Triangle Package Machinery Company will debut SmartChange, a guided changeover technology for its X-Series vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) packaging systems, at PACK EXPO International 2026.
SmartChange combines automated positioning, laser verification, digital feedback, and operator guidance to help food manufacturers standardize setup between product and package changes. Triangle says the technology can reduce changeover-related downtime by up to 60%.
“Too many packaging operations still depend on experienced operators to know exactly how a machine should be set up for each product and package change,” said Kyle Wilson, director of engineering at Triangle, in a statement. “As manufacturers face ongoing workforce challenges and increasing turnover, that approach becomes more difficult to sustain.”
Guiding operators through setup
Unlike traditional recipe-driven systems, SmartChange actively guides operators through the changeover process.
Servo-driven automation handles positioning, while laser verification and digital feedback help validate critical adjustments before production begins. A visual, icon-based human-machine interface (HMI) provides prompts and color-coded feedback during setup, helping reduce training requirements.
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The technology is designed to reduce operator dependency during changeovers and standardize setup procedures across shifts and facilities.
“We developed SmartChange to make changeovers more repeatable, verifiable, and consistent, helping operators achieve the same result every time during every shift,” said Wilson.
Triangle will demonstrate SmartChange in booth S-1714 at PACK EXPO International in Chicago, which takes place October 18-21.
