Every technical challenge can be solved, even if the solution isn’t visible at first. This conviction drives us to develop innovative equipment that produces sustainable packaging materials. The goal: to contribute to a healthier environment. The means: solid technological knowhow, an environmental approach and the application of industry 4.0-technologies.
The packaging industry is highly competitive, and businesses are looking for ways to cut costs while optimising production speed. Industry 4.0 is the answer: automation will decrease operator hours, increase product consistency and improve process efficiency.
This is why our machines are equipped with sensors and camera’s to enable remote control, and even remote servicing. Furthermore, high-tech software offers suggestions about the nature of a malfunction, pointing an operator in the right direction. These technologies are by no means mature, and we look forward to extending our machinery with additional features, including full-on self-regulating equipment.
At Inmaco, R&D is inextricably linked with daily operations. That’s because the R&D team consists of sales professionals, drafters and field service engineers – people from all over the organisation, who are typically involved at different stages of a project.
Sometimes, they work on specific customer requests. At other times, they register a global market challenge or initiate a project when they come across new technological opportunities.
Regardless of the topic, they define the conditions for innovation, discuss possible solutions and get started. Together, they put their technological creativity to use to come up with innovative, sometimes unexpected solutions.
Often, these solutions involve industry 4.0-technologies, as was the case with a new lid machine we developed.
We had noticed that although the packaging industry was pining for proper plastic alternatives, family ice cream packs still required plastic lids, because, amongst other reasons, cardboard covers:
Our team discussed these issues and approached an ice cream manufacturer for this innovative project. Once several difficult technological challenges had been tackled, we came up with a machine that produced two-piece, semi-rectangular cardboard lids that were every bit as good as their plastic counterparts. They were perfectly stackable, incredibly robust, printable for enhanced appearance, and, last but not least, they closed minutely to maintain content quality.
But we weren’t there yet. As we worked on the production of sustainable packaging materials, we wanted our machine to be more environmentally friendly as well. Therefore, we applied industry 4.0-technologies to reduce energy use, increase safety standards and improve set-up and quality control capabilities. Moreover, we found ways to increase consistency and maximise production speed. As a result, less raw material was wasted, and we enhanced machine output.
This machine is now part of a highly successful ice cream production chain, and we look forward to commissioning it in other plants as well.
This example is, of course, just one of many projects we carried out over the 70 years we have been in business. We welcome you to browse through our current cardboard and paper packaging machinery. Alternatively, read more about our custom packaging equipment, or contact us to discuss your project.