The Flexible Packaging Blog

Reviews, trends, and tips covering all things flexible packaging to protect your products and your bottom line.

Blog Feature

Packaging Materials | Environment

By: Nathan Dube
August 23rd, 2022

Curious about PCR and PIR packaging materials? In a world where sustainability is becoming ever more prevalent, that is no surprise. If you are like most companies, you are looking for sustainable packaging solutions to some extent or another. Maybe you are looking for recyclable packaging materials. Then again, you might be looking for information about biodegradable packaging. Perhaps you are looking for ways to recycle plastics that your local recycling center can't recycle. Regardless of what brought you here today, you are interested in learning more about PCR (post-consumer recycled) and PIR (post-industrial recycled) packaging materials. You have probably seen the terms PCR and PIR popping up in newsletters, emails, websites, or social accounts from some of the manufacturers and distributors that you use. But, you are new to these items, and you don't fully grasp what they are or what they mean. You would like to understand these terms better as they may help you source more sustainable packaging materials. Today, we will explain what PCR and PIR packaging materials are and the benefits of using these packaging supplies.

Blog Feature

Equipment

By: Vincent Hua
August 18th, 2022

Are you having trouble getting highly customized plastic or foam packaging for your products? If that is the case, don't feel like it is only you who are struggling here. Many companies with highly complex or odd-shaped products that require custom rigid packaging often struggle to find the proper solution to these problems. But, there is a way to get the exact plastic and foam packaging you need for your products. With modern CNC machinery, you can create the plastic and foam packaging containers you need. With the precision of CNC machining, you can craft plastic and foam packaging that perfectly contains your products. This ensures that your products are properly contained and are being shipped in the plastic and foam packaging required to get your products to your customers safely. But, how exactly is CNC machinery used to create plastic and foam packaging containers and related packaging materials? This article will introduce you to using CNC machinery to create the customized packaging your more complex products require.

Blog Feature

Equipment | The Business of Packaging | Plant Performance

By: Nathan Dube
August 16th, 2022

If you expect to find yourself with a decent amount of end or year capital by the end of 2022, now is the time to start thinking about buying packaging machinery. You may protest in the face of significant inflation and the ever-rising prices of, well, everything, which would be understandable. But, if your packaging machinery is nearing the end of life, waiting until the new year to make a purchase could lead to catastrophic consequences. With packaging machinery lead times sometimes exceeding thirteen months, you run the risk of not only being unable to acquire the packaging machinery you need to run your business but paying a lot more for it when you do. We understand that packaging machinery is a significant investment, and you may be weary of the current state of the economy. But, taking that end-of-year capital and investing in the packaging machinery you need for next year may very well save you a ton of unwanted headaches later. This article will explain why you should consider using your end-of-year capital to upgrade your packaging equipment.

Blog Feature

Packaging Materials | Packaging Design

By: Sophia Laura
August 11th, 2022

Are you looking for effective product packaging strategies to snag consumers' attention? Well, so is everyone else these days. When it comes to gaining consumers' attention in retail settings, breaking through all the noise and bringing a customer's attention to your products is hard. With an excessive variety of items to choose from, consumers often feel overwhelmed by all the options they have when perusing store shelves at their local retail establishments. But that is where great packaging can intervene on your behalf and help consumers to choose a product. And if that packaging is applied appropriately, the product they choose may very well be the ones that you are selling. But how can you use packaging to grab customers' attention? Which packaging strategies should you use when attempting to get consumers' eyes on your products? In this article, we will review four effective product packaging strategies that will allow you to capture the attention and wallets of today's consumers.

Blog Feature

Equipment | Packaging Materials | Environment | The Business of Packaging | Technical Service and Support | Plant Performance | Investment | Shipping Protection

By: David Roberge
August 9th, 2022

Are you stretch wrapping your pallets by hand? Relying on manual labor to consistently protect your products in transit may be causing your company to lose money in the long run. Suppose your products are in high demand and you are cutting it close or, even worse, missing your customer's requested orders. In that case, you may be able to remedy this with automation at your end-of-line. Hand-wrapping pallets are less cost-effective than using a stretch wrapper at a certain point. At the same time, automated stretch-wrapping machinery can save on time and costs. Does the idea of saving money have your attention? Learn how to determine when to switch from hand-wrapping pallets to automated pallet-wrapping machinery.

Blog Feature

Plant Performance

By: Nathan Dube
August 2nd, 2022

Are you feeling the pinch of the national pallet shortage? You are not alone. Due to the ongoing repercussions of the months of downtime due to the COVID pandemic, companies continue to struggle with acquiring various goods. From semiconductors to various types of food, companies everywhere have problems sourcing the items they need to run their business. And when it comes to the pallet industry, the same tune is being sung. Countless businesses struggle to find the pallets they need to secure, transport and store proper product inventories. But, what is the cause of this? How can companies like yours manage the shortage, and what workarounds can be obtained to help combat the lack of pallets available today? This article will explain the national pallet shortage, what is causing it, and ways you may be able to navigate these problems and source the pallets you need.