Custom packaging and printing have become a necessary part of every business. The retail industry has undergone major trends in the past few years. The manufacturers and customers of today prefer the use of perfect-sized custom boxes to package their products. Traditional printing has been replaced by custom printing. This helps in satisfying customers’ needs and delivers a high-value product to the customers.
Moreover, the use of custom printing packaging decreases the overall operational costs of your business. Manufacturers are in a constant struggle to find innovative ways to address the changing demands of consumers. The advancements in technology have made them more creative than before. Below are some of the trends in printing packaging technologies to drive the future of the retail industry:
Fiber-based materials:
As the industry has become aware of the harmful effects of plastic packaging, manufacturers have started exploring different alternatives. Although eco-friendly boxes have made their way into the packaging sector innovation never ends. Plant-based fibers are a new trend in the custom packaging industry. The fibers are broken down to the micro level and converted to packaging material. The material is stronger and lighter than the one made from glass or carbon fibers.
However new methods are still to be discovered for the mass production of this fiber-based material. Till now it can be only prepared in the laboratory in a few grams. It is an additional challenge for fiber-based packaging to act as a barrier against light, air, and moisture. Although lamination on the packaging is highly protective it is non-recyclable. Therefore the industry is working on developing a water-based coating to act as a barrier.
Robotics:
With advancements in technology, robots have transformed the packaging industry. Robots and highly automated machines facilitate the packaging process. They can do several tasks for you for which you have to hire a large workforce. The robotic arms can sort different custom-printed boxes for quick delivery.
They can be programmed for different jobs and packaging functions. Mobile robotic platforms have made their way to warehouses to improve efficiency. The process of transferring goods from factories to retail stores is speeded up by using robotic packaging. The development of sensors and computer vision in custom packaging monitor the performance at every step.
Smart packaging:
Smart packaging is a trendy topic these days. It refers to a packaging system embedded with sensor technology to extend the shelf life of the product, monitor its freshness, and display quality information. This type of packaging is especially used for foods and pharmaceuticals. Smart packaging cut down on food waste. It enables doctors to track their patient’s records by creating a connected medical packaging.
RFID codes are integrated into custom boxes or printed directly on them. The technology sends identification signals to the reading device which can be a smartphone or any machine. It enables automatic communication with the package facilitating the retailers to track the current status of the item.
The customers can also scan the interactive code on cardboard boxes from their smartphones. It directs them to the company’s website where they can get more details about the product or give their feedback. The use of sensors in packaging monitors the temperature and quality of food. Such interactive packaging has raised industrial standards to a new level.
3D printing:
3D printing has taken packaging to a new level of creativity and customization. It’s a process of creating a 3-dimensional object from a digital file. Successive layers of material are laid down until the object is created. The operations are directed by software that controls the production through computer-aided design.
A recent innovation in 3D printing has been made in food packaging. The custom-printed boxes are designed in a 3-dimensional pattern. A US-based company Smart Cups come-up wide a wide variety of 3d printed cups. They produce an energy drink as water is put into the cups.
The 3D cups have ingredients embedded in the packaging. However, implementing 3D technology in custom printing is expensive. It’s a real challenge for 3D printing to streamline its production processes to maintain a low cost.
Personalized packaging:
Digital printing technology is becoming more affordable and widespread. With the increase in short-run prints, digital printing is used as a source of personalization to differentiate your brand from others. The innovation became popular with Coco Cola’s Share a Coke campaign. They personalized the packaging by printing the first names on digital labels. After this, several manufacturers used it o create individually numbered designs.
As the brand uses the internet and social to promote its campaign, customers can now feel that the packaging is made for them, which was not possible before. Take another example of Heinz tomato soup. The recently started campaign allows the consumers to personalize the can on the brand’s Facebook page and send the product to their friend or relative as a “get well soon” gift. The technology helped to cut down the cost and create more personalized packaging than ever.
Erasable printing technology:
This advancement in technology was first introduced by Toshiba. It’s a Japanese multinational. The technology erases the incorrect material which has been printed on paper. High-temperature heat plates are used for it.
Even something printed on cardboard boxes can be easily removed by this erasable printing technology. It saves material as well as costs. Now the manufacturers need not discard the incorrect printed material. Instead, the material is fed back to printers to eliminate errors.
