Through the Line: Packaging and Processing

As robots grow more capable, what does it take for manufacturers to integrate and optimize them successfully?Industrial robotics are transitioning from rigid, task-oriented machines to intelligent, autonomous systems capable of handling complex manufacturing environments. Learn how AI and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are revolutionizing production by enabling flexible, real-time adaptation to product variations and logistical shifts.This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on Healthcare Packaging.

How can protein processors stay on top of traceability?Manual tracking of inventory from animal receiving through regulatory checks and all the way to warehousing and shipping can take diligent record-keeping. Bar-W Beef, a beef producer based in Nephi, Utah, avoided this traditional paper-based tracking by starting with a VistaTrac supply chain traceability system from day one.This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on ProFood World.

How does PackSense, an AI-powered system for product quality insights, address the gap between controlled testing and real-world experience?Editor-in-Chief Matt Reynolds sits down with Michigan State University (MSU) student Jordan D'Amario and MSU professor Dr. Euihark Lee. They discuss how AI is turning online reviews into actionable packaging data. MSU research shows how brands can pinpoint failure points, quantify consumer frustration, and prioritize redesigns using real-world feedback.Read the full featured article on Packaging World.

Will digital labels transform healthcare packaging?The Sunrise 2027 initiative marks a global shift in the pharmaceutical industry fromtraditional barcodes to advanced 2D digital labels and QR codes. This transition aims to modernize the healthcare supply chain by improving traceability, reducingadministrative errors, and providing patients with real-time medical information. While some regions have already mandated electronic labeling, others currently utilize a hybrid model that combines digital features with traditional paper inserts. Technologies like Digital Display Labels are especially transformative in clinical trials, as they allow for instantaneous updates to dosage and safety data without the need for manual relabeling. Ultimately, these digital innovations foster a more patient-centric approach by enhancing treatment adherence and streamlining the delivery of essential medicines.This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on Healthcare Packaging.

How does adding flexible automation allow Café Spice to improve production and deal with labor woes?The need to improve precision, throughput, and flexibility leads to an automated RaaS solution that offers greater profitability. The company saw an opportunity to go beyond typical end-of-line automation and target portioning and pre-packing—one of the most labor-intensive and quality-sensitive points in the process.This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on ProFood World.

What new demands is automation placing on packaging performance and testing?Packaging World Editor-in-Chief, Matt Reynolds, sits down with  IBM's Bill Green and ISTA's Eric Hiser to discuss how e-commerce, automation, sustainability, and data are reshaping packaging design. Meanwhile emerging automation requirements for the Walmarts of the world are raising the stakes for pack testing and performance.Watch the full featured video on Packaging World.

How is end-of-line automation reshaping high-volume medical product distribution?Medline Industries partnered with Ranpak Holdings Corp. to deploy the Cut'it! EVO right-sizing system and Form'it! automated case erector at its distribution operations. The shift eliminated a manual pack-out bottleneck downstream of Medline's AutoStore goods-to-person picking system, with workers now picking directly into automatically formed trays that are lidded and sealed further down the line. This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on Healthcare Packaging.

How can food processors balance automation adoption with workforce retention and morale?In its modern plant in the Antioquia area of Colombia, the global food producer integrates collaborative robotics to boost productivity, safety, and well-being—without losing sight of its human and sustainable character.This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on ProFood World.

What were some of the biggest takeaways from the summit?Senior Editor, Anne Marie Mohan, sits down with representatives from Google, Nestlé, Kenvue, and Just Born Quality Confections to discuss paperization, sustainable design, and AI as EPR preparation tool.Find live coverage from the summit on Packaging World.

How do the sterility assurance gaps reflect broader challenges in medical device and pharmaceutical packaging compliance?More than 3.1 million bottles of lubricating eye drops were recalled because products weren't properly tested, meaning sterility couldn't be verified. However, passing a sterility test doesn’t guarantee that a whole batch of product is sterile. It only confirms that no microbes were present in the sample.This is an AI-generated podcast episode. Read the full featured article on Healthcare Packaging.

How does proactive and predictive maintenance practices help food processors do more with less?Maintenance is often viewed as a necessary cost, an unavoidable overhead to keep production moving. But in times of economic uncertainty and capital constraints, it’s time to reframe maintenance not as a cost center, but as a strategic lever.This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on ProFood World.

How are new tools, in conjunction with AI, helping engineers at Google?Packaging World Editor-in-Chief Matt Reynolds sits down with Ken Leung, Senior Mechanical Engineer at Google, to discuss high-speed imaging and AI-driven analysis for packaged data center hardware. Leung explains why traditional testing methods may be missing the point because of changes to the products they're meant to protect.Read the full featured article on Packaging World.

