Did you know you can eat packaging? You can! Well, I mean, you can eat edible packaging. If you are like me, the first time I heard about edible packaging, I thought it must have been April 1st. I mean, how could such a thing be anything more than a joke to be digested on that hilarious annual holiday? But, low and behold, packaging you can eat is not only a thing; it is something that has been around for the past few years and is also an idea that is slowly gaining in popularity. While eating the wrapper of that juicy cheeseburger you just scarfed down may not sound terribly appealing, these are the kinds of things incredibly forward-thinking brands are toying around with. And while some consumers may gag at the thought of eating the cup holding their coffee, these are precisely the types of experiments that some businesses are rolling the dice on. You might be surprised to learn that not only are some of these wacky approaches to sustainable packaging being embraced by consumers in such trials, but some folks are also asking for more packaging to eat! But the question remains, is this just a passing fad, or is this the future of earth-friendly packaging? Perhaps only time will tell. Regardless, in this article, we will explore the world of edible packaging that you can eat and dig deeper into some examples of this modern phenomenon.

Hey there! Do you enjoy social media? Based on the fact that you are reading a blog article, I will assume the answer is yes! OK, question two. Do you enjoy contests? Do you have access to or own a smartphone or digital camera? Would you like to win $500 off your next order of $1,500 or more from Industrial Packaging? If you answered yes to the questions above, we think you will be excited to learn about the Industrial Packaging Social Media Photo Contest! If we have piqued your interest and you would like to learn more about the contest or take part in the event, you will find the rest of this article enlightening. In it, we will look at an overview of the contest, the rules and regulations, and other pieces of information discussing the event and how it will work! There is no cost to enter the contest, and it will be super fun! So, if having fun taking photos and getting a $500 prize sounds like a good time to you, please read on!

Are you thinking about buying stretch wrappers for your business? Before you do there are various things you will need to do before you make a purchase. First and foremost, you need to figure out which type of stretch wrapper you need for your business. There are several different types of stretch wrappers. Each type of stretch wrapper is designed for specific applications. If you were to just go to the internet and choose a random wrapper that you wanted based on your assumptions, you might end up buying the wrong piece of equipment. That is why it is essential to educate yourself on the different types of stretch wrappers currently available and the applications for which those machines are best suited. Failure to do proper research before your stretch wrapper purchase could result in you buying the wrong type of stretch wrapper for your company. This article will introduce you to the various types of stretch wrappers currently available and help you choose the appropriate stretch wrapper for your business.

EDITED 10/11/22: Rail union votes down Biden-backed railroad labor deal. National strike is back on the table for consideration. EDITED 9/15/22 8:16 AM: National Railroad Strike Averted! A pending railroad strike that was initially blocked by executive action from President Biden back in July, allowing for a sixty-day delay, may begin on Friday, 9/16/22. The strike, led by the two most essential unions in the railroad industry representing engineers and conductors, has been negotiating on behalf of over 100,000 railroad employees whose responsibilities essentially keep the railroads across the nation running. As of today, it does not appear that the union's negotiations are getting the response they want. This could lead to a national strike starting tomorrow morning. This could cause a rather precarious situation for a supply chain that has already been heavily beaten up by the COVID pandemic, trucker shortages and protests, and continued problems with container ships that sit unopened in ports around the globe to this day. At the moment, there is no guarantee that the strike will move forward but based on current tensions felt by these railroad employees who say that staffing shortages and being on call at all times say that their work lives have become intolerable. The main question everyone is asking themselves at this point is, should the railroad strike occur, what will the repercussions be for an already burdened supply chain? And, in what ways can these events be dealt with to prevent further decline in the availability of various items such as automobiles, consumer goods, and other products threatened by the strike? While only time will tell, in the article below, we will dive deeper into the strike and provide information on what could happen if they proceed and what is being done by elected officials to negate potential problems.

Before you buy any packaging machinery, one of the most important items of consideration to get squared away in advance of an installation is predictive maintenance and preventive maintenance. Predictive and preventive maintenance are fundamental dynamics required to keep machinery on your packaging lines running at peak performance. Failure to implement regular predictive and preventive maintenance protocols for your packaging equipment will likely lead to costly downtime, expensive repairs, broken devices, and lost time, money, and labor. Properly implemented preventive maintenance (PM) helps ensure that your packaging machinery can meet and exceed KPIs. Regular preventive maintenance will allow you to stay running better, faster, and longer than your competitors who do not have a regularly scheduled PM program in place. Meanwhile, predictive maintenance will allow you to identify a potential problem so that you can monitor it closely. This would be especially true for roller bearings, bushings, motors, and shafts. The predictive model will point to a potential issue, but you may not always want to replace a part if it's not in a late stage of wear. A combination of predictive and preventive maintenance translates to the least amount of downtime possible while ensuring that your packaging machinery performs at a level that may rival the best packaging lines in the industry. But, what is the difference between preventive maintenance and predictive maintenance? Why is it essential to ensure both are correctly implemented for all of your packaging equipment? What does each type of packaging machinery maintenance entail, and how do they work together to keep your packaging line running in tip-top shape? This article will explain the difference between predictive and preventive maintenance while providing insights into why these are two of the most critical elements of a properly run professional-grade packaging line.

Are you looking to reduce your costs for machine stretch film? If so, switching to steelflex nano stretch film may be the right solution for you. As inflation continues to be a problem while the global supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine push prices for practically everything upward, many companies are looking for new ways to cut costs. When it comes to packaging, many businesses are looking for ways to save money on the packaging materials they buy. Many people are trying new packaging supplies, using less material, and downgauging their flexible packaging films. And the same tactics are being employed by countless companies in relation to their stretch film applications. Thousands of businesses realize reduced stretch film costs by switching to a lower gauge of stretch film. And while downgauging is one way to reduce your stretch film costs, new material formulations are paving the way for even better cost reductions. If you are looking to source the thinnest machine film possible while cutting costs and maintaining the best load containment and strength available today, steelflex nano stretch film is a stretch wrap that you will want to consider implementing in your business. Today, we will explore steelflex nano stretch film, explain what it is, review the benefits of switching to this material and go over the other features of the film.