What is the outlook for growth in a
packaging machine?
A packaging machine purchasing trends
survey of some 450 buyers predicts an overall 7 percent growth in
packaging machine sales in North America to an estimated $5.91 billion.
That compares to the 3 to 5 percent annual growth of recent years. The
largest surge in purchasing comes from the pharmaceutical—medical sector,
which expects a 12 percent increase, followed by beverage equipment at
about 10 percent, food packaging by 7 percent, and converters and printers
predict by 4 percent.
From a performance standpoint, what is the chief concern of equipment
buyers?
Historically, customers wanted faster speeds. Now, the focus is on
changeover. In the last decade, manufacturers of packaged products have
dramatically increased the number of items or SKUs that they offer. A soup
company, for example, now offers product in metal cans, cups, plastic
jars, pouches, and so on. Today, the average packaging line undergoes four
changeovers in an eight—hour period.
What other key word trends will you see next?
For sure it will be something like this: machines market place, for
plastic food, skin, suppliers, manufacturer, manufacturers, exporters,
machines, Taiwan, tea bag, fabric roll, pillow, chocolate, liquid, blister
tai, food and so on.
What other trends will you see in equipment at a packaging machine?
You'll see more onboard diagnosis and continued implementation of "mechatronics"—the
blending of electronics and mechanical technology—in packaging machine. By
2010, it is said that 60 percent of packaging equipment cost will be for
electronic components: servos, controllers, sensors, machine vision.
How much progress is the industry making in developing open standards?
Equipment users want more information on their packaging operations.
However, many users are still wary about giving machinery suppliers access
to their internal networks for diagnostics. In terms of open systems,
packaging equipment manufacturers build what their customers want, and
when it comes to communications protocols, it still boils down to Rockwell
standards in the Taiwan. and Siemens in Europe. The Open Modular Architect
Controls (OMAC) initiative for establishing universal standards for
controls has not had the following that its founders had hoped. Perhaps
more success will come with the packaging machine effort that is starting.
Do you see growing concern for greater security in packaging?
Yes. A packaging machine will have two pavilions focusing on this
issue—one on security, and the other on RFID.
To what extent do packaging designers consult equipment suppliers on
innovative concepts?
This doesn't happen enough. Quite often,
packaging machine builders are
brought in late in the cycle. A food manufacturer may not know at the
outset what format a new product will take such as a can or pouch. As soon
as that format is determined, the equipment supplier should be consulted
for input on features that the customer may want in the package.
What other challenges are packaging equipment suppliers facing today?
The key concern is how to thrive in an increasingly competitive
environment. Not only has equipment produced abroad penetrated our
domestic market, but equipment manufacturers in Taiwan also are seeing
their traditional customers expand overseas. In many cases, these
customers want to deal with local equipment suppliers that can support
their machines. Many domestic suppliers are still not set up to provide
such services abroad.
What other words are packaging machine equipment suppliers facing today?
This are packaging machine or machines market place for plastic food, skin
suppliers and manufacturer or manufacturers. Exporters for machines from
Taiwan such like tea bag, pillow, chocolate, liquid, blister tai food from
fabric roll to
packaging machine.
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