During
the show, I asked Mike Atkins, National Sales Manager for Afinia, why use these
machines to produce flexible packaging?
According to Mike, “Outsourcing is a good option if you require large
quantities of pouches; and the printing is static (i.e. never changes). But if
you require variable data printing for different SKUs, and/or your individual
SKU requirements are relatively small, you may be forced to purchase more
pouches than needed. The FP-230 allows you to print on demand and change the content
on the fly. You don’t have preprinted
minimums and you print just the amount you need for a particular run. And if
you are white labeling, or private labeling, this opens up more opportunities
to deliver quickly, have lower minimums, and create more revenue per product by
offering packaging as a service.”
Grace Engebretsen, Manager, Sales & Business Development Packaging North America for
Sihl believes the Artysio material fits many different types of customers. The technology allows
total flexibility and is very sustainable, printing only what is needed and
locally on site. Grace says, “Generally speaking, small to
medium sized brand owners with a large number of SKU’s (i.e. more product
complexity) as well as copackers are both ideal customers. Copackers who
do business with multiple customers, offering varying products/sizes for
markets such as food, nutraceutical, and personal care. We’re looking for
customers that want to control their own packaging operation due to product
complexity and/or small quantity runs.”
Artysio Product Profile
At the
show, I told Mike that it seems to be fairly easy to run the FP-230. Mike said, “The printer is fairly simple to
operate. Designs can be printed from a simple PDF viewer, or you can print
directly from any number of design applications. Printing flexible packaging is
as straightforward as any other type of desktop publishing. The FP-230 connects
directly to a PC, or to your network, and installs in your list of printers
using a standard Windows driver.”
From my
perspective, the most difficult aspect of this printing is making sure the art
is designed for the correct size of packaging. But please remember; I have no
experience running packaging equipment.
Phoenix Engineering’s packaging equipment seems straight forward.
Globally,
packaging is a $120 to $160 Billion business; of which flexible packaging is a
large part. In the US, flexible
packaging is a $31 billion business. Over the next few years, some of this
market will move to on-demand color packaging. The trend toward shorter runs
and more just-in-time or on-demand production will drive this move.
Contact
us if you want to move to on-demand flexible packaging. We can support this switch.
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