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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Cartons of tea in packaging machine

Secondary Packaging 101

What is Machine Index and Pitch?

Understand machine index and pitch so you can read specs more accurately and ask better questions during the evaluation process.

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Top Load vs. Horizontal Load Case Packing

Comparisons, Secondary Packaging 101

Top Load vs Horizontal Load Case Packing: Which Should I Use?

Understand the differences between top load and horizontal load and which configuration is best suited for your operation.

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Servo on a machine

Secondary Packaging 101

What Does Servo-Driven Mean and Why Do OEMs Use Them?

Learn the definition of a servo-driven machine and understand the pros and cons of using one in your operation.

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Machine adjustment point with indicator displaying numbers

Secondary Packaging 101

What Is a Changeover? And What Makes One Fast or Slow?

Learn what impacts changeover speed and why “changeover time” makes a difference to your line’s efficiency and productivity.

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Plastic bottles on conveyor at fast speed

Secondary Packaging 101

What Does Line Speed Mean? And Why Is It So Often Misquoted?

Understand important speed metrics and learn which questions will tell you the most about machine performance and productivity.

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Worker wearing hardhat and holding clipboard observing machine conveyor lines

Secondary Packaging 101

What Is a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) and Why Does It Matter?

Understand what a good FAT looks like so you can help protect your investment.

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Pouches on conveyor

Secondary Packaging 101

What Is Machine Efficiency and How Is It Calculated?

Learn the details of this commonly misunderstood metric so you can set realistic efficiency benchmarks for your application.

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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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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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Puzzle pieces linking together the words filler, accumulation, case packer, sealer, and palletizer

Secondary Packaging 101

Packaging Line Integration: What Determines Success?

Packaging line integration is not only machine performance, but also handoffs and effectiveness as a single system. We’ll explain the three factors of a well-integrated line and address the question of performance accountability.

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Icons indicating the three sustainability drivers: right-sizing, material reduction, and recyclable and fiber formats

Problems / Challenges

Sustainable Secondary Packaging: Strategies to Reduce Waste and Improve Efficiency

Sustainable secondary packaging is done through three drivers: right-sizing, reducing, and choosing more recyclable materials. We’ll explain how these factors impact your line, and how sustainability tends to cut both cost and footprint.

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Close-up of change parts on a beverage packing machine

Secondary Packaging 101

What Are Change Parts in Packaging Equipment? A Complete Guide

The physical components swapped off-of and onto machines during changeovers are change parts. We’ll help you understand how these tools quietly drive changeover time, cost, and flexibility; as well as how machine type alters their impact.

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