the latest in Digital Transformation

FANUC’s R-50iA controller and palletizing robot are shown on the left, while ABB Robotics’ robotic automation demonstration is shown on the right at Automate 2026.

Digital Transformation

Built for the unexpected: AI expands what packaging machines can handle

September 22, 2026

Artificial intelligence is helping packaging machines handle product variation, use machine data, and streamline robotic application engineering.

CPG manufacturers brace for mounting production losses and see industrial AI as a critical competitiveness lever by 2030, Schneider Electric study finds.

Digital Transformation

Could AI solve Europe’s packaging compliance problem?

August 31, 2026

Rockwell Automation employee supporting customers through TechConnectIQ Support, the company’s AI-assisted remote support service for industrial automation systems.

Remote / network management

Rockwell Automation brings AI-assisted tools to remote support

August 27, 2026

Direct Conveyors’ conveyor technology positions and manipulates packages for downstream processes (left side of image). Rockwell Automation’s OTTO autonomous mobile robots connect material movement with production demand (right side of image).

Digital Transformation

Beyond the conveyor: How automation connects packaging lines to the warehouse

August 18, 2026

more Digital Transformation

mk North America VersaMove pallet handling system with a QR code providing access to equipment-specific information and support resources.

Integrated equipment

mk North America uses QR codes to simplify conveyor support

August 12, 2026

Nestlé Confectionery implemented augmented reality (AR) packaging on two of its brands, KitKat and Quality Street, to assist shoppers who are living with sight loss or impairment, so they can easily access product information.

On the Line: Packaging plays a bigger role in consumer engagement

July 16, 2026

Among the most viewed stories from the first six months of 2026: Sun Centre USA’s POUCH3 Cuboid format, Amazon Transparency’s 2D barcode traceability work, a Schneider Electric robot, and a Combi Packaging Systems employee working on an end-of-line robotic system.

The most-read packaging stories of 2026… so far

July 2, 2026

MF Techno offers palletizing, pick-and-place, product-loading, and pallet-handling automation.

Management / operations / workforce

Automation in packaging: Work doesn’t disappear; it evolves

June 22, 2026

AI can be used to inspect pallets for damage and identify potential issues before they create safety risks or operational disruptions.

Digital Transformation

Living on the edge: Bringing AI closer to material handling operations

June 5, 2026

Sarah Wynn, senior editor at Packaging OEM, and Omar Asali, chairman & CEO of Ranpak, on stage at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston discussing robotic manipulation in warehouse automation, physical AI, and deployment challenges. Photo source: Jeff Pinette

Ranpak examines the gap between physical AI promise and reality

June 2, 2026

Bobby Cook (shown at right) of Siemens Digital Industries Software spoke with Packaging OEM about Xcelerator’s access for startups and SMBs. The collaboration with PepsiCo brings together Siemens’ industrial AI expertise and digital twins with NVIDIA’s AI and visualization.

Industrial software for startups: Accelerating ROI by design

March 31, 2026

Amazon’s Transparency Program uses item-level serialization to assign unique codes to individual products, allowing items to be scanned and verified throughout the supply chain to prevent counterfeit goods from reaching customers.

Digital Transformation

Amazon Transparency captures the future of 2D barcode traceability

March 9, 2026

SOLIDWORKS interface showing Leo, the engineering-focused AI companion from Dassault Systèmes’ Generative Triad,

Engineering / design software

Machine design in the age of AI: what packaging OEMs need to know

March 5, 2026

GS1 US, the nonprofit behind the barcode, is prepping for Sunrise 2027, the industry’s date to transition to accepting 2D barcodes at point-of-sale systems. Newland AIDC (left side of image) and Zebra Technologies (right side of image) showcased 2D-barcode-ready technology at NRF 2026 in New York City.

NRF insights: GS1 US explores AI, 2D barcodes, and RFID in packaging

January 23, 2026

Two robotic cells on display at Schneider Electric's Innovation Summit 2025: a SCARA pick-and-place robot handles macaron cookies (left side of image) and a filling and capping robot operates on the right.

Digital Transformation

The invisible upgrade: how AI and digital twins are reshaping packaging machinery

December 22, 2025

Antares Vision Group’s VRI VI-060S inspection system on the show floor at Pack Expo Las Vegas (left side of image), shown alongside its rotating carousel for prefilled syringe handling and inspection (right side of image).

Primary packaging

Antares Vision Group dispenses AI-driven inspection for prefilled syringes

December 2, 2025

At Pack Expo Las Vegas, Fanuc’s dual-arm cobot stacks cookie trays while Formic’s AI-powered dashboard displays real-time production data, showcasing how robotics and artificial intelligence are shaping packaging automation.

Three trends shaping packaging’s future at Pack Expo Las Vegas

October 9, 2025

Novakon’s NPP Series panel PC (left) is certified for Siemens Industrial Edge, enabling predictive maintenance and performance monitoring on packaging lines (right).

Digital Transformation

Compatible with Siemens Industrial Edge, Novakon PCs support smart packaging lines

September 19, 2025

Cardboard packaging at Stephen Gould, where Epicor tools assist the design team in minimizing waste.

Digital Transformation

How technology can ease tariff pressure for packaging companies

August 27, 2025

Antares Vision Group's new AI-GO platform uses artificial intelligence to perform visual inspections to catch defects faster and more accurately, cutting false rejects and helping packaging lines run smoother. The system was made in collaboration with Oròbix, an AI service company.

Antares Vision Group introduces AI-driven visual inspection platform

June 30, 2025