Have you automated as many steps as possible of your packaging process?
Demand for this will only increase. And if you haven’t fully adopted it already, market forces will dictate a shift toward as much automation as possible.
What are the trends increasing the need for automation?
Here’s several:
- Manufacturer’s Cost-Cutting Focus
Labor rates in Chinese cities have skyrocketed in recent years. That puts additional pressure on manufacturers to find cost savings somewhere.
And as a result, they’re looking more closely at the role of automation in their processes. Automation equipment is also now more able to perform complex actions at low operating costs.
So, it’s simply becoming the next natural step.
- Affordably Produced Packaging Automation Machinery Is Easily Adopted
Packaging automation equipment isn’t just for the biggest companies with the largest budgets. It’s already being produced so it’s affordable for even small and medium businesses.
Because of this, it’s already becoming a widely adopted technology.
- The Food and Beverage Industry Is Primed for Growth – and Price Pressure
The food and beverage market is projected to grow anywhere from 10-12%, depending on the source you read. Regardless of the source, practically all predict substantial growth.
Driving this growth is market demand for natural beverages that provide nutritional and functional benefits. The market is shifting away from sodas with empty calories.
Another market segment is dairy alternatives like soy, almond, and coconut milk.
With such amazing growth projections in place, this market is primed for increased packaging automation use.
- IoT Data Will Help Manufacturers Find More Efficiency Gains
The simple use of automation is a start. However, companies will also have IoT devices collecting data. It will take years to understand that data and use it to increase production efficiency.
However, you can rest assured it will be yet another factor driving the growth in packaging automation.
- Cybersecurity Concerns are Actually Holding Growth Back
Believe it or not, packaging automation isn’t growing as fast as it could. That’s because manufacturers don’t have an in-depth understanding of how to protect their machinery from cyber criminals.
Manufacturers overall have some level of understanding. But it’s not as in-depth as need be to fully alleviate fears of growth and change.
Despite this concern, packaging automation remains primed for amazing growth. And you can bet it’s more than worth your company’s time to understand exactly how it could increase your efficiency and reduce your costs.