Automation is the key element in the evolution of product handling equipment often seen in the snack and bakery market. Cartoners, case packers, palletizers and similar equipment increase productivity while handling a wide range of packaging styles.
Equipment manufacturers see a trend toward flexibility. “Customers want to run their big-box store SKUs and their club store SKUs on the same machine. This has resulted in applications where you need to run chipboard and corrugated cartons on the same machine,” says Eric Langen, vice president of sales and marketing, AFA Systems, Brampton, Ontario.