Caroline Beaton invites today again Zhiwei Bao for an interview. He is the company owner of ÉLITER Packaging Machinery with which we have been working together for in the field of journalism.
Find again our first interview with him:
https://carolinebeaton.com/interview-with-zhiwei-bao-ceo-of-eliter-packaging-machinery/
Starting by Caroline Beaton
We are all conscious of the fact that the globalization has made the world become flat, thanks to which the food industry has got chance to impact globally rather than locally. Such a globalization follows a complex process of supply Chain through which the packaging is one of the essential factors to consider.
So, please Zhiwei. How and what do you think that packaging machines can play a role here?
Whether large or small, with or without a lid, inserted or glued, the food industry is familiar with secondary packaging in all its variants. The ultimate goal is that each product has a unique character and offers a high level of recognition among end consumers. The demands on packaging machines are also equally high. Especially since choosing the right packaging technology can present challenges to food producers. Zhiwei Bao, general manager at ÉLITER Packaging Machinery, has already collaborated with many customers when designing their strategy and knows exactly which aspects are important. In the interview, he reports on the challenges, opportunities and influence of e-commerce in the sector.
Zhiwei, what are your customers currently worried about when it comes to secondary packaging?
It goes without saying that for our customers the top priority is to protect their products by using secondary packaging. At the global level, several factors are currently of importance. Consumers, for example, attach more and more importance to the possibility of choosing from a wide range of products. This causes food manufacturers to offer different variations of a product, which in turn has a direct impact on the utilization rate and planning of food production. But the issue of sustainability is also becoming increasingly important. Our customers care about using packaging materials more efficiently, for example, without sending “air”. This aspect acquires enormous importance in today’s world where the increasing share of e-commerce requires an also increasingly high parcel delivery.
What specific challenges do food manufacturers present to you?
The demand for food packaging is constantly increasing, as well as the utilization rate of packaging lines. They have to operate at high speeds and still treat the products with care, as the protection of the products always has the highest priority. At the same time, only limited space is usually available for the packaging process in the production facilities. This means that manufacturers need plants that can achieve high speeds, high efficiency and also avoid product rejections. All this increases the performance requirements of the machines.
In addition, banding, and cardboard sleeve packaging, multipack packages, such as the so-called assortment packages, also pose a challenge for packaging lines, since they package products with different properties and sizes together. And as today’s food manufacturers are becoming more responsive to consumer desires, the demand for products and product sizes can change rapidly. This requires fast changeover times and simple operation of the cartoners. Packaging systems must also be able to adapt flexibly to new conditions, for example, to new product formats, such as seasonal packaging or promotional packages.
How does ÉLITER Packaging Machinery specifically support food manufacturers in choosing the right packaging technology?
We offer our customers a wide range of secondary packaging technologies such as end load cartoning macihne, film overwrapping machine, wraparound sleever, and customized wrap around sleeve packaging machines. In this way, our machines are able to process all common packaging styles and also special designs. Let’s take end load cartoning machines and sleeve cartoning machines as an example: in the end, the closed box looks exactly the same. But the packaging process is quite different. If our customer specifically needs a flexible secondary packaging solution for different products and for different package sizes, then sleeve cartoning machine technology is preferable. Both tidy and untidy, as long as the products can be grabbed from above, our wrap around sleeve packaging machines will be able to handle them all with flexibility. However, if the customer needs a solution for small secondary packaging at very high speeds, the end loading cartoner technology would be the perfect choice. This allows high packing speeds in a very small space. We are always happy to help and answer all the questions that arise to find the right technology.
How does ÉLITER Packaging Machinery become different from that of other manufacturers?
We offer our customers a wide range of packaging technologies in the secondary packaging sector. From cartoning, film overwrapping to sleeving and wraparound, we always have the right solution for every challenge in the packaging sector. We offer different machine models within each of these technology groups. Depending on the automation requirements, these can range from simple standardized box erectors to fully integrated and individually planned secondary packaging lines.
What aspects are important for in order to achieve an efficient packaging machine?
Nowadays, packaging requirements can change in a very short time. Changes in packaging style are the best example of this. Packaging machines are usually designed for a specific packaging style. When changes in this style are necessary for different reasons, food producers have to face an important challenge. Moderna secondary packaging machines must therefore be able to react flexibly to any kind of change. To achieve this, our development department always works closely with the customer: this is the key to success. Our packaging solutions are designed to respond successfully to changes in production. Simple, tool-less format changes allow for rapid adaptation to changing market conditions.
How important is the issue of sustainability for the food industry?
Young consumers, in particular, attach great importance to the purchase of locally produced organic products. They want to avoid waste and prefer biodegradable or recyclable packaging materials. According to recent studies, a large proportion of online consumers are willing to pay more for products if companies commit to implementing positive, social and ecological changes. Naturally, this is a trend that food manufacturers must adapt to and that our systems are designed to comply with. For example, we have designed our new packing machines in such a way that it can process different boxes and box separators, even of non-uniform recycled material, which would otherwise be discarded.
What changes are currently facing the packaging sector as a whole?
The greatest innovations in the packaging sector are currently the result of the trend towards electronic commerce. Nowadays, consumers can order anything at any time and it is delivered to them from anywhere in the world. They place orders more often and in smaller quantities. As a result, packaging formats are getting smaller and delivery speeds are increasing. Manufacturers deliver the packaged products directly to the consumer without the need for an additional shipping carton. Therefore, in order to meet the growing transportation needs, the secondary packaging must be more resistant. At the same time, consumers are giving more and more importance to the individual design of products and packaging. The self-assembled variety packs and printed packages effectively represent the brands of food manufacturers and ensure that the end consumer has an ‘unboxing’ experience. Both trends show one thing: if you want to be successful, you have to be flexible in order to adapt quickly to new requirements.
Would you please introduce again your company?
Yes. Our family has been working in this sector for three generations. Since I took this business from my father, I created the new brand ÉLITER Packaging Machinery as a new identity to improve our international presence.
ÉLITER Packaging Machinery is a secondary packaging machine manufacturer and global supplier of cartoning machine, overwrapping machine, wrap around sleever, and miscellaneous customized packaging machines for wrap around packaging. Visit their homepage for more information: https://www.eliter-packaging.com