Less really is more when it comes to packaging

In fact, the most recent data shows that out of all households in the country, single occupancy homes have increased from 16% overall in 1996 to 18% in 2007 - this rate is predicted to increase well into the future. Furthermore, the current level of disposable income in the country is also going through a challenging period, with wages in many areas not reflecting the levels of rising inflation.

With fluctuating wage levels and the rising number of single households, consumers’ attitudes are changing and they are seeking a more convenient, cost-effective way of purchasing their food, snacks and pharmaceutical products – in the form of smaller, single-serve packs. With less mouths to feed, and less free income to spend, the need to buy bulk products to feed a family of four, for example, is quickly becoming redundant, which for manufacturers means less and smaller packaging is required – indeed, less is now more.

While the amount of packaging clearly needs to be addressed, and in many cases reduced, the pack styles themselves, in terms of shapes and sizes, still need to be appealing and stand  out on the ever-crowded supermarket shelves in order to keep producers ahead of their competition. As a result, manufacturers of popular food and non-food products, such as confectionery, nuts, chocolate, powders, fresh and frozen foods and pharmaceuticals, need solutions that they can trust and that adapt quickly to changing consumer preferences, ultimately elevating their brands above the competition.

What do consumers want?

From a consumer point of view, when making these purchasing decisions they will still be looking for appealing, interesting, pack styles that leap off the shelf, except this time in a smaller form and at a lower price point. One particular pack style that has recently gained great traction with consumers across the globe – particularly in the confectionery, nuts and chocolate markets, is stand up pouches - or doy packs as they are also known. These packs are also able to provide a recloseable option, which is ideal for the busy modern day consumer who will now be able to eat smaller portions on-the-go, saving the rest for later if required. The global stand-up pouches market is projected to reach $33.4-billion by 2020 .

Additionally, nutritional snacks, such as protein bars, have also seen a significant rise in demand – especially over the past few years. Often packaged in the popular flow-wrap style, nutritional health bars grew 34% between 2011 and 2013, reaching a market value of $2.2-billion.

Bosch Packaging Technology, a leading supplier of processing and packaging solutions, has observed these shifts in packaging behavior noting that products, such as coffee, pharmaceuticals, shampoo and condiments in particular, now need to be available in smaller, individual, packs – such as sachets and stick packs – perfect for the single household or consumer. Small, affordable and ready portioned, they enable consumers to try different products and brands at more affordable prices than buying larger pack sizes – increasing the appeal. It also enables the consumer to select the right product to suit a particular mood or craving, instantly without the large price tag of multi- or family-packs.

That is why the company continues to provide innovative packaging solutions to the market, constantly bettering their own and other market offerings.

What does this mean for manufacturers?

Manufacturers need to be able to react quickly to these different trends and attitudes, scaling up or down depending on demand and consumer preference, which can change often very quickly. That is when the true value of a company’s packaging machinery comes under the spotlight. For instance, with the increasing popularity of the aforementioned doy style packs, manufacturers were previously required to lay down large initial investments for horizontal machine lines plus the additional high cost of using pre-made doy packs – equating to a high total cost of ownership (TCO).

Luckily for producers, this packaging industry challenge has now been overcome with the latest innovation from Bosch. The recently launched SVE 2520 DZ – the fastest vertical bagger with doy zip functionality on the market – allows for the production of 100 bags per minute, without the heightened initial investment and an enhanced cost-effectiveness when compared to the use of pre-made bags by producing them directly off the film reel. The breakthrough now means that Southern African producers can meet consumer demands, quickly, without having to break the bank.

For Southern African manufacturers in particular, many companies are now looking to begin or enhance their journey into the world of packaging. It’s therefore crucial to choose a packaging partner with global experience ranging from entry-level to mid-range automation, right through to high-speed packaging solutions.

Another vital element to running a successful, profitable, operation is the amount of support received from your machinery producer and their response times, after all in every industry - time is money. It’s widely understood that a single machine can put an entire line out of operation, and even an hour per day downtime over the course of a year will cause any manufacturer a serious financial headache. Having support and service teams on the ground and able to assist with parts and support advice quickly is therefore the final essential ingredient for success.

For more information, visit www.boschpackaging.com.