Some business owners experience great reluctance about automating their packaging process. This reluctance is understandable. It seems like a huge sum to spend at once, especially considering inflation and the rise in energy bills.
However, packaging automation is precisely the solution companies need to cut back on expenses. Packaging automation produces a quick return on investment, and businesses can immediately see impressive returns.
Packaging automation does not require that the entire process be radically altered at one. Instead, businesses can make small changes over time. Beyond the process efficiency in your business, you can also cut expenditure.
Whether you automate your entire packaging process or rely on semi-automation, your business can see a significant turnover. Here are three ways packaging automation can save your business money.
Automated packaging ensures precision in the cutting and sizing of your product's packages, which reduces waste. With manual packaging, one cannot eliminate waste in sizing and cutting. However, automated packaging handles sizing, construction, weighing, and labeling with edge-cutting precision.
For example, wrap-around packaging can help businesses minimize material waste. Besides, one operator can efficiently run two wrap-around case packers in the same room. That will reduce box volume delivery and effectively help your business preserve environmental resources.
Containers and packaging contribute about 23% of the material reaching landfills in the US. This number significantly impacts the environment. While product packaging is a reality of modern business, automated packaging helps cut down this number through calculated packaging.
Additionally, modern machinery can effectively determine whether the choice of packaging is ideal for the product in question. This helps to reduce the possibility of repackaging. Without repackaging, there are significantly lower trash materials. Trash materials go a long way in increasing storage and disposal costs.
Automated packaging can significantly cut the number of staff and help to reshuffle your team in a more efficient way for your business. In addition, with automated packaging, you can increase line speed and reduce the labor you need in your pack line.
Cutting down on labor is a crucial part of increasing your profit margin. However, labor costs are not as simple as they seem. Labor often includes hourly wages as well as medical care, worker's compensation, social security, vacation allowances, sick leave, and the cost of hiring extra hands. This cost accumulates and goes a long way in adding to your expenses.
Automated machines don't necessarily replace people; it ensures that labor is diverted to more important things. For example, a food company that invests in a tray packing machine will become more efficient. That is because you can correctly place food on the tray with a tray loader. This way, the business can divert labor to logistics and sales instead, which will increase business efficiency.
For example, assembling and sealing cartons by hand will require much labor, especially when working with a tight deadline. The increased tensions to meet a deadline may also result in an error, and trying to make up for the error will only slow down productivity, which will require overtime costs.
A cartoning machine or cartoner can quickly fix this. The machine can single-handedly make the carton into any desired shape, position it, fill it with the product and seal the carton. The cartoner will then discharge the product. All of this will be done in a shorter time, reducing labor costs and increasing profit over time.
Unlike humans, packaging automation doesn't lose track of time, their productivity level stays constant, and they are not affected by volatile moods or burnout.
Besides, human errors can go unnoticed with manual product handling. When these products are put on the market unnoticed, it can damage the synergy between your business and the retail market. A disruption in your distribution channel can damage your brand reputation, ultimately reducing sales.
These automated machines can catch these errors on time and prevent you from incurring losses.
Many businesses incur additional costs from damaged goods during transportation. Some of these products have to be returned, resulting in a loss for business owners. These costs add up and affect the profit margin of the business. With automated packaging, you can ensure your products are packed consistently and conform to container shipping standards.
Case wrapping, for example, encases products in protective film. So, investing in a case wrapping system translates to adequate protection for your products during transportation. In addition, it will provide enhanced aesthetics and increase load containment. With increased load containment, you can cut the number of trips necessary to make delivery. That will help your business to cut costs on transportation.
Besides, your products can go out faster in compact, precise packages. This will help you save storage. Consequently, you can increase site efficiency and production. For example, concerning food businesses that use tray packers, investing in a tray packaging machine will ensure that each tray is sealed correctly and the content is not squashed in transit.
Package automation is becoming increasingly important for businesses. While it is a considerable investment to make at once, the short and long-term benefits will help you see an increased profit and build brand reputation.
In fact, a new automated packaging system can pay for itself in no time. If you are interested in packaging automation and want more information, click here. Also, if you require help with automating your packaging processes, you can contact us here.
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