Automated packaging equipment can improve the efficiency of production lines in a variety of industries, but many manufacturers hesitate to invest in these more expensive machines. However, while the upfront costs of purchasing automated packaging equipment and employee training may be higher than manual packaging options, the savings from reduced downtime, increased production speed, and improved efficiency make packaging automation worth considering.
Food packaging equipment is an essential part of modern food and beverage manufacturing. Processing facilities use these machines to meet demand, protect products from contamination, and establish a visual brand identity—and choosing the right type of equipment can have a significant impact on the success of a food or beverage processing business.
If you’re looking for a new food processing machine for your production line and see the price tag, you may think that’s all there is to it. However, that number is rarely the whole story.
There are hidden, unexpected costs associated with purchasing food processing and packaging equipment—from extra dollars you have to spend to get exactly what you want to long-term costs like downtime, breakdowns, and replacement parts.
Installing packaging machinery involves many different moving pieces, from scheduling delivery with the equipment vendor to training your employees to operate the new machine. This guide is designed to help you navigate this process so you can start using your equipment sooner rather than later.
Packaging equipment has a significant impact on your production line.
By maintaining these machines and keeping them working at peak productivity, you can streamline your processes, reduce downtime, save on overhead costs, and improve efficiency.
At the same time, however well you maintain this equipment, it will eventually start to have problems. It may miss quotas, make packaging mistakes, or wear down over time—which means a loss in productivity and revenue.
To get your production line back on track, you have to make a change.
You may think that the only solution is to purchase a new packaging machine to replace the ineffective model, and in some cases, it may be the best option. However, other alternatives, such as repairing or refurbishing the machine, are available and might be a better fit for your facility.
Repairing vs. Refurbishing vs. Replacing Packaging Equipment
When your packaging equipment breaks down, falls behind schedule, or fails to meet your production quota, you have three options: repair the broken parts, refurbish the machine, or replace the equipment with an updated model.
1.Repairs for Packaging Equipment
Repairing the packaging machine is often the quickest and most affordable option. Equipment in good condition that just needs a few broken parts replaced can often be fixed with minimal downtime, and you often only have to pay for the replacement parts as well as the service fee.
One of the benefits of repairs for packaging equipment is that your employees already know how to use the machine. There’s no need to spend time training them on how to operate new equipment or build new processes.
However, the cost of repairs can vary based on the age of your packaging machine as well as the availability of needed parts. Older machines require repairs more frequently, and it’s more difficult to find replacement parts. Over time, these added expenditures can add up to more than the price of a new or refurbished machine.
2. Refurbished Packaging Equipment
Refurbishing packaging equipment is the process of updating the entire unit. This option is ideal for situations in which you want to improve your machines but not invest in a replacement.
The refurbishment process is more expensive than repairing equipment but more affordable than replacing the machine with a new model. Additionally, by upgrading your packaging machinery, the equipment will often run more accurately, efficiently, and quickly, leading to additional savings in the long run.
If your packaging machines make errors or you want to enhance the production of your current equipment, refurbishment is a viable option.
3. Replace Packaging Equipment with an Updated Model
While repairing or refurbishing your packaging machines are important options to keep in mind, there are times when replacing the equipment with an updated model is necessary.
Buying a new machine can be expensive, lead to increased downtime, and require additional resources to train employees on the unfamiliar equipment. However, despite these downsides, new machines have a variety of benefits.
New packaging equipment has drastically lower maintenance costs and a lower likelihood of needing repairs compared to older machines. You can more easily access replacement parts if needed, reducing maintenance and repair costs. Additionally, newer packaging machines offer the latest packaging technology, which means you can use newer materials and techniques that are popularized in your industry.
Another thing to keep in mind is that new packaging machines allow for increased productivity. Modern equipment works more efficiently and at higher production speeds than older models.
How to Decide Which Option Is Best for Your Production Line
You know that you need to make a change in your current packaging equipment. How do you decide whether to repair, refurbish, or replace your machinery?
There are many factors to consider before making this decision. Start by answering these questions to determine what option is the best fit for your production line.
How Old Is Your Machine?
Consider the age of your packaging machines. Packaging equipment that is more than 10–15 years old can’t compete with the speed, efficiency, and versatility of newer or refurbished models. Additionally, it is more difficult to find replacement parts for older machines.
What Are Your Current Maintenance Costs?
A machine that requires frequent repairs can be costly. Over time, these maintenance costs add up. There is a point when it is more cost-efficient to update the equipment or buy a new model instead of continuing to invest in repairs.
How Much Downtime Do You Experience Due to Equipment Maintenance?
Routine maintenance is inevitable for all packaging machines, even the latest and greatest models. However, if you are dedicating a significant amount of downtime to repairing the machine or because of other maintenance-related issues, it may be time to consider pivoting your resources toward the initial costs of refurbishment or replacement.
Are Replacement Parts Readily Available?
Even if your packaging machine is working at peak productivity, it will eventually have parts that break and need to be replaced. But after a decade or more, the manufacturing company may have discontinued those parts.
If the parts you need to fix the machine are impossible to find or expensive to purchase, it could be devastating to your production line.
Can Your Packaging Machine Adapt to Current Trends?
