Mpac incorporates “future-proofing” to deal with market changes

Mpac Langen is placing “future-proofing” as a key pillar of its innovation strategy, in hopes of being prepared to deal with the tumultuous changes in the packaging machinery and automation market.

“Our mission is to be a global leader of high-speed packaging solutions that are supported by a world class service programme,” says Tony Steels, CEO, Mpac Group plc. “Our innovation strategy means we are fully equipped to deliver market-leading solutions for our customers now, but with a firm focus on the solutions of the future.”
In tandem with this, the strategy will also harness the enormous leap forward afforded by Industry 4.0.
“Through producing machines that are fully future-proofed and capable of responding to change, we are giving our customers a competitive advantage,” says Theo Rovers, global innovation director, Mpac Langen. “Such capabilities will play a rapidly increasing role in the future of the packaging machinery industry and as a result it is vital that they are a leading aspect of our innovation strategy.”

Having already debuted its Cartoner 4.0 concept last year, Mpac’s strategy takes advantage of the extension of internet connectivity beyond standard devices through the company’s Human Machine Interface (HMI) platform, which provides the ability to unlock the vast amount of data generated by a packaging machine when in operation, with this information able to then be tailored to the customer’s specific needs. The resulting benefits of this are increased machine uptime and enhanced operator usability.
“Industry 4.0 represents an enormous opportunity to maximize our predictive maintenance capabilities, something that is at the heart of our HMI platform,” says Rovers. “We are hugely excited by what this paradigm shift means for the packaging machinery industry and have designed a strategy that maximizes its full potential for our customers. Moreover, we are also working on seeing these exciting product advances developed further alongside a fresh stream of innovations already in the pipeline.”

Mpac will also continue to adopt a customer-centric approach to the design, delivery and manufacture of each packaging machinery and automation solution.
The strategy will also see the entire Mpac Group seek to foster an environment that champions innovative thought and ensures employees are empowered enough to take calculated risks, adds Steels. In parallel with this, Mpac has established Centres of Excellence for primary, secondary and end-of-line packaging across the company’s manufacturing locations.
“Capturing and then acting on the feedback and insights provided by our customers is essential to ensuring our machines continue to lead the global packaging machinery market,” he says. “They rely on Mpac’s machines daily and so are ideally place to offer suggestions for future developments to our machines.”