging suggests that the fix to the plastic price crisis starts on the pallet.

The Latest Innovations in Coding, Marking and Printing

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Coding, marking and printing are essential practices for packaging companies and brands looking to convey meaningful product information to consumers. Because of the widespread necessity of these practices, there has been a variety of innovations—from sustainable inks to laser solutions for beverage can marking. Learn more about these exciting new developments.

Successfully Integrating Automation into the Supply Chain

Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In today's fast-paced market, strategic automation in packaging and merchandising boosts efficiency, reduces costs, and enhances quality. By integrating data-driven insights and advanced technologies, companies can streamline operations and meet customer demands faster and more effectively.

Optimizing Bag-in-Box Production

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this case study, we look at how a new bag-in-box project for a global brand required contract packager GreenSeed to move beyond its existing machines and invest in a dedicated, high-capacity line. The project moved from initial consultation in late spring to a fully operational installation by year-end. Learn more.

Selecting the Ideal Conveying System for Your Packaging Line

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The right conveying system can support consistent throughput and protect product integrity, while the wrong choice can introduce bottlenecks and undermine overall packaging-line performance. Learn about the respective advantages of belt conveyors, vibratory conveyors, and horizontal-motion conveyors.

Precision, Safety, and Speed: The Strategic Role of Conveyor Belts in Packaging

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Bobby Bauman of AMMEGA discusses how each stage of packaging demands specific belt materials and performance properties, noting that packaging belt applications span converting, form-fill-seal, filling and capping, case packing, palletizing, and warehousing.

Use of Automation Continues to Expand in Packaging Industry

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Automation is becoming vital in the packaging industry, streamlining production and enhancing quality assurance. This month, we explore major advancements in automation within the sector.

Cannabis Packaging Goes High-Tech

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Packaging Strategies doesn't often cover cannabis packaging or focus on a single company, but LeafyPack's impressive use of robotics, AI, and vision systems in this field caught our attention.

Improvements in Palletizing Take Center Stage

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

A major cog in the supply chain, palletizing can relieve a lot of hiccups in a product’s journey to store shelves. As a result, several improvements in palletizing—in areas like sustainability and robotics—have emerged over the last year. Learn about some of the latest innovations.

Targeted Resource Reduction in Beverage Packaging

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Stefan Welker of Industrial Physics discusses how targeted reduction strategies can help beverage manufacturers optimize resources without compromising quality. Welker posits that few categories illustrate the balancing act of resource reduction more clearly than metal cans.

Enhancing Supply Chain Transparency with Track-and-Trace Technology

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We present some of the most intriguing stories that surfaced in 2025. From pharmaceutical packaging to foodservice packaging to the shipment of perishable goods, track-and-trace technology plays a critical role, as the following stories illustrate.

Building the Perfect Quesadilla

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

I occasionally help in the kitchen at home, and quesadillas are among my signature dishes. They’re quick, hot, cheesy, and tasty (in my humble opinion). Some recent packaging announcements about the main quesadilla ingredients — tortillas and cheese — got me thinking about this culinary favorite.

High-Tech Printing Solutions for the Beverage Industry

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400

With just a few weeks of summer remaining — and with coolers full of ice-cold beverages by the lake soon to become a distant memory — I thought exploring how coding, marking, and printing experts are helping beverage companies meet their packaging needs would be fun.

Embracing Sustainable Packaging with Mono-Material Coding

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Switching from traditional multi-material flexible packaging to recyclable mono-material packaging supports sustainability but brings unique printing challenges. The right coding technology can render packaging both eco-friendly and high-performing.

Seeing Beyond the Blur with Stroboscopic Technology

Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Imagine being able to freeze motion on a high-speed printing press running at hundreds of feet per minute, allowing you to spot the tiniest imperfection with nothing more than your naked eye. This isn't science fiction — it's the remarkable capability of stroboscopic inspection technology.

Why Digital Printing is Set to Dominate 15% of Label Sales by 2025

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

We recently interviewed Paul Edwards, Vice President of the Digital Division at INX International Ink Company, to understand why digital print is expected to grow to 15% of label sales by 2025.

