Video: World's smallest packing station?

From Pack Expo 2008: What’s billed as the world’s smallest packaging station made its debut at the show.

Nov 13th, 2008

Developed by SmartPack Design, the patented PackPod is a waist-high station on which an operator easily erects a case from a flat blank. The PackPod system then tapes the bottom so that the operator can manually load containers into the case. The PackPod system then tapes the top closed. Tape application is performed by the machine. The operator merely guides the case into the taping station.
SmartPack Design Inc.

Label-less Bottle a Cinch to Recycle

Alkaline-purified water from premium vodka producer Toast uses a screen-printed bottle to convey elegance, and more importantly, to enable easy recycling.

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Trends in Adoption of Remote Access

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4-part shipper keeps fragile microtissues in plates upright.

Cells Remain Upright in Floating Spherical Shipper

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‘Nature’s Fingerprints’ Provide Inspiration for Wine Packaging

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Shown here is one of four case packers that receive bags (lower left) and then discharge finished cases (lower right) into a spiral conveyor takeaway.

Two-phase Upgrade at Ferrara Candy

After four scale/bagger systems produced welcome results on primary packaging efficiency, some impressively versatile and compact case packers were added to the mix.

Five Considerations for Preventing Product Damage Prior to Launch

Preparing your package for its journey to the end consumer involves many considerations.

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Manufacturing and New Automation Technologies - What is Around the Bend?

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Reusable Packaging for Food and Beverage: 6 Innovation Trends to Watch

Reusable packaging has long been integral to the food and beverage sector – and will continue to be as the latter industry makes its way to a digitized, automated, and more sustainable future.

E-Shaped Carton Calls Out Environmentally Friendly Position

Simple and direct, new packaging in the shape of an 'E' for E-Cloth reusable microfiber cleaning cloths cuts through the clutter of cleaning products, offering a chemically-free way to clean.

Burgess Davis, Vice President, Global Sustainable Plastics, PepsiCo

PepsiCo Partners to Prevent Ocean Plastics in Thailand

Burgess Davis, VP, Global Sustainable Plastics at PepsiCo, shares how The PepsiCo Foundation has joined TerraCycle to dramatically reduce the volume of marine debris and plastic waste found in the world’s waterways.

What do PFAS Actions Tell us About State Regulatory Officials?

Last month we looked at some recent FDA action against perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, aka PFAS, some of which are used in grease-resistant coatings in paper and paperboard. Turns out, there’s a fair amount of state-level action as well.

The new line from Seventh Generation includes powders as well as tablets.

Plastic-free Packaging for Homecare Line

Kelly Murosky, Senior Packaging Engineer at Seventh Generation, the Burlington, Vt.-based firm that sells eco-friendly cleaning, paper, and personal care products, talks about the packaging for the new Zero Plastic Homecare line.

Horizon’s Tillson says the versatile Criterion CL-240 cartoner was enhanced with safety features, which allow its blind employees to successfully operate the machinery.

Custom Cartoner Helps Employ the Blind

As a non-profit with a mission to create jobs, automation can be a tricky proposition. But with a custom machine optimized to be easily used by legally blind operators, Horizon Industries struck a positive balance between labor and automation.

Digital shopping services are here to stay, Daymon notes. Therefore, it advises private brands and retailers to be on the forefront of e-commerce.

Five Keys to Private-Brand Success in the ‘New Normal’

White paper explains those consumer behavior shifts that have occurred due to COVID-19 and advises ways private brands and retailers can address these fundamental changes moving forward.

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When Will AI be Common in Manufacturing?

Companies want to rely less on skilled labor and more on AI and machine intelligence, but currently only 1% of all manufacturers are utilizing this technology in their operations.

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Industry Snapshot: Organic and Natural Products

The natural and organic industry is expected to grow 9.5% in 2020, to $252 billion. Supplements and plant-based proteins are two fast-growing categories.

New Package Ideas for the E-Commerce Space

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Richard Harrison (l.), partner and CEO, and Andrew Cawthray Chairman and joint CEO, Cawingredients

New Canning Line for Contract Filler Fuels Future Business

U.K. beverage co-packer Cawingredients installs canning line that achieves 99.9% performance and offers flexibility for a variety of can formats and secondary packaging.

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

Robotics Special Report: Food-Safe Solutions Emerge

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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.

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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.

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.

The new, light-blue easy-grip container is made of recyclable polypropylene with a wraparound in-mold label and a space-efficient tapered cube design.

Swiss Miss is First in Cocoa with Recyclable Tub

The new, recyclable package uses a tapered, space-efficient cube design that reduces the package’s carbon footprint by 98 metric tons each year versus the previous round canister.

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Robotics Solutions Future Looks Bright

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New web-based PMMI Media Group event will bring the packaging and processing industry together, virtually.

Register Now for First of Its Kind PACK EXPO Connects

The new web-based PMMI Media Group event will bring the packaging and processing industry together, virtually Nov. 9-13.

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Bold, Appetizing Packaging for New Tyson Product in Europe

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Pharma Packaging Innovations

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Photo 1 – Caption: With an audience of over 570 attendees from all over Latin America, Carlos Velasco shared several ideas regarding the vision he has developed through his more than ten years of research in the experiences and multisensory packaging fields.

Packaging for the senses

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Updated Laughing Cow Conveys the Joy of Snacking

Iconic red laughing cow takes center stage in new packaging graphics for the cheese wedge product, positioning the brand as a fun and spontaneous snack.

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IIoT Blind Spots: Where are They and Do You Have Them?

A crucial component of automation advancement, yet one that is lacking at most manufacturers, is the deployment of IIoT connectivity across an entire enterprise, including key areas such as receiving, warehousing, and shipping.

Dropps Partners with Oceana to Protect World’s Oceans

Pioneering detergent pod company with eco-responsible formulas joins with international organization to educate consumers on the environmental impacts of their packaging choices.

Jif, Skippy Add Flexible, Squeezable Peanut Butter Pack Formats

So-called 'peanut-butter knuckles,' experienced by parents scraping the last peanut butter from the bottom of the jar for their kids' lunches, may soon be a thing of the past.