How does a transition from a disposable, prefilled autoinjector to a reusable pen change user experience?Editor-in-Chief, Liz Cuneo, sits down with Lucy Baldwin, Head of Research and Design at Ensera Design. They discuss why when it comes to medical devices, safe isn’t the same as usable, and usable isn’t the same as equitable.Read the full featured article on Healthcare Packaging.

What does it really mean to design for change in food and beverage processing?Disciplined process design, sanitation strategy, and modular thinking can enable frequent changeovers without sacrificing stability. But, the pursuit of extreme flexibility can backfire, and the most adaptable systems are often those that place clear boundaries around complexity.This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on ProFood World.

What's behind the sudden surge in packaging robotics—and is it here to stay?Senior Editor Anne Marie Mohan sits down with A3's Alex Shikhany to unpack the latest robotics data, including a notable end-of-2025 spike in packaging, picking, and placing applications and the rise of collaborative robots to nearly 20% of total orders. They discuss workforce shortages, e-commerce growth, and how SKU proliferation are pushing manufacturers toward more flexible, accessible automation. Watch the full featured video on Packaging World.

What is the key innovation introduced by Cadence OTC’s UTI Relief Kit?The healthcare company Cadence OTC has developed a comprehensive UTI Emergency Relief Kit designed to provide an immediate, organized response to urinary tract infections. Listen in to hear more about this dual-package design held together by a shrink-wrapped cover card that emphasizes user clarity through intuitive labeling.This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on Healthcare Packaging.

Durante cuatro días, EXPO PACK México 2026 reunirá innovación, networking yanálisis técnico en un solo lugar. El evento líder de la industria conectará soluciones con decisiones. Descargue la edición especial de feria de Mundo EXPO PACK y optimice su visita.Este es un episodio generado por inteligencia artificial. Lea el artículo completo en Mundo Expo Pack.

What does it actually take to build a world-class food manufacturing facility from the ground up?Editor-in-Chief Derrick Teal sits down with Matt Pulskamp, Vice President ofOperations at Custom Flavors, and David Sawicki, Vice President of A M King to continue the discussion of the company’s East Coast expansion in Concord, N.C. The group unpacks how a lean manufacturing mindset, phased build-out strategy, and a shift to design-build delivery helped them finish under budget and on schedule, while earning top marks on BRC AA and kosher audits. 

Why are brands commitments to contract manufacturing and packaging deepening in 2026?Editors Joe Derr and Matt Reynolds sit down to discuss the waves of success contract manufacturers and packagers are experiencing in 2026.  Brands are showing increased confidence in external manufacturing partnerships and clearer strategic priorities, according to the 2026 Annual Outlook Report.Read the full annual outlook report on Packaging World.

Encuentra todo el contenido español: https://vocesdesdelalinea.buzzsprout.com

What trends and insights have PMMI Media Group editors seen in the past week?Editors Liz Cuneo, Matt Reynolds, Sean Riley, and Derrick Teal sit down to discuss what’s come across their desks this week. They cover Amazon's flywheel of growth, healthcare recalls, and Mike Rowe's insights into worker retention.Watch the full featured video on Healthcare Packaging.

¿Cómo se rompe una categoría tradicional sin perder al consumidor? En esteepisodio exploramos el rediseño de Arroz Golondrina y las decisiones estratégicasdetrás de su apuesta por narrativa, riesgo y diferenciación en góndola.Este es un episodio generado por inteligencia artificial. Lea el artículo completo en Mundo Expo Pack.

What does it take to turn an existing facility into a future-ready food and beverage plant?Editor-in-Chief Derrick Teal sits down with Matt Pulskamp, Vice President ofOperations at Custom Flavors, and David Sawicki, Vice President of A M King to discuss the company’s East Coast expansion in Concord, N.C. The group talks through how early collaboration, design-build planning, and a flexible facility layout helped shape the project. From utilities and room design to long-term growth needs, the conversation highlights what manufacturers should consider before construction begins.

What happens when AI, sustainability mandates, and packaging innovation all collide at the world's biggest trade show?Editors Matt Reynolds, Derrick Teal, and Casey Flanagan report live from day three of interpack. They discuss how sustainability isn't optional, it's engineered in. From AI-powered artwork compliance tools to active packaging, the innovations on the show floor are solving real problems at real scale. 

What does low-GWP propellants mean for inhaler design, manufacturing, and packaging?As sustainability pressures intensify across healthcare, one often-overlooked component is taking center stage: the propellant inside metered dose inhalers (MDIs). While invisible to patients, these propellants account for up to 95% of an inhaler’s formulation—and a significant share of its environmental footprint.Andy Burns, Vice President of Business Development for MDI at Kindeva, a drug delivery CDMO that specializes in injectable, inhalation, and dermal products, explains what’s driving the shift, and what it means for pharma and packaging stakeholders.Read the full featured article on Healthcare Packaging.

