Why invest in new flexible packaging machinery like VFFS equipment? Why not?
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Here are some of the pros and cons of introducing new automated packaging equipment into your company’s production processes.
New packaging machines can enable teams to work much faster than they could with hand-packing. One of the best ways to increase production capacity is to invest in packaging automation and train your workforce to use it effectively.
New integrated interfaces make the learning curve much less steep when introducing new packaging machinery to your workforce. Many packaging equipment manufacturers also offer onsite training as part of your contract as well.
Another big benefit of having newer packaging machines is that they offer more agile production. With specifications like tool-free changeover, these machines can make it a lot easier to switch from one packaging format to another without a labor-intensive changeover process. Versatile flexible packaging machinery can grow as you grow and scale to changing demand, enabling your production processes to be more fluid.
With newer packaging machines, you'll experience less downtime as a result of parts wearing. Older machines tend to break down more often. This leads to unproductive downtime which costs the company money. At some point, it seems like you're just throwing good money after bad to replace and repair parts on older, less sophisticated packing machines. And don't fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy; just because you've already 'invested' a lot of cash in a substandard machine for repairs does not mean you should keep doing so as a way to justify those past costs.
As with any kind of capital equipment acquisition, companies have to carefully consider the cost of buying new packaging equipment, and if it justifies the benefits the new equipment will bring.
It's important to be price conscious and to do some comparison shopping before buying this type of asset. However, as with most purchases, remember that you get what you pay for. When narrowing down packaging equipment options, properly consider the total cost of ownership and return on investment implications. With those details in mind, management will often see that the benefits will justify the decision to purchase a new machine rather quickly.
There are many kinds of hard and soft costs related to keeping aging equipment -- some of which are mentioned above, like the maintenance burden. There's also the idea that you can boost sales outcomes by impressing potential customers with newer technology.
Every new packaging machine comes with a learning curve. Yes, you'll need training. Yes, that training will take time, effort, and monetary investment. But with newer human machine interfaces, many of the latest VFFS packaging machines make it easy to adjust to their use in a short period of time. So there will be up-front training costs, but they won't be a part of your recurring operational expenses for very long. Investing in workforce training also pays off in dividends when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent.
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Any significant investment in new equipment may increase your insurance costs. However again, these machines can pay for themselves many times over in the long run. It's similar to investing in a home; yes, there are necessary costs (like insurance) that aren't ever going to be directly recovered, but overall, an investment in a quality home is an investment in your future. It's the same with quality packaging machinery.
It's important to have accurate insurance in place to cover everything that’s part of your business footprint -- think of acquiring new packaging machinery as an opportunity to update your policy to make sure you’re 100% covered.
As the end of the year approaches, many find themselves taking the time to evaluate procedures across their entire operation. By the time November has rolled around, most businesses are able to examine what worked and what didn’t throughout the previous 12 months in order to move forward and set themselves up for success in the coming year. One such example of where many see opportunity for improvement is their packaging line. Those who rely exclusively or primarily on manual labor often find that their throughput is lower, material use is higher, and employee strain injuries occur more frequently than with packaging automation. But how does an organization or individual know when the right time to buy packaging equipment might be? There are a few key questions to ask and help evaluate your company’s unique needs.
What is packaging equipment? Simply enough, packaging equipment is automated machinery that assists in packing your goods to prepare them for shipment or storage. This could be anything from a simple label printer and applicator that puts shipping addresses on your corrugated cartons to a much more complicated automatic line that erects those cartons, puts them on a conveyor, places the product inside, tapes the boxes shut, palletizes them, wraps stretch film around the palletized load, and prepares them to be put in the back of a shipping truck. Basically, packaging equipment can cover just about anything that automates your process, no matter how small or large it may seem.
If you’ve never used or even considered automating your packaging line before, determining what type of equipment is best for your operation is an important decision. Parts of this process might be relatively straightforward – it'll be pretty apparent if you need an automatic stretch wrapper or if you need an automated poly bagging machine (or maybe you need both!). However, sifting through all of the different options available to you can occasionally be a head scratcher. This is one area where IPS Packaging & Automation is always ready to help. As a packaging equipment and supply distributor, we understand that the sheer amount of options can sometimes feel daunting. That’s why our automation experts can provide you with a free needs assessment to assist in determining what type of packaging machine you might need, the best option for your output and budget, and any additional features that could make a difference for your business.
With Q4 now in full swing, many are finding the room in their budget for bigger expenses, like packaging machinery. Budget is obviously a top concern when considering adding equipment to your packaging line, but there are a number of considerations to keep in mind and questions to ask before making a final decision.
What are your goals for your packaging equipment? Are you looking to increase throughput, improve productivity, reduce material waste, or something else?
Do you have any non-negotiables on the equipment you purchase? Do you need a case sealer that works with any size box? Does your stretch wrapper have to be able to handle 500+ loads per day?
Are you prepared to complete maintenance work on your machine or will you need to outsource it? Have you considered a routine maintenance program to make life easier and plan downtime on your own schedule?
After a thorough examination of your packaging line and its processes, as well as after you’ve taken the time to answer the above questions, it’s time to decide whether or not now is the right time for packaging equipment. Automation can bring massive benefits to your organization, including improved throughput, increased productivity, reduced material waste, fewer employee injuries, and beyond. To get started on finding the right packaging equipment for your unique needs, contact IPS Packaging & Automation today or give us a call at (800) 277- to learn more.
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