Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries. Click to learn more.

Inspired leadership and the power of innovation

Now is not the time to innovate. Innovation involves risk, and doing anything even remotely risky is unwise in times of economic uncertainty.

If this describes your view on innovating during a recession, I can think of a few people who would heartily disagree. One of them is Carl Byrne, president of Byrne Dairy of Syracuse, NY. Recently, Byrne learned of a new technology for refrigerated Extended Shelf Life (ESL) dairy products that was more efficient, more economical, and more environmentally friendly because it uses vaporized hydrogen peroxide to sterilize PET preforms instead of washing and rinsing blown bottles with water. So he signed up to be the first in North America to commercialize this novel concept. Called Predis, it was developed by Sidel.

“We have made substantial investments in new equipment and innovation, particularly for ESL products,” says Carl Byrne. “It’s really a cultural change for the company—the willingness to take a risk, to manage a risk, and to try to swim upstream. We have set clear goals and put action plans in place to support them, with some core values that everyone in the company understands.”

Also recognizing the power of innovation in the teeth of this economic storm is Geoff Campbell, president of Power Packaging, a contract manufacturer and packager in St. Charles, IL. In April the firm announced the formation of a strategic relationship with Snapsil Corp., the Australian developers of a patented snapping utensil that gives consumers an on-the-go, single-serve package that is both a utensil—spoon, fork, or stir stick—and a container for liquid or powder. “We’re proud to be giving our customers access to the next generation of portable, convenient, and novel packaging geared toward today’s on-the-go consumer,” says Campbell. (I saw the Snapsil thermoform/fill/seal system at last year’s Pack Expo, and it struck me at the time as being terribly clever.)

Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
Hiring remains a major challenge in packaging, with 78% struggling to fill unskilled roles and 84% lacking experienced workers. As automation grows, companies must rethink hiring and training. Download the full report for key insights.
Download Now
Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Looking for CPG-focused digital transformation solutions? Download our editor-curated list from PACK EXPO featuring top companies offering warehouse management, ERP, digital twin, and MES software with supply chain visibility and analytics capabilities—all tailored specifically for CPG operations.
Download Now
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO