Is your packaging design stale? When is the last time you even looked into changing your retail product package design? A lot has changed on store shelves in just the past few years, from innovative use of materials used in packaging to the ever-changing consumer trends that gain the most attention. What can you do without breaking the bank if you've found yourself dressing your products in last decades' attire?

What Manufacturers Need to Know About New Food Packaging Label Requirements It's been 20 years since the FDA has updated the nutrition labeling requirements for packaged foods, and there are some significant changes. The new labeling rules are designed to better educate consumers looking to make healthier food choices, and are backed by scientific evidence linking diet to obesity and other chronic diseases. Here are some of the major changes, and when the new laws will go into effect in the US:

Our friends over at Lantech have been busy this year launching new machines and programs to assist the busy production facility in operating more efficiently. They've done it again with their latest machine launch, the ProfitPack. The new casing station perfectly combines automation and necessary human judgment for case erecting, packing and sealing.

As a Plant or Operations manager, your objectives center around plant performance. As business grows, upgrading your packaging machines can help drive greater efficiency and reduce labor costs. With the several pieces to your packaging line puzzle, you may wonder if there is an ideal and universal machine upgrade that will give you the most benefit.

Do you know the ideal containment force for each of your different pallet loads? Are you seeing increases in reported load damage with your shipped goods, or maybe more damaged product than you would like? Have you been using more stretch film to wrap your loads than is necessary with your stretch wrapper?Understanding containment force and how to measure it will guide you in mastering your ideal wrap force, reducing both load damage and film usage.

What makes this arrangement ideal for you? Many manufacturers work with several companies to meet all of their needs for production. One company to supply their packaging products, another that supplies their machinery, and another to service that machinery. In addition, there are also outsourcing companies that will provide for some or all of the packaging process. What makes working with a multi-service packaging provider, better?