Diverse Improvement: Embracing Automation in Packaging Solutions

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The embrace of robotics in packaging makes sense as the industry aims for efficient, error-free production. By effectively utilizing this technology, companies can improve every stage of the packaging process while addressing workforce turnover concerns. Recent advancements in robotics have led to significant improvements.

PODCAST | The Evolution of Molded Fiber Packaging

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

With bans on PFAS and polystyrene popping up across the packaging landscape, Bill Kuecker and Emily Parsons of Solenis explain how a new generation of molded fiber is responding to the call for sustainable packaging options that also offer high performance.

Case Forming and Packing: Smarter, Faster and More Versatile

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The Case Forming Machinery Market is projected to grow from $2.78 billion in 2022 to $4.12 billion by 2030, driven by demand for automated and sustainable packaging solutions. Learn more about cutting-edge forming and packing solutions.

PODCAST | Trends in Secondary and End-of-Line Packaging

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

As someone who heads the U.S. operations of Germany’s SOMIC, Peter Fox is intimately familiar with the different approaches that North America and Europe take to secondary and end-of-line packaging. In this interview, Fox shares those insights as well as what he sees as overarching trends in packaging.

Achieving Efficiency: How Advanced Materials and Machinery Transform Palletizing

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Recent advancements in palletizing include Orbis's durable pallet, Premier Tech's TOMA™ automation solutions, BW Flexible Systems' high-speed palletizer, and Robotiq's versatile robotic solutions.

Embracing Versatility: Cartoners Package Everything from Pharmaceuticals to Tabasco Sauce

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Cartons are vital in pharmaceuticals and food. At PACK EXPO 2024, Bradman Lake unveiled a High-Speed End Load Cartoner, and R.A Jones will supply McIlhenny Company with four Legacy CS-600 cartoners for TABASCO®. IWK Packaging introduced the CH 4 for delicate pharmaceuticals, highlighting efficiency in cartoning.

Ecommerce Packaging Keeps Getting Smarter

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Ecommerce revenue in the U.S. is expected to grow by 51% from 2024 to 2029, reaching $1.8 trillion, driving demand for innovative packaging solutions. Companies like R.R. Donnelley & Sons are enhancing label production, Packsize is focusing on on-demand sustainable boxes, and MCS Inc. is exploring high-speed inkjet systems to replace adhesive labels with direct printing on packaging materials.

PODCAST | Trends in Inks and Coatings for Sustainable Paper Packaging

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

While paper packaging in many ways is more naturally eco-friendly than plastic packaging, Sun Chemical is busy developing inks and coatings solutions to ensure that true recyclability is achieved as the ‘paperization’ trend gains steam.

Tip of the Iceberg: A Preview of the Learning Opportunities at PACK EXPO

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Packaging Strategies’ recent reporting on PACK EXPO International 2024 – though extensive – represents a mere fraction of the networking and expertise sharing that will take place at the event.

PODCAST | Conveyor Belting Needs in the Face of Industry 5.0

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

In this interview, Niels van den Boogert and Bobby Bauman of AMMEGA discuss CPG firms’ evolving conveyor needs as warehouses and distribution centers become increasingly automated.

Labeling Equipment: Sustained Improvement in Versatility, Efficiency and Accuracy

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The discussion of labels and labeling tends to revolve around materials. But another part of the equation, and perhaps just as important, is the labeling machinery. Learn how companies like Primera Technology, Videojet and Xeikon are making game-changing advances in this area.

Hands-On Experience: Insights from Labelexpo Americas 2024

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Labelexpo Americas 2024 in Rosemont, Illinois, was a key event for the label and package printing industry, featuring over 450 exhibitors. It offered live demonstrations and showcased the latest advancements in machinery and materials, underscoring its significance as a premier platform for industry innovation and networking since 1989.

Coding and Printing: From Improved Recycling to Catching the Consumer’s Eye

addingtonb@bnpmedia.com (Brad Addington) — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Companies like Digimarc, Wipak, Inovar and Domino are demonstrating how advancements in coding, marking and printing are facilitating recycling efforts, lowering costs for brand managers, making it easier to hire qualified equipment operators, and more.