Automation helps packagers: Webcast, research, 3-part article series

Packaging Automation Benchmark Study, Part 3

Oak Brook, IL – Despite current economic challenges, packagers increasingly rely on automation to stay competitive, according to a three-part research series of research, articles, a related blog and a Webcast from Control Engineering and its sister publication, Packaging Digest . Discussions continue online with a Packaging Automation Webcast available for viewing as of Dec. 16 www.controleng.com/automationresearch .

Packaging Automation Benchmark Study, Part 2

This month, the Reed Business Information (RBI) publications completed the final phase of a three-part, year-long study benchmarking automation in packaging. The comprehensive study confirms that packagers are accelerating their moves toward automation, and original equipment manufacturers and system integrators are offering innovative approaches to simplify complex processes for machine control, motion control, and connected batch and process automation.
“For anyone who attended the recent Pack Expo International 2008 in Chicago, the evidence of automation’s inroads into packaging was readily apparent,” observes John Kalkowski, editorial director, for Packaging Digest and Converting publications. “While sustainability was the show’s major theme,” Kalkowski observed, “automation was the star on the show floor, where you could see a sparkling array of robotics as well as integrated systems that span forming and filling to cartoning and palletizing.”

Webcast provides perspective
Similarities and differences emerged among results from the three surveys and related articles; Kalkowski and Control Engineering ’s Renee Robbins, senior editor, and Vance VanDoren, consulting editor, discuss those points in the Webcast. Control Engineering provides research results, articles, and other useful links on packaging automation .
Automation in Packaging Benchmark Study, Volume 3, examines the central and growing role of system integrators. As many packagers have reduced engineering staff, they rely on system integrators when they install a new packaging line or upgrade existing equipment. System integrators help packagers design and implement automated systems, often using multiple original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to optimize production.

Packaging Automation Benchmark Study, Part 1

The 360-degree view of packaging automation began in April with a market overview from the end users’ point of view. In August with the perspectives of OEMs and system integrators. Along with Kalkowski,
–  Mark T. Hoske , editor in chief
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