OEM COVID-19 #9 - How Contract Packaging/Manufacturing is Impacted by COVID-19

UnPACKED with PMMI podcast checks in on the ways co-packers have adapted to the new normal.

Apr 29th, 2020

CPA Managing Director Ron Puvak explains the impact of COVID-19 on Contract Packaging and Manufacturing.

CPA Managing Director Ron Puvak explains the impact of COVID-19 on Contract Packaging and Manufacturing.

This new UnPACKed with PMMI podcast episode features Ron Puvak, managing director, The Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers, as he shares how CPA and its members are navigating the current climate of an industry that is built around adapting and evolving through changing conditions. Typically a segment of the industry positioned for the latest trends or an increase in one product vs. another, UnPACKed with PMMI sat down with The Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers managing director Ron Puvak to see how CPA and its members are navigating the current climate.

Stay tuned for more podcasts with offering guidance around COVID-19 in an effort to keep the industry informed, strong and connected.

“Multisensory packaging: Designing New Product Experiences,” published in 2019 by Carlos Velasco, together with Charles Spence from the University of Oxford.

Multi-sensory Packaging

What is the science of Multisensory Packaging and how does it contribute to create powerful and extraordinary product brand experiences?

Susosu mineral water infused with molecular hydrogen is packaged in a 300-mL multilayer aluminum pouch with gussets.

Hydrogen Water Potency Preserved with Aluminum Pouch

Unique gusseted aluminum stand-up pouch format keeps hydrogen atoms inside, preserving the antioxidant, energy-boosting, and anti-inflammation properties of the water.

The T5 pick-and-place delta robot from Gerhard Schubert GmbH features a fifth axis that allows for high performance in small spaces.

Special Report: Robots Drive the Manufacturing Revolution

New innovations in robotics for the packaging industry enable greater flexibility, efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness for those CPGs looking to automate a range of applications.

Multi-packer Helps Historic Brewery Juggle Multiplying SKUs

There’s a lot more than bock beer in Shiner, Texas. A new automated secondary packaging system allowed Spoetzl Brewery to expand its range of formats, automate variety packs, and ultimately, reach all new cohorts of beer drinkers.

Robotics Special Report: Making Sense of ANSI R15.06 and ANSI B155.1

To determine the right standards approach for your organization, it’s helpful to understand how standards are structured, which responsibilities and requirements are associated with the standards, and ISO restrictions.

Pearson’s dual-cell solution is able to handle four palletizing lines dedicated to the customer’s new case style, along with two additional lines, when needed

Robotics Special Report: Cobot-Placed Top Sheets Protect Frozen Foods

The installation of 12 robotic palletizers for frozen food products necessitates the addition of two cobot cap-sheet placers to keep the cases free from dust.

ESS Technologies uses three Fanuc robots to collate more than 160 cosmetic tubes/min for feeding to a case packer.

Robotics Special Report: Vision Enables Tube Picking/Placing at 160/min

A new SCARA robotic cell developed for the collation of cosmetic tubes uses vision software and specially designed end-of-arm tooling.

ABB’s new IRB 390 FlexPacker delta robot for e-commerce applications will be launched at the end of 2020.

Robotics Special Report: E-Commerce Requires new Solutions

New robot technology addresses the specific needs of e-commerce packaging, including mixed pallet loads, labor challenges, and a variety of secondary packaging formats.

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Workers Wanted? Contact the Robot Employment Agency

Start-up MusashiAI introduces intelligent autonomous robots for quality inspection and forklift driving—allowing the redistribution of human labor to more value-added jobs.

In fall of 2019, Columbia/Okura and Universal Robots developed the miniPAL, a mobile palletizing cobot integrating Universal Robot’s UR10e.

Robotics Special Report: Cobots Continue to Advance

According to a PMMI robot report, cobots accounted for about 3% of all robot sales in North America in 2017; by 2025, that number is expected to increase to 34%. Here are some of the new cobot technologies driving that growth.

Biodegradable and Compostable Packaging

Despite COVID-19’s unwelcome intrusion into our lives this year, sustainability continues to be a substantial area of opportunity for brands and retailers. Increasingly, consumers around the world are demanding more environmentally-friendly packaging.

Pandemic Cancels In-Person PACK EXPO International

PMMI Media Group launches new live, web-based event: PACK EXPO Connects 2020.

Dr. Will's AFTER the redesign

Bold Punctuation on Condiment Label Compels Consumers to Stop and Think

An attention-grabbing exclamation-point logo for U.K. condiment brand Dr. Will’s dominates new graphics for the packaging of its all-natural ketchup, mayo, and BBQ sauce.

Premier Tech has developed the PSR robotic solution to speed the sorting of nuts at the final stage of the conditioning process.

