Learning Center

Whether you’re looking for solutions to specific challenges or wanting to deepen your overall knowledge of secondary packaging, our Learning Center is designed to give you the resources to make confident decisions about your secondary packaging systems.
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Secondary Packaging 101

What Does Douglas Make? An All-in-One Look at Our Secondary Packaging Line-up

We’re known for case packing and shrink wrapping – we do both, but that’s only a quarter of our line. Take a look at what we design and build, our markets, our sister company, and what we don’t make.

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LoadX robotic arm holding a stack of collapsed cases and moving them to magazine

Secondary Packaging 101

What Should I Look for in a Robotic Magazine Loader?

Learn what features define the work of good vs. bad robotic magazine loaders, how to find them, and the vendor that will deliver them – for the long-term development of your line. 

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A side-by-side visual of hands loading corrugate into a magazine versus a robot near a corrugate stack

Comparisons

Manual vs. Robotic Magazine Loading: Which is Better?

Understand the difference between manual and robotic magazine loading, their strengths and weaknesses, and what operations they’re suited for. We’ll also help you align your expectations with market realities.

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Beverage cans and paperboard cartons running through lanes on a multipacker machine

Cost & Price

Beverage Multipacker Cost: Pricing, Specifications, and Buying Considerations

Beverage multipackers have their own unique set of budgetary conditions. Learn how to scope pricing tiers, account for your SKUs, and prepare for vendor conversations.

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Boxed food products packed into cartons with automated equipment

Cost & Price

How Much Does a Cartoner Cost?

Cartoner price is based on many factors including type, product, and customization. Learn about the main cost tiers of cartoners, as well as what affects their price and lead-time.

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Side load case packer packing cartons of pizza into corrugate case

Cost & Price

How Much Does a Side Load Case Packer Cost?

Budgeting for a side load case packer all depends on what you want and how much you’re willing to pay for it. Learn about pricing tiers, cost drivers, add-ons, and value-adders, so you can take control of your buying process.

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A business person going over a service agreement document

Secondary Packaging 101

Packaging Equipment Service Agreements: What to Look For

Packaging equipment service agreements are more than contracts: they’re commitments to trusted partners. We’ll outline what to look for and help you know if you’ve found a provider you can trust.

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Illustration of various secondary packaging formats, including bags in display trays, shrink wrapped bottles, and beverage cans in paperboard sleeves

How-To

How to Choose the Right Secondary Packaging Format for My Product?

Before exploring automated secondary packaging options, you need to select a packaging format: case, tray, carton, shrink film, multipack or variety pack. We’ll explain these formats, as well as the four factors that make your decision.

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Beverage bottles, snack pouches, yogurt tubs, and candy bags in retail-ready packaging

Secondary Packaging 101

Retail-Ready Packaging: What It Is and What It Means for You

Retail-ready packaging (RRP) means that a single case must protect the product, and present and sell to retailers and customers. We’ll explain RRP and “The Five Easies,” and what they mean for your line.

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Light column that indicates status of machine

Problems / Challenges

20 Common Secondary Packaging Lines Problems: Causes and Solutions

Learn 20 of the most common secondary packaging line problems, what causes them, and practical ways to address them. Then, explore best practices to help prevent these issues and improve line performance moving forward.

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Bags of pet food being loaded into a case

How-To, Problems / Challenges

High-SKU Pet Food Operations: How to Cut Changeover Time in Case Packing and Palletizing

Break down what’s really happening in your end-of-line operations and build a plant-floor playbook that separates what’s process, what’s equipment, and what’s design.

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How-To, Secondary Packaging 101

A Buyer’s Guide to Automating Frozen Pizza Packaging Lines

Walk through the most important factors to consider when automating frozen pizza packaging—so you can make a confident, future-proof decision.

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How-To, Secondary Packaging 101

How to Automate Variety Pack Production Without Overbuilding or Overpaying

Learn which type of automation is right for your production scale, space, and SKU needs—whether you’re packing beverages or assembling snack assortments.

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People talking in front of top load case packer

Cost & Price

How Much Does a Top Load Case Packer Cost?

Budgeting for a top load case packer is highly dependent on your product, your operation, and your expectations. Learn some price range estimates, major drivers, and questions you should answer before talking to vendors.

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Douglas Service Technician working on machine

Problems / Challenges

How Quickly Can I Get a Service Technician to My Site?

Get realistic timelines for emergency and planned service, plus practical steps that can reduce delays by days.

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