In a bid to define and address trends, the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) has launched a series of Packaging Intelligence Briefs
From automation to sustainability and machinery to materials - the packaging industry is constantly evolving.
The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), a leading global resource for the packaging industry, has introduced the Packaging Intelligence Brief (PIB) series to help define and address trends currently shaping the future of packaging. PMMI will release the Packaging Intelligence Briefs with the additional aim of keeping industry professionals and media abreast of emerging trends that have an impact in the packaging industry.
The PMMI says that each Brief will address a specific topic and outline how packaging machinery suppliers and manufacturers are, or should be, responding to market needs. PMMI has released four Briefs to kick off the series, which focus on automation trends, barrier materials, in-store advertising and RFID trends.
"As we see a myriad of new product introductions and package redesigns enter the market, especially those targeted to the baby boomer generation, in-store advertising and automation trends are increasingly important issues directly impacting the cosmetic and personal care industry," says Charles D Yuska, president and ceo, PMMI.
The automation brief quotes recent statistics from the Robotic Industry Association (RIA) which show sales of packaging and palletising robots rose by approximately 113% between 2000 and 2005 with a 15% increase in sales between 2004 and 2005 alone. The report says that the inherent flexibility of robots greatly facilitates changeover from one size or type of product to another. As a result, material handling is one of the fastest growing segments of the robotics market, showing a 67% gain in the first quarter of 2005 over the same period in 2004.
Able to handle anything from caps to pouches to torque converters, robot palletising is rapidly growing in popularity. This popularity extends beyond multinational companies to include smaller packagers. In fact robots are even seeing increased use among companies with as little as 100-200 employees. With their smaller footprint and superior precision over conventional palletising technology, robots offer major advantages for these smaller packagers with lower-speed lines.
The in-store advertising brief identifies trends based around innovative containers and materials that enhance shelf presence and help build brand image. With more than 70% of all purchasing decisions being made at the store shelf, visual appeal has become essential to project in-store brand image and leverage the loyalty so carefully cultivated through out-of-store marketing. As a result packaging technologies that enhance visual presence and consumers to reach out and touch a package - often reinforced these days with tactile surface treatments - have become a primary selling tool in retail environments. A trend looked at in detail is the need to guard certain products against pilferage, which according to the US Commerce Department accounts for losses in excess of $30bn per year in the US. Various innovations, including new secure blister packaging designed to counter this are examined in the brief.
"PMMI conducts a number of industry studies and surveys throughout the year to gauge the industry," says Yuska. "The Packaging Intelligence Briefs provide a practical way for PMMI to communicate what we see as the most significant trends that will most likely affect the industry. Packaging plays a critical role in our global economy. It is imperative to understand the trends and issues that are affecting the industry at all levels, from machine and materials to retailer and customer demands. PMMI is making a concerted effort to educate and disseminate relevant information affecting the global packaging community.
“The Briefs provide pertinent information for brand owners on how packaging manufacturers and materials suppliers are applying the latest packaging technologies to increase product shelf appeal and to optimize packaging line automation for greater operational efficiency."
Founded in 1933, the PMMI’s membership has grown to more than 500 members who manufacture packaging and packaging related converting machinery and thirteen supplier members who manufacture commercially available packaging machinery components in the US and Canada. More than one out of every four machines sold around the world is made by a PMMI member company.
To obtain the Packaging Intelligence Briefs, visit www.pmmi.org or call Sara Kryder on +1 703 243 8555.