Our customers regularly come to us when they are looking to move onto the next level of automation. Many have started their business at home and have found that they have a good potential market that they need to reach quickly, effectively AND as economically as possible. They want to know whether automation is really an option for them and it always feels like a big step. In this blog we will try to answer some of the key questions that our customers ask when they are looking to buy a pouch filling machine.
Will we need to move into new facilities? No! Obviously, this depends on the type of growth that your business is experiencing but generally, if our customers were not looking to move before then they should be able to fit most Intamac equipment into their existing premises. The machinery is compact, with a small footprint and generally does not take up much more space than a hand packing line. A typical Intamac machine is 1.5m (w) x 2m (L) x 1.8m (h).
Can the pouch filling machines pack our product? Every product is different but the beauty of pouches is that they can be used for nearly any material! This versatility has made them incredibly popular and this, combined with the space saving, lightweight material makes them particularly appealing to manufacturers. Our machines have packed seeds, pet food, snacks, aromatherapy products, pharmaceutical product, screws and a wide range of food products – but we’d give anything a go! We would always trial your product first to make sure you are buying the right machine for your business.
How will my staff cope with the new machine? This is always one of the main concerns of our customers taking their first step into automation. Many businesses have used the same people to pack products for a long time and they are concerned about how they will cope with new equipment. Our equipment is intuitive and straightforward to use. We supply a manual and can offer training to your staff as part of our package. How your staff cope with new machinery will obviously depend on their level of IT literacy and their commitment to learning new skills!
Can customers recycle their pouches? So much is happening across the UK packaging industry to improve our recycling processes, without compromising the safety of the products being packed and creating a greater carbon footprint elsewhere. We are constantly looking at ways to make our pouches more environmentally friendly. There are 2 ways this can be done, depending on the product being packed. Firstly, there are a number of recyclable films that have been developed for pouches and that can be tested with your product. We work closely with Lanker Pack, who have recently introduced 100% recyclable packaging, but there are many options out there. Secondly, there are various businesses that can recycle pouches. We are particularly impressed with the latest initiative by entrepreunerial company, Little Freddie baby food www.littlefreddie.com, who have teamed up with Enval www.enval.com to set up a recycling programme. They have made this into a really positive marketing opportunity as well. Intamac can point you in the right direction to talk to these companies and work with them to set up initiatives to make sure customers can recycle their pouches.
These are just a few of the many considerations that our customers have when looking to purchase a pouch filling machine. Our consultants have an expert level of understanding and are ready to guide your business on how a machine could work for you. Contact Tom Poston tposton@intamacmachinery.com or call him 01420 593682 to discuss your options.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on our article, please send us any comments you have – either by the quick enquiry form or to Tom Poston.
