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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Kinetix 6000 part with "discontinued" banner on top

Problems / Challenges

How Do I Navigate K6000 Obsolescence?

Allen-Bradley moved the Kinetix 6000 (K6000) servo drive to obsolete status, which means no new units and a used-only supply. We can help you navigate this change and offer options on how to proceed.

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Hand holding a security padlock next to the eight listed steps of lockout tagout

How-To

What is the Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Requirement for Packaging Equipment? 

Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is a federal safety requirement that makes sure machines are de-energized before maintenance. We’ll walk you through the eight-step procedure, explain your role, and show how it applies to the equipment you work with.

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Split image showing before and after of machine refurbishment

Comparisons

What Is Equipment Refurbishment and When Is It Better Than Replacement? 

Learn the 50% rule and a five-question framework to help you distinguish when refurbishment and when replacement makes the most economic and operational sense.

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OEE = availability x performance x quality

Secondary Packaging 101

The Three Components of OEE: Availability, Performance, Quality (and the Six Big Losses)

Understand the three independent components of OEE and learn how to identify which one is dragging your OEE down.

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Productivity comparison graphs of non-vertical startup and vertical startup

Secondary Packaging 101

Vertical Startup: Why It Matters

Vertical startup is the achievement of stable throughput and quality within days of going live, not just the installation event. Understand the difference and how you can plan for this success.

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Predictive vs Preventive Maintenance article header graphic - PF Curve

Secondary Packaging 101

Predictive vs Preventive Maintenance: How Do They Differ?

Learn how to tell which type of maintenance your high-value assets need and where traditional maintenance still makes business sense.

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Colorful charts and documents on wall

Problems / Challenges

Packaging Equipment Project Timelines: Why They Range from 4 to 18 Months

Understand which dependencies are on the critical path and the cost/benefits of timeline compression so you can negotiate timelines that protect both schedules and production success.

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Two engineers collaborating at a desk

Secondary Packaging 101

URS, FDS, and FRS: A Buyer’s Guide to Packaging Project Specifications

Understand the roles of these three core specification documents and when each one is required so that you can save your project from FAT failures and costly rework.

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Maintenance process timeline with repair highlighted

Secondary Packaging 101

What Is Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) and What Drives It Up or Down?

Understand MTTR along with its components and drivers so you can identify where downtime actually happens and where to focus improvement effort for the fastest payback.

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Comparisons

Managing Replacement Parts for OEM Equipment: Choosing the Right Partner Model

Break down the real-world pros, cons, and risks of sourcing parts from OEMs, distributors, or directly from component manufacturers.

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Comparisons

U.S.-Made vs. Imported OEM Packaging Equipment: Which Is Actually Better in the Long Run?

Get a side-by-side breakdown of what makes one operation more cost-effective than the other—in terms that refelct the realities of manufacturing operations.

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Problems / Challenges

Packaging Automation Mistakes: How Poor Communication Leads to Delays, Reworks & Cost Overruns

Learn about the six most common ways communication gaps derail automation projects — and exactly what to provide your OEM upfront to avoid them.

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Bags on conveyor being picked by delta robots

Cost & Price

What Drives the Cost of Packaging Automation for Pouches and Bags? 7 Factors That Affect Price

While some cost factors can be generally applied, packaging automation for pouches and bags has its own set of cost drivers. This guide will highlight these factors, so you have a more informed buying experience.

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