Robotics Special Report: Addressing Labor Shortages can ‘Help Feed the World’

Robot manufacturer develops a system to alleviate the lack of labor in the nut industry that can sort nuts at the final stage of the conditioning process.

The interior illustration depicts the animals of the Royal Menagerie attending a coronation celebration surrounded by the precious Royal Regalia at the Tower of London.

A Jewel of a Presentation Box for Royal Salute Whisky

A new addition to the Royal Salute whisky range, The Treasured Blend gets a presentation box with double-door design that opens to a stunning, gold foil menagerie fit for a queen.

Leinenkugel’s to Update Logo, Trader Joe’s Says “No”

The Miller Brewing Company brand will remove the image of a Native American from its packaging in 2021, but Trader Joe’s says it will not change its packaging.

Nesquick packaging AFTER the redesign

Nesquik Bunny Quiky Reimagined for Brand Expansion

Facing competition in the RTD category, Nesquik updates its packaging to emphasize its nutritional value for all ages, resulting in a more mature, silhouetted bunny mascot.

Dr. R. Andrew Hurley

E-Comm Package Storytelling

Unlike retail packaging, e-commerce packages are first viewed after purchase, providing brand owners the opportunity to present a new insight or character of the brand with each shipment.

Quest developed a flexible robotic system to load meat and poultry into an Ossid ReeForm E40 thermoformer.

Robotics Special Report: Food-Safe Solutions Emerge

New opportunities for the direct and indirect handling of foods emerge as manufacturers begin developing robots for handling unpacked goods.

2800 Series Mini Laser Pro in production at Cannabiz Supply Headquarters

Digital Label Printing Comes In-house

Cannabiz Supply, a packaging company serving a variety of businesses in the cannabis industry, recently improved its production capabilities with in-house digital label printing.

More in Home

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Hand Sanitizer Spike Here to Stay

U.K. co-packers’ association reports that inquiries for personal care items rocketed by more than 500% shortly after the coronavirus lockdown was implemented.

CP/CMs Navigate COVID-19

Sean Riley, Senior Director, Media and Industry Communications for PMMI, speaks with CPA Managing Director Ron Puvak about how COVID-19 has affected the co-pack/co-man industry.

Kawasaki Robotics Trend Manager failure prediction software is designed to help companies avoid unexpected downtime by allowing them to predict failures and fix issues before loss of production.

Robotics Special Report: Big Data is the New Currency

New software systems for robotics collect and analyze data to increase OEE, protect against cyberattacks, and predict failures.

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas in fall 2019, Syntegon’s Pack 102 horizontal flow wrapper with three Fanuc robots was demonstrated loading meal kits.

Robotics Special Report: Vision for the Future

New vision systems for robotics, including 2D and 3D machine vision, enable broader packaging applications.

Oan Fallas Speedybot

End-of-line Specialist Moves Toward Condition Monitoring

Fallas Automation places an even greater emphasis on integrating early warning systems for predictive maintenance since COVID-19 set in.

The Spider 200i from BluePrint Automation uses a multi-axis robot to pick snack bags on-the-fly and vertically case pack them into a cassette that forms a vertical pack pattern.

Robotics Special Report: Mass Customization Demands Flexibility

A growing omnichannel environment requires that CPGs have the flexibility to produce a range of package sizes and styles. Automation provides that capability.

According to Ekroth, the paper bottle initiative is a step-by-step journey to reduce and replace the need for polymers.

Absolut Sustainability

Karin Ekroth, Senior Manager of Communications & Sustainability for The Absolut Company, shares how the world’s sixth-largest international spirits brand—with production of nearly 26 million gallons in fiscal year 2018/19—works toward a circular economy.

ASDA will introduce a 100% recyclable own-label crisp (potato chips) tube.

Recycling drives sustainable packaging

COVID 19 has caused significant disruption to the packaging industry across the world. However, sustainability remains an important area of opportunity for anyone involved in bringing new packaging to market.

The MSP-200 features semi-automated changeover, which allows it to convert to different case configurations in less than 10 minutes.

Robotics Special Report: Case Packer for Croutons Saves Dough on Corrugated

Specialty food products manufacturer installs a robotic case packer for croutons that can keep pace with the rest of the packaging line, while saving costs on shelf-ready packaging, as well.

CPA Webinars Offer Help During COVID-19

In other news from CPA, The Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers, the group announces its new board as well as its annual scholarship winners.

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Can Shortages Hit Food and Beverage Industries

Supply chain issues with aluminum, steel, and tin cans are ramping up as COVID-19 changes buying patterns, resulting in a trickle-down effect on product offerings and time-to-market.

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Packagers Stay the COVID-19 Course

Packaging pros adjusted fast to the ‘new normal’ of a pandemic, and have been maintaining for months now, a new Packaging World survey reveals. Three months on from our first survey, we see improvements in CAPEX freedom and a reduction in hiring freezes.