Food packaging (and consumer goods packaging in general) are seeing some stiff demands. While PMMI is predicting that the global food packaging market in itself will reach $400 billion by 2025, with a CAGR nearly 5%, there are some real challenges to overcome, both in packaging and the supply chain. For example, processors struggle to keep up with new customer demands, while product and packaging changeovers occur frequently to meet consumer needs. In addition, OSHA has been cracking down on unsafe machines, and the need to clean is more important than ever.

Food, pharmaceutical, nutrition and other manufacturers typically consider automating manual operations when significant, immediate troubles are causing line downtime; when they need to meet increased production targets; or when they can no longer tolerate an ongoing series of problems.

Recalls and health alerts about onions likely linked to a salmonella outbreak are expanding to include various fresh salads, snack packs and diced vegetables.

Domino’s and WestRock are encouraging people to toss their empty pizza boxes in the recycling even if they have some grease on them, challenging warnings that only clean boxes can be made into new products.