Current packaging trends—like new materials or techniques—are often popular because they are more cost-efficient and can lead to increased revenues. However, your packaging machine may not be able to handle the newer materials, which limits your ability to stay competitive in your industry. By replacing your old machine with a new model or by refurbishing your equipment to align with current trends, you can take advantage of these cost savings.
Buy New or Used Packaging Machinery and Equipment at HP Packaging
At HP Packaging, we sell new and used packaging machinery and equipment for a wide variety of industries. Our top-notch packaging products have been repaired, refurbished, or reconditioned by the highly trained experts on our team, and our machines are ready to contribute to your production line.
As a leader in the used packaging equipment industry, we are proud to offer used packaging machines in a wide variety of categories, types, and styles. Whether you want to replace a machine on your production floor or expand your current production capabilities, HP Packaging can help you find the best packaging machine for your business.
As the food industry continues to grow, it is more and more difficult for production lines to meet market demand—unless companies invest in food packaging solutions.
Food packaging machinery and equipment are essential for companies that want to maintain high food production volumes and increase speeds in this rapidly developing market. This type of machinery plays an essential role for companies that take part in this rapidly developing industry.
The Importance of Packaging Machines in the Food Industry
Competition in the food industry is high—and constantly increasing. To stay competitive, companies with food processing or production lines need to invest in food packaging machines.
Since food packaging machines can process large volumes of food at high speeds to meet increased demand, all without sacrificing quality, food companies that use this type of equipment can increase their production output while reducing downtime, saving resources, and meeting food safety standards.
To create a more efficient and competitive production line, companies must consider semi-automatic or automatic food packaging equipment solutions.
6 Benefits of Food Packaging Machines
Food packaging machines offer a wide variety of benefits to food-related companies and production lines.
1. Improve Food Safety
The food industry is required to maintain strict food safety standards. Food packaging machines help companies meet these high requirements.
When food packaging workers handle food products, there is always a risk of bacteria spreading from one product or area to another. Packaging systems reduce human contact throughout the process, significantly reducing the risk of contamination.
Food packaging machines also eliminate the danger of inadequate seals as well as contamination during storage or transportation.
2. Reduce Downtime and Bottlenecks
Food packaging machines don’t have to take breaks, so they help reduce downtime. Less time lost during stop periods means more product packaged, leading to increased profits.
Additionally, while human error can lead to bottlenecks, food packaging equipment has fewer opportunities for errors, lowering the chances of bottlenecks.
3. Lower Company Expenses
By reducing labor costs while increasing production speed and volume, food packaging machines lower company expenses. These solutions are cost-effective and eliminate many of the expenses related to hiring and maintaining additional employees.
4. Increase Production Capacity and Speed
Food packaging machines are able to process and package higher volumes of product at increased speeds. Since they never need to take a break, they can repeat specific tasks continuously at high paces. This increase in production capacity and speed leads to significant cost savings.
5. Make More Precise Measurements
Food packaging machines are highly precise. These systems automatically calculate weights and volumes to package food products at exact measurements. In an industry where quality assurance is critical, more accurate weight measurements are an effective way to reduce product waste, increase cost efficiency, and prevent selling underweight containers.
6. Offer Flexibility and Versatility
When large orders come in or seasonal peaks lead to increased demand, the flexibility of food packaging machines makes it easier to increase or decrease production as needed. Unlike a traditional workforce, where demand peaks are difficult to cover, the highly flexible and versatile nature of food packaging machines means your production line can handle fluctuations in demand.
Buy High-Quality Food Packaging Machines at HP Packaging
At HP Packaging, we sell packaging machinery and equipment for a wide variety of industries. Our top-notch used food packaging products have been repaired, refurbished, or reconditioned by the highly trained experts on our team and are ready to contribute to your production line.
As a leader in the food packaging equipment industry, we are proud to offer food packaging machines in a wide variety of categories, types, and styles. Whether you want to replace a machine on your production floor or expand your current production capabilities, HP Packaging can help you find the best food packaging machine for your business.
All food manufacturers must meet rigorous hygiene and sanitation standards in order to ensure products are safe for consumption. At the same time, they have to design efficient processes to meet production quotas and create food products that appeal to customers.
When it comes to buying food processing machinery, you have to keep these factors in mind.
Machines used in food processing need to be thoroughly tested and vetted before touching any food items. Unfortunately, high-quality machines can be a significant expense. How can you find food processing machinery that passes all quality checks and helps you stay relevant in the industry while also not breaking the bank?
An important part of any production line—especially in the food packaging industry—is weighing the product before packaging it. Whether you’re packaging produce, poultry, frozen foods, or other hard-to-handle products, weighing equipment that is fast, accurate, reliable, and space-saving is key.
If you are packaging a canned product, then you know that one of the most important parts of your production line is having a high-quality canning machine.
Buying canning equipment that fits your production needs and your budget is essential to safely canning, transporting, and selling your product. These machines are usually significant financial investments and are built to endure heavy wear and tear; however, there will come a time when you need to replace your current machines. At that point, you have two options: purchase a new canning machine or take advantage of used canning equipment instead.
If you are closing down a factory, upgrading your equipment, or moving to a new space, what should you do with your unneeded, used packaging machinery? Don’t just haul it off to the junkyard; instead, you can sell your used equipment or parts to make a profit.
