NEWS ROOM

Sharing Information—the First Step in Our Relationship

Our goal is to build long-term relationships with all our customers. We’re sincere in our interest in you and our industry.

5 Considerations for Choosing a Packaging Machine for Your Start-Up May 11, 2021

Choosing the right package and packaging machine has a huge impact on the success of startups. A well-planned packaging strategy will help you deliver a quality product while driving efficiency, controlling costs, and maintaining production flexibility for future growth.

Here are 5 key considerations:

1. Package Quality and Visual Appeal

Your packaging should be attractive and functional. Certain materials and package types make more sense than others depending on your product shape, size, weight, number of units and sales channels. For example, thousands of products are packaged in different types of bags such as stand-up pouches, gusseted bags, flat pouches, modified atmosphere bags, pillow bags among others. Likewise, shrink film is used to wrap, bundle, and secure thousands of products in different configurations.

It’s important to consider how your products are displayed, and how customers use your products. Additional considerations may include shelf life, reuse, seal integrity, ease of transport, retail display, and product security. Product packaging is often seen as a measure of the overall quality of your product. It can make the difference in sales growth or a product that stalls in the marketplace.

Find Your Perfect Packaging Machine Now

2. Production Requirements

Production requirements impact the machines you consider and the amount of labour you need. Establishing realistic labour and production expectations are crucial to your profitability. Depending on your package and the volume of products you want to produce, labour may cost you more than machinery. Discuss your production requirements with your equipment supplier in as much detail as possible. Make sure to discuss all your SKUs and provide the output you expect. A good supplier will work closely with you to help determine whether a manual, semi-automatic or fully automated machine best suits your needs.

For start-up companies with smaller production demands, tabletop equipment may provide the best solution. On the other hand, tabletop machinery may become obsolete too quickly if fast growth is expected. Many stand-alone semi-automatic solutions are easily integrated with different conveying systems or add-ons to improve production as needs evolve. Some semi-automatic solutions can also be upgraded to fully automatic systems.

Your packaging workspace and environment is also an important consideration. Food, pharmaceutical, chemical, among other products need to meet certain hygienic standards and may need to operate in clean room or harsh environments. If so, your new equipment must be washdown capable and designed for easy cleaning and reliable service in potentially harsh environments.

Choosing a machine that works for you now and in the future is important. Be sure to ask your supplier whether your new machine is plug-and-play in different production environments? Is it easy to upgrade? Are there add-ons that may be beneficial as needs change? For example, modular add-ons for printing and labelling can expand your capabilities and help you make the most from your initial investment.

A good packaging machinery supplier will ask questions and work with you to understand your unique needs and help you choose the best solution.

Optimize Your Packaging Process Today

3. Ease of Operation and Maintenance

How easy your new machine is to setup, operate and maintain are also important considerations that impact costs, efficiency, training and downtime. Machines that are easy to maintain and service will save you money in the long run and provide greater production value for your investment.

Look closely at machine design, control systems, and access to change parts. Is setup toolless? Are change parts easy to access and replace? Are there recipes for different types of packages? Can you easily adjust package process parameters? Can you set up different user preferences, languages or units of measurement? Does the machine provide metrics and details about packaging quality, machine condition or maintenance?

Think about the workflow and ergonomics of your machine set-up. The more ergonomic a machine is, the easier it is to use which can improve production efficiency. Make sure you have enough space to operate your equipment efficiently and safely.

Also consider the amount of training, education level, and employee hours needed to operate your new machine. A reliable and trusted equipment provider will stand behind their solutions and ensure you get the training and technical support you need for efficient operation of your new machine

Don’t forget spare parts when you purchase your machine. All machines have some change parts that need occasional replacement. Talk with your supplier about maintenance needs and parts that will help you prevent costly downtime.

4. Machine Supplier

Choosing the right packaging machinery manufacturer is the first step in building a long-term partnership. Your packaging machinery manufacturer should understand your business and your plans for growth. They will help you choose between two machines with the same function and similar performance and make recommendations that best fit your needs.

Do your homework. Check on your equipment provider’s track record in your industry, turnaround time, and aftermarket support. You want a partner that will stand with you after the purchase to help ensure you get the most from your investment.

Check out this blog by PMMI for more tips: Tips For Working With Flexible Packaging Machinery Builders

5. Balance Current Budget and Long-Term Investment

Managing growth is an important issue for every startup. As with any large purchase, you should balance the initial cost of your packaging machine, with the cost of operation and maintenance. Some machines may have a bigger price tag upfront, but offer better efficiency, less maintenance and improved reliability. Focus on your return on investment. Your profitability depends on it.

Plexpack has helped more than 6,000 companies worldwide package their products and get them to market in a timely fashion for more than 65 years. We are one of the largest manufacturers of flexible packaging equipment with customers in more than 60 countries. Many of our longtime customers were once startups like yours.

Partner with a Packaging Expert

Interested in reading more? Check out the following articles from PMMI's Prosource for more tips on building and operating your packaging solution.

