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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Overwrapper equipment packaging food cups in a drop-through paperboard sleeve

Cost & Price

How Much Does an Overwrapper Cost? Budgetary Ranges and Cost Drivers

Paperboard overwrappers are usually pretty custom pieces of equipment, and they can range from $350k to $2M, depending on how elaborate the system. We’ll highlight budgetary estimates and walk you through what drives prices up.

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PLC (Programmable Logic Controller)

Secondary Packaging 101

What is a PLC? Understanding the Logic Controller Behind Your Packaging System

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are key players in almost all packaging equipment. Learn what they are, how they work, and how they affect your packaging line.

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Variety of Flavors of Beverages on a Variety Pack conveyor line

Cost & Price

How Much Does a Variety Pack System Cost?

Budgeting for a variety pack system is much harder than you might assume. We’ll walk you through what makes it tricky, how it’s priced, which factors to decide, and what to do next.

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two operators lining up plastic bottles to test run in a machine

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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Operator running a packaging machine's HMI with a title overlay stating "Machine Efficiency ≠ OEE"

Secondary Packaging 101

A Commonly Misunderstood Metric – What Is Machine Efficiency?

Machine efficiency is one way of understanding how much capacity you’re using. Learn what machine efficiency is, how to calculate it, and how you can leverage it for growth.

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Secondary Packaging 101

What is Sanitary Design in Packaging Equipment — and Does It Matter for Your Application?

Learn the principles of sanitary packaging design and whether your application requires sanitary equipment.

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Case and tray packed with aluminum cans on a gray background

Comparisons, Secondary Packaging 101

Case Packer vs Tray Packer: What’s the Difference?

Learn the essential difference between case and tray packers and when their format works best for your application.

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Cases on conveyor with dollar signs

Problems / Challenges

Why Cutting Your Factory Acceptance Test Scope Can Cost More Later

Understand the value differences between a thorough FAT scope and a shallow FAT scope — and which investment costs more in the long term.

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Problems / Challenges

Commissioning Packaging Equipment: How to Run Startup Without Chaos

Get a clear, practical guide for CPG manufacturers commissioning new packaging equipment.

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Operator reach into machine to adjust magazine infeed

Problems / Challenges

How Packaging Materials Impact Machine Performance and Line Efficiency

Learn how packaging material variability impacts line performance, how frequently missing specs affect OEE, maintenance and safety, and what alignments prevent recurring losses.

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