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The $100,000 question

How would you spend $100ꯠ in your plant? We asked that question in a survey and received a diverse range of responses.

In an Internet survey conducted in May 2003, Packworld.com posed the question: “How would you spend $100ꯠ at your plant?” And to those who answered, our apology. Much as we’d like to reward all of you, this was only a theoretical prize.

The question garnered a spectrum of responses that fell among three broad categories: people or staff, equipment, and the general wish to “automate.” Or as one purchasing manager emphasized, “Automate automate automate!”

Many respondents sought specific equipment, such as “NIR inspection equipment,” while others identified the desired equipment by vendor name.

As you’d imagine, everyone had his or her own preferences for equipment they’d like to add or replace. In total, the “wish list” machinery would form an entirely new packaging line: bagger, filler, case packer, overwrapper, date coder, digital printer, carton erector, machine vision system, shrink wrapper, labelers, level inspector, accumulation equipment, packer, slipsheet inserter, and gluer. One respondent wasn’t particular, but was willing to purchase either better labelers, checkweighers, or x-ray detectors.

It’s all about people

One of the major responses related to adding staff or training existing staff.

“Hire another packaging engineer,” noted one engineer. “Hire a packaging development specialist” said another.

“Educate [us] to buy and implement RFID [radio frequency identification] equipment.”—packaging manager.

“Modifications to the used packaging equipment and training for operators.”—maintenance manager.

Conveying Innovations Report
Editors report on distinguishing characteristics that define each new product and collected video demonstrating the equipment or materials as displayed at the show. This topical report, winnowed from nearly 300 PACK EXPO collective booth visits, represents a categorized, organized account of individual items that were selected based on whether they were deemed to be both new, and truly innovative, based on decades of combined editorial experience in experiencing and evaluating PACK EXPO products.
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Conveying Innovations Report
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.
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Annual Outlook Report: Workforce