Best Practices for Specifying Flexible Packaging Equipment

Seven Tips for Form/Fill/Seal Selection, Setup and Cleaning

Six Tips on Finding the Right Form/Fill/Seal Supplier

How Gas Flush and Traditional Vacuum Sealing Differ

While both methods preserve food by removing air from storage bags, their processes and the environments they create are different:

5 Advantages of Gas Flushing

Understanding the benefits of a sealing method is vital when choosing one for your packaging. This method offers several advantages, making it a popular choice for food manufacturers and retailers looking to boost the presentation and longevity of their products.

1. Extended Shelf Life

Nitrogen allows you to create an ideal atmosphere for products, removing all traces of oxygen. Secondly, vacuum sealing creates durable packaging that protects your products from the elements and any external contaminants, increasing product longevity and quality and keeping perishables fresh for longer.

Extending your products' shelf life reduces product losses, which is excellent for your consumers and bottom line.

2. Elevated Food Safety

Packaging your products with gas flush systems eliminates the need for chemical preservatives, reducing the risk and making your products more appealing to consumers. Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere, and we breathe it every day, making it safe for use in preserving and packaging food products.

3. Enhanced Product Appearance

The gas flush process prevents products from coloring, keeping food looking fresher for longer. Oxygen interacts with the natural pigments in many foods, particularly meat products, which can cause them to appear discolored. Nitrogen and other nonreactive gases prevent this discoloration from happening. Their nonreactivity allows food products to retain a fresh appearance, making them more appealing to buyers.

4. Protected Product Integrity

You can flush products with extra nitrogen, depending on your needs. This process provides extra cushioning for fragile products so they don't break and retain their freshness during transport, storage and packing. More robust products also benefit from this additional protection to maintain the product's structure. For medical and pharmaceutical products, gas flush vacuum sealing puts products in more ideal storage conditions so they maintain their effectiveness.

This packaging method also seals in flavors, allowing consumers a better user experience.

5. Ease of Use

Gas flush systems are quick, efficient and user-friendly. The machine is easy to install, maintain and operate. You can automate the process and customize the settings for various products. Automating your equipment frees your team to focus on other critical tasks, reduces labor costs and increases output speed.

How to Choose the Right Gas Flush Vacuum Packaging Machine

Businesses have differing packaging needs, and choosing the right high-efficiency vacuum sealing machine can be challenging. Choosing the right equipment for gas flush vacuum sealing is crucial to help your business maximize packaged products' quality and shelf life. Keep the following tips in mind to ensure you make the best decision for your business:

Production Requirements

Consider the volume of products requiring packaging throughout your operation. Explain your output requirements to your product provider so they can help you determine which type of machine is best suited to our needs. Look into the machine's operational speed, temperature range, sealing band and height adjustment capabilities to start with.

Consider your future requirements. If you expect considerable business growth, purchasing equipment that quickly becomes obsolete could cause unnecessary hassle. You can discuss the option of add-on equipment like trimmers, conveyors, embossers and printers that can complement your operations.

Packaging Environment

Depending on your product, you may have stringent safety and hygiene regulations to consider. Your chosen equipment should be designed for easy cleaning to maintain compliance in your workspace.

Package Quality and Appearance

Packaging affects whether consumers purchase your products. Your packaging should be attractive and functional to build trust in your brand and demonstrate the quality of the product inside. Consider how your packages are displayed and how consumers use your products. The right packaging equipment should provide a visually appealing result that represents your products and encourages purchases.

Maintenance and Ease of Operation

Consider how easy it will be to set up, use and maintain your machine. These factors can affect your costs, efficiency and downtime. Your device should be easy to work with so you can integrate it into your existing workflow and start enjoying the results.

Supplier Partnership

Having a solid partnership with your supplier is essential. They should take the time to understand your needs and plan business growth. As you'll use your equipment as part of your operations, ask your supplier about their support level and their experience with your industry.

Machine Quality and Efficiency

Selecting a machine also depends on your budget, and it's essential to balance the initial cost of your machine with maintenance and operation costs. A return on investment (ROI) is critical to your profitability, and a quality machine can set you up for the future by increasing your output speed and elevating your presentation. Consider investing in equipment that can grow with your business.

Take Your Packaging to the Next Level With Plexpack

Integrating new equipment into your operations requires careful consideration to ensure you choose the right products. While both traditional and gas flush vacuum sealing offer food and medical products enhanced shelf life and protection, a gas flush is a more effective solution for a broader range of perishable products. Gas flush packaging has considerable benefits for many procedures, including food and beverage applications. You need a reliable and experienced supplier partnership for the best results.

Plexpack has helped thousands of companies worldwide find the best product packaging option. We pride ourselves on providing customers with reliable, high-quality, North American-made packaging equipment. We also understand that working with a supplier requires a solid partnership, so our trained technicians are here to support you throughout your operations. Our gas flush vacuum seal machines are efficient and high quality. They may speed up your packaging processes and serve your organization for many years to come.

Contact us to learn more about our innovative products. We will walk you through the best product choices for your budget and application.

Take Your Packaging to the Next Level With Plexpack

Customize Your Solution

Get A Quote

Subscribe to Plexpack