MAJOR FIELDS OF ACTION AT INTERPACK 2021 Libby Munford caught up with Christian Traumann, group president, MULTIVAC ahead of interpack 2021 to hear a leading provider of packaging solutions on the main trends it expects to explore on the show floor across the food, life science and healthcare sectors.
Christian Traumann
LM: MULTIVAC has spotlighted sustainability, digitalization, and automation as the main focuses for its stand at interpack 2021. Can you talk me through each trend – what are the main challenges and demands from your customers in each category, and how are you innovating to meet these? CT: Sustainability: The EU’s Plastics Strategy, as well as national legislation deduced from it, are driving developments in the market, through which fully functioning recycling loops are to be implemented, as well as alternative materials being developed, which can better meet the requirements of a closed-loop system. By using different material and packaging concepts, manufacturers can make an important contribution to meeting the current market demands with regard to the implementation of a circular economy. In order to implement sustainable packaging concepts in the food industry, it is essential to view the entire added value chain holistically, from the manufacturing stage through the logistics chain and right up to use by the consumer. In addition to the introduction of closed recycling loops and the reuse of plastic packs, it is also productive to look at concepts for reducing the consumption of plastics in the production of packs, as well as the options for using alternative packaging materials. Digitalization: Digitalization is an important key to mastering the increasing demands on packing in regard to cost efficiency and sustainability. Today MULTIVAC is already offering companies groundbreaking solutions with a wide range of tools for increasing machine availability and efficiency, and these can be implemented as required on a step-by-step basis. Viewed over the long term, digitalization offers companies great potential, insofar as packaging machines and even complete production lines can be continually optimized through a self-learning process. Automation: An ever increasing number of fresh and processed food products have to be manufactured and packed. But it has become more difficult to find suitable or qualified staff. At the same time, hygiene and quality requirements are increasing. Automation solutions can provide one way out of the dilemma. Packaging Europe | 29 |
