LONDON — Packaging machinery manufacturers are redesigning equipment to help producers address labor shortages, stricter sustainability requirements and increasingly complex production environments, according to industry executives interviewed by Packaging Insights.

Companies including Markem-Imaje, Multivac, Sidel, Syntegon, TNA Solutions and UFlex say customer priorities have shifted beyond traditional machine speed and accuracy toward intelligent automation, production flexibility and resource efficiency.

Labor Shortages Drive Automation Investment

Labor availability has become one of the strongest drivers of packaging equipment innovation.

According to Simon Hill, Group Product Innovation Manager at TNA Solutions, manufacturers are under pressure to produce more package formats and stock keeping units (SKUs) while operating with fewer skilled workers.

Equipment is therefore being designed to offer:

• Simpler operation
• Faster product changeovers
• Reduced dependence on specialist operators
• Higher output from existing production space

Hill noted that production flexibility has become increasingly important as manufacturers respond to smaller pack sizes, seasonal products and expanding product portfolios.

Similarly, UFlex said customers increasingly expect machinery to maximize productivity, minimize downtime and deliver predictable production performance rather than focusing solely on machine speed.

Digital Technologies Improve Factory Performance

Automation suppliers also highlighted growing adoption of connected manufacturing platforms and digital inspection technologies.

Markem-Imaje said artificial intelligence is increasingly being applied to packaging inspection, allowing manufacturers to automatically verify product codes, labels and packaging features while reducing manual inspection requirements.

The company’s CoLOS 7 software platform supports inline verification and production data synchronization with enterprise systems, helping improve traceability and reduce coding errors.

Sidel also emphasized the importance of connected production platforms that enable manufacturers to monitor line performance in real time, supporting predictive maintenance and improving equipment availability through data-driven decision-making.

Sustainability Expands Equipment Requirements

Beyond automation, sustainability is reshaping packaging machinery design.

Manufacturers are increasingly seeking equipment capable of processing:

• Thinner packaging films
• Recyclable mono-materials
• Alternative sustainable packaging materials
• Multiple packaging formats

According to Multivac, the implementation of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is increasing demand for machinery that reduces material consumption while maintaining packaging quality and production efficiency.

The company said digital monitoring tools are also helping customers analyze energy consumption and identify opportunities to improve resource efficiency.

Pharmaceutical Sector Adopts Greater Automation

Automation is also becoming increasingly important in pharmaceutical packaging.

Syntegon said evolving regulatory requirements, including the EU Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Annex 1 guidance, are encouraging pharmaceutical manufacturers to reduce human intervention in aseptic production.

The company’s automated SynTiso fill-finish line incorporates robotic operation and isolator technology designed to improve contamination control while supporting faster product changeovers and higher production efficiency.

Machinery Must Support Future Packaging Materials

Equipment manufacturers agree that future packaging machinery must provide greater flexibility as sustainable materials continue to evolve.

Processing recyclable materials, reducing product waste and improving production efficiency are becoming equally important alongside throughput and precision.

Industry representatives also noted that manufacturers increasingly expect investments in automation to deliver both environmental improvements and measurable operational benefits through reduced material waste, lower energy consumption and improved equipment utilization.

Last Updated on 22/07/2026 by Jota Machinery