Some packaging challenges are easy to identify. Others require a closer look.
Technologies such as computed tomography (CT) scanning, video monitoring, digital inspection, and radio frequency identification (RFID) help companies better understand what’s happening across packaging operations.
Want early access to our curated On the Line newsletter? Subscribers get the first look every Tuesday via email. Click here to sign up.
Subscribe to the Packaging OEM newsletter
Get the latest news, trends, and technology updates delivered straight to your inbox and make smarter packaging decisions.
What CT scanning revealed about Talenti lids
Talenti gelato lids have generated years of consumer frustration and online discussion. To better understand why, Lumafield used industrial CT scanning technology to investigate the package and uncover how the lid, container, and sealing features interact.
The ability to inspect a package without cutting it open provides new opportunities to evaluate package design, manufacturing consistency, and performance.
“We’ve had customers where they have something leaking, and they can’t for the life of them figure out where the leak is coming from,” said Alex Hao. “You put it in the scanner and use automated detection tools, and almost immediately you can find out what you’re looking for.”
→ Read the full story
Using video to troubleshoot production issues
Identifying the cause of a machine stop isn’t always easy.
SICK’s sensingCam records events before and after production issues, helping operators better understand what happened and why. Rather than relying on observation or troubleshooting after the fact, teams can review exactly what occurred leading up to an event.
The goal is faster problem identification and less time spent searching for answers.
“Oftentimes this would get used for checking jams on a conveyor, looking for maybe an intrusion to a safety cell where you didn’t have a video,” said Jim Anderson, vision systems specialist for SICK. “That event from the safety scanner can trigger the video, and you can have that data to fall back on to see how you can improve your processes.”
→ Read more
How GLP-1 growth is creating new packaging challenges
Consumer demand for GLP-1 drugs is driving growth in prefilled syringe use and creating new challenges for pharmaceutical packaging operations.
Our report details the technologies being used to improve filling accuracy, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
→ Download the report
Turning RFID data into actionable insights
RFID technology isn’t new, but it’s evolving.
Zebra Technologies and its partner Xemelgo, a cloud-based software provider, are harnessing the technology in new ways to optimize packaging environments and warehouses.
The software works with Zebra’s RFID readers, handheld devices, and printers to offer real-time visibility into inventory tracking, shipping verification, and operational delays.
“RFID deployments that used to take months or years with traditional systems integration work, we now do in one to two days with Zebra and their channel partners,” said Garrett Gross, senior director of growth at Xemelgo.
→ Read more
Final takeaway
Some packaging challenges aren’t always obvious.
Whether it’s looking inside a package, understanding what happened before a machine stop, or improving visibility across an operation, companies are finding new ways to better understand what’s actually happening.
In Talenti’s case, the package was put to the test without ever being cut open.
In other applications, technologies such as video monitoring, RFID, and digital inspection are helping uncover answers that might otherwise go unseen.
Missed last week’s On the Line? Read how AI is changing decision-making in packaging and material handling.
