1661892674683 Cd1101 Id3

Food Packagers to Devour New Advances

Jan. 13, 2011
Half of the Food Manufacturers Surveyed in New Research from PMMI Say They Expect to Purchase New Equipment in the Next 12 Months

Half of the food manufacturers surveyed in new research from PMMI (www.pmmi.org) say they expect to purchase new equipment in the next 12 months, and more than a third of those (34%) expect their spending to be even higher than originally budgeted. What those potential customers want from their new machines are automation, ease of use, energy efficiency and adaptability, according to the study, "Trends and Advances in Food Packaging 2010."

Food packagers want multi-functional equipment, PMMI says, and they want equipment that is more intelligent and more automated, and has a user-friendly interface. "I want state-of-the-art equipment that's energy-efficient and will reduce labor and increase capacity," says one plant manager interviewed for the study. "Machine flexibility for easy pouch size changeover is important, as is machinery that does not cost a lot to repair and maintain."

Energy efficiency is important, respondents say, not only to comply with food packagers' evolving sustainability initiatives, but also to make the machines more cost-effective to operate. In another economy-driven trend, many food packagers are trying to stretch their operating budgets by extending the life of existing equipment or refurbishing older equipment not currently in use.

When it comes to new equipment, food packagers demand more-sophisticated packaging machinery, with flexibility, multi-purpose functionality at the push of a button, variable product line speeds, and energy efficiency—all at a reasonable price. "Flexible changeover, versatility to retrofit for changing up the line and multi-purpose equipment that meets several needs are what we envision in the next generation of packaging equipment," says one senior engineer.

PMMI's study is based on interviews with 50 food manufacturers and 15 packaging experts who represent 20 of the top 75 food packaging companies. The combined revenues of those 20 come to more than half of that industry's revenue.

Looking to BuyHalf of the food manufacturers surveyed recently by PMMI say they expect to purchase new equipment in the next 12 months. From those new machines, they want ease of use, energy efficiency and adaptability.PMMI

Sponsored Recommendations

2024 State of Technology Report: Packaging Equipment

Special considerations and requirements make packaging equipment an interesting vertical market unto itself. This new State of Technology Report from the editors of ...

High Sensitivity Accelerometers to Monitor Traffic and Railroad Vibration for Semiconductor Manufacturing

This paper examines highly sensitive piezoelectric sensors for precise vibration measurement which is critical in semiconductor production to prevent quality and yield issues....

Simulation for Automation Guide

How digital twin solutions are expanding the capabilities of plant engineers.

Enhancing HMI Security and Accessibility with Cloud VPN Solutions

Enhance HMI security and remote access with Beijer’s cloud VPN solution. Enjoy advanced encryption, easy setup, and secure access via laptops, smartphones, or tablets. Cut costs...