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Can Flexible Packaging Equipment Help Customers Meet Their Sustainability Goals?

Renew, Reuse, Recycle, Compost Sustainability
Renew, Reuse, Recycle, Compost

Consumers today are demanding their brands of choice be more responsible and better stewards of the environment. This extends to their packaging as well. So, what can flexible packaging machine manufacturers do to help customers meet their sustainability goals? As it turns out, quite a lot!

Did you know that Matrix Packaging Machinery builds packaging machines that can run “green” films? Green films are those that are considered sustainable, compostable or recyclable. Many film manufacturers are getting really good at creating structures that provide the needed safety, durability, as well as designable and attractive options that packagers want.

When looking for equipment, it’s helpful if your flexible packaging suppliers work closely with its customers to provide packaging systems that can accomplish their sustainability goals. There are considerations in addition to packaging, such as footprint, energy output, and film waste during changeover, as well as film structures.

“Matrix has always worked proactively to make sure the footprint of our machines is small. This works well to help save our customers space on the facility floor and cuts down on film and waste during change-over. We actively work with our customers whenever we can to help them meet their sustainability aspirations.”

Marc Wolf, General Manager of Matrix Packaging Machinery

Some of the more recent trends of sustainable packaging include the demand for on-the-go convenience, food safety, less product waste and reusable bags/pouches. The Matrix Morpheus vertical form fill seal machine, for one, can run compostable and recycled films efficiently. Our machinery also has a smaller footprint and AutoPro™ programming technology that aids in reducing waste and excess bags during changeovers by up to 50%. These features, along with many others, allow Matrix to help its customers to work on achieving their sustainability goals with their target audiences.

Watch the Matrix Mercury form, fill, and seal compostable pillow bags.

Watch the Matrix Elete Premier form and seal large empty recyclable pillow bags.

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Matrix provides flexible packaging machinery solutions to customers worldwide. Vertical form, fill, seal; horizontal form, fill, seal; pre-made pouches; stickpacks and sachets, Matrix can help you find your flexible packaging solution.

4 Preventive Maintenance Steps Customers Should Follow to Keep their Packaging Machinery Fully Operational

It’s always good business practice to ensure critical machinery such as vertical form fill seal and other packaging equipment are operating at a high level, Matrix Packaging Machinery recommends companies follow these important maintenance guidelines:

Keep it clean – One of the simplest things you can do to keep your machinery running well is to keep it clean; the cleaner a machine is, the better it will operate. Cleaning should include all mechanical parts and be performed once a shift. It’s important to always turn off and disconnect power to the machine prior to cleaning.

Don’t ignore preventive maintenance – If you’re experiencing an increase in production, it may be tempting to push back the preventive maintenance schedule for your machines – it’s critical to not skip preventive maintenance. Packaging machines are engineered to be serviced at specific intervals. Delaying service could lead to premature component failure and a longer, more costly downtime when you can least afford it. Cleanliness and preventive maintenance go hand-in-hand; don’t cut corners and skip these two essential steps.

Matrix Packaging - VFFS Machine Preventive Maintenance

Keep spare parts on hand – Hopefully, you have a bench stock of spare and consumable parts, such as belts, knives and heating elements readily available. This will obviously help facilitate quick repairs and minimize machinery downtime. If you don’t have an adequate bench stock set up, some OEM suppliers can perform a parts audit and prepare a recommended parts list of common replacement parts to keep in stock. Essentially, a parts audit helps you develop a parts plan, streamlining the inspection, repair, and maintenance processes for your packaging equipment.

Matrix Packaging Spare Parts Order Processing

Schedule a service call – Most reputable OEM suppliers are still conducting service calls with customers. If your OEM supplier does handle your machines’ preventive maintenance, those field-service visits will likely occur as scheduled. An uptick in business means it’s more important than ever to keep those maintenance appointments. Keep in mind that some service and troubleshooting can also be done through remote monitoring.

Matrix Packaging VFFS Machinery Service Call

Review your machinery’s owner’s manual for exact cleaning, preventive maintenance practices and recommended spare parts. Overall, it’s best to keep the lines of communication open with your OEM supplier when it comes to machinery uptime.

Contact Matrix Packaging

Subscribe to our email list for the latest in flexible packaging news.

Matrix provides flexible packaging machinery solutions to customers worldwide. Vertical form, fill, seal; horizontal form, fill, seal; pre-made pouches; stickpacks and sachets, Matrix can help you find your flexible packaging solution.