41 TRADE SHOW REVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 24 No. 07+08/23 www.petpla.net PMMI addresses insights on packaging automation PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, addressed significant trends in automation. In a press conference on May 5, executives from PMMI highlighted key trends and insights from a recent report, “The Future of Automation in Packaging and Processing,” which revealed continued interest and adoption of automated technologies as a result of growing labour shortages and e-commerce. According to the report, 60% of consumer packaged goods (CPG) respondents to PMMI’s study cited a lack of labour availability as a significant driver of interest in automated solutions. As a result, 31% of all CPG respondents said they were deploying automated machinery on production lines as a substitute for manpower and will continue to do so. While this pain point has been felt across the globe, it is a significant concern in Germany where the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) expects the nation’s potential workforce to fall by seven million by 2035. The continued growth across e-commerce is another driver of automated solutions in packaging. About half of CPG respondents reported that growth in e-commerce is impacting their business, increasing the need for greater flexibility in packaging operations to accommodate fast-changing consumer preferences. “Continuing labour shortages and e-commerce growth represent shared challenges among CPGs operating in the United States, Canada and much of Europe,” said Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, market development, PMMI. “However, the resulting interest in automated solutions as a remedy have accelerated adoption and carved new paths in collaboration and creative problem-solving between these companies and OEMs to fuel greater efficiency, productivity and cost-efficiency.” To ease workforce challenges, many companies are turning to robot and cobot solutions. Over 90% of respondents believe that robots and cobots have helped address labour shortages with 27% reporting to deploy cobots in their plants. That figure is expected to grow to 57% over the next five years. Maintenance represented another opportunity for automated solutions in packaging and processing. 43% of respondents reported use of predictive maintenance technology on their lines while 83% were considering it. Related, 56% reported use of remote access solutions since 2020. Even 3D printing is playing a larger role in machine maintenance while helping CPGs lower downtime and costs. About 25% of respondents claimed to use 3D printing to make and replace non-moving parts prone to quick wear and tear. www.pmmi.org Coding developments Markem-Imaje, global provider of end-to-end supply chain solutions and industrial marking and coding systems for multiple market verticals, unveiled market-first new coding technology designed to propel production of serialised 2D barcodes, three recently-developed laser designs and a host of other innovations. The new Super Piezo Inkjet (SPI) marking technology is claimed to combine the advantages of continuous inkjet CIJ and Drop on Demand. Markem-Imaje CIJ Product Division Director Sabri Mourad explained: “It’s coming to answer the demand of brands to have high quality print on the product and to serialise 2D codes. This is the right answer to the revolution coming to the market in 2D barcodes from GS1. It will give brands the capability to mark unique brands with unique codes on 3D complex surfaces”. Besides SPI, Markem-Imaje demonstrated three recentlydeveloped laser models, one to respond to the industry demands of the segment’s three technologies, each helping brands to meet their sustainability goals whilst boosting productivity at a time when manufacturers face an increasingly challenging environment. MI’s new ultraviolet technology, the UV500, excels on difficult materials where other laser technologies cannot perform so well, including on the finest, easily-damaged substrates like new more environmentally friendly thinner mono films, as well as polymer labels and thermoplastics like high-density polyethylene. A key attraction at MI’s stand was an in-line packaging line demonstration featuring laser, continuous inkjet, thermal transfer overprinting, large character inkjet, and intelligent print and apply labeling systems in action. The demo was fully integrated and managed by MI’s Packaging Intelligence software suite Colos, prepared for supply chain traceability and engaging consumer experiences. www.markem-imaje.com
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