Un posible colapso de un empaque puso a prueba a Adriana Rueda en L’Oréal. Eneste episodio Rueda revela cómo liderar en crisis, delegar y confiar en los equipostransforma resultados. Una conversación clave para profesionales del empaque que buscan innovar y liderar con visión en Latinoamérica.Este es un episodio generado por inteligencia artificial. Lea el artículo completo en Mundo Expo Pack.

Is AI in packaging finally past the hype—and what does it look like when it actually works?Editors Matt Reynolds, Derrick Teal, and Casey Flanagan share one crucial takeaways from interpack: AI has quietly crossed a threshold.  It's a deeply embedded capability inside inspection systems, x-ray platforms, and automation lines doing real, measurable work. 

What does the future of packaging look like at Interpack?Editors Matt Reynolds, Derrick Teal, and Casey Flanagan share first impressions from the show floor at Interpack 2026.  From the rapid industry-wide shift toward 2D barcodes and QR codes, to the surge in AI-enabled and operator-friendly machinery. The conversation digs into the growing prominence of fiber-based and paper packaging replacing plastics across food and consumer applications, alongside advances in digital printing and inspection technology like x-ray systems. 

How is the GLP-1 craze impacting the healthcare, food, and packaging industries?PMMI Media Group editors Liz Cuneo, Derrick Teal, and Matt Reynolds sit down to discuss how GLP-1s are showing up on their desks. They cover topics ranging from cold chain to smaller pack sizes.Watch the full featured video on Healthcare Packaging.

¿Puede una IA entender realmente las complejidades del empaque en AméricaLatina? IE 5.0 demuestra que sí. Conozca todo sobre la plataforma creada en Brasilpor Fabio Mestriner y Carlos Eduardo Raya, que cuenta con datos curados,supervisión humana y criterio experto.Este es un episodio generado por inteligencia artificial. Lea el artículo completo en Mundo Expo Pack.

How can food processors lower their utility costs?Many utilities can be optimized from the plant floor through simple actions, procedural changes, and improved visibility. Listen to this episode to hear strategies for reducing compressed air, water, and energy use, often without spending a dime on new equipment.This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on ProFood World.

How are CPGS pushing digitization strategies in 2026?Editors Sean Riley and Matt Reynolds sit down to discuss how brands and CPG s are building digital foundations through data, connectivity, and traceability. Speed and uptime drive adoption, while cost and integration remain key hurdles. AI and smart packaging are emerging next steps.Read the full annual outlook report on Packaging World.

What are some of the current trends for end users and manufactures in the pharmaceutical industry?Editors Liz Cuneo and Bri Guntz sit down with Rebecca Marquez, Director of Custom Research at PMMI. They discuss the Business Intelligence Team's latest report covering increasing connectivity, e-commerce, and regulatory challenges.

La propiedad intelectual es una herramienta de crecimiento. En este episodio revelamos cómo aplicarla estratégicamente desde I+D para fortalecer la innovación en empaques, proteger desarrollos y asegurar la proyección de las marcas en el mercado.Este es un episodio generado por inteligencia artificial. Lea el artículo completo en Mundo Expo Pack.

What did a nutraceutical company do to keep up with increasing demand for its health and wellness supplements? A&Z Pharmaceutical replaced traditional V-cone blending on the new line with rotary batch mixing—cutting blending times by more than 90% while maintaining strict uniformity and GMP requirements.This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on ProFood World.

How does r.World prove that reuse at scale works?Senior Editor, Anne Marie Mohan, sits down with Michael Martin, founder and CEO of r.World. They discuss how durable, reusable serveware, local wash hubs, and a data-driven system enable r.World to provide closed-loop environments with an eco-friendly and operationally efficient reusable foodservice packaging program.Read the full featured article on Packaging World.

What does a risk-based path forward for healthcare packaging look like?This podcast episode shares insights from the SPMC (Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council) on a risk-based sustainability assessment model grounded in regulatory compliance and patient safety.This is an AI-generated epiosde. Read the full featured article on Healthcare Packaging.

Ingenio Providencia transformó un millón de bolsas hacia un empaque monomaterial 100 % apto para reciclar. En Through the Line analizamos este caso de ingeniería aplicada para lograr reciclabilidad sin perder productividad, calidad ni impacto en anaquel. Este es un episodio generado por inteligencia artificial. Lea el artículo completo en Mundo Expo Pack.

Is water recycling in food and dairy plants viable?Options for dairy and food plants include water reuse solutions through reverse osmosis and membrane bioreactors or monitoring offtake to water/wastewater facilities. Sustainability programs may have driven the first wave of these projects, but food producers are now leaning on data analytics tools to get more approvals.This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on ProFood World.