Banding as a packaging alternative is one of the major trends this year. However, this trend is not only growing in Germany and neighbouring countries, but worldwide, according to Thomas Weber from Swiss manufacturers ATS-Tanner Banding Systems AG. We spoke with Weber about the trends in the packaging industry and the future of the company.
"The demand for banding solutions is growing worldwide. Producers in countries such as the US, France, Poland or Spain are increasingly relying on food-compliant banding. The reasons are manifold and word gets around. The "polluter pays" principle for packaging, which many countries within and outside the EU have introduced, ensures that producers are looking for packaging solutions for which they have to pay less prepaid recycling and disposal fees. Banderoles play an important role here."
The company at the 2020 Fruit Logistica in Berlin.
Furthermore, the growing ecological conscience of consumers is increasing the demand for environmentally friendly packaging that generates less waste: "Products that are not only appealing but also ecologically and practically packaged are more likely to be bought. Retailers and wholesalers know this and pass the requirements on to their producers."
Weber continues: "Increasingly, in high-wage countries automation is the only way to increase production and protect themselves from growing cost pressures. Semi- and fully automatic banding machines -either stand-alone or as part of a production line- are ideal for this purpose. They are not only fast and reliable, but also ensure consistent quality and fewer work steps, because, for example, additional labelling is no longer necessary."
The reliability of the banding technology in a naturally wet and dirty environment is an important factor as well. "Wet products and labels do not get along. Neither do glue and dirt. Banding via ultrasound works always and everywhere. Vertically mounted machines ensure, for example, that the dirt does not fall into the machine but onto the floor."
Neither the machines nor the company lack flexibility. For example, the various banderole packaging solutions can even be rented: "Customers who only pack seasonally, for example, can also rent our banderoling machines, so no real investments are necessary. The machine is delivered pre-configured, according to the plug & play principle. As the operation of the machines is self-explanatory and extremely simple, they can be operated easily and by different persons. When the machine is no longer needed, it can simply be returned or purchased. In the latter case, the rent will of course be credited. We are noticing a general trend towards renting, with producers in Spain in particular," says Weber.
For many people, 2020 has turned out differently than was planned; the world has changed dramatically. Hygiene in particular has once again moved into the spotlight of the packaging industry. How can banderoles keep up with this? "Where hygiene means that a product has to be shrink-wrapped in a bioplastic film, for example, the banderole is certainly not an alternative primary packaging option. In this case, however, a banderole as secondary packaging can take over the labelling and branding element, as well as bundling if this is required."
Weber does not believe the Corona crisis has made the packaging discussion redundant: "We must not now fall back into old patterns and throw away all efforts that began to reconcile economy and the environment. We need visions and ideas and not just short-term steps, as that way, we would keep sliding from one crisis into the next. Now more than ever, we -politicians, consumers, companies and the media- should demand and promote sustainable business models and products. This also includes ecologically and economically sensible packaging solutions."
"I believe that the companies that develop innovative and sustainable packaging solutions now and those that use them to package their products will be better off in the medium and long term. On the one hand, they are proactively meeting future and already announced legislation and, on the other hand, they are meeting the growing consumer demand for less and sustainable packaging."
For more information:
Thomas Weber
ATS-Tanner Banding Systems AG
Poststrasse 30, CH-6300 Zug
+41 56 676 67 14
[email protected]
ats-tanner.com
