Kick off 2026 with a competitive edge at PACK EXPO East. Register now!
Get a jump on your 2026 goals at PACK EXPO East. Put projects in motion, accelerate timelines and solve challenges—all in one trip to Philadelphia.
Workforce
PMMI News
Skilled Labor Shortage Remains Top Challenge for Packaging Operators
The report highlights high turnover, lack of maintenance expertise, and training gaps as critical workforce issues facing CPGs.
November 28, 2025

Trends

Podcasts
Through the Line Podcast: Glacier's AI Tool Turns Recycling Data into Insight
Pilots with Colgate-Palmolive and Amazon helped shape Glacier’s new DataStream platform, a subscription tool launched today that lets CPGs verify recyclability performance and close the loop between packaging design and real sortation and recovery outcomes.
November 25, 2025
Through the Line: Packaging and Processing
Digital Transformation
Automation Fair Q&A: Inside Rockwell’s Push Toward Autonomous Packaging for CPGs
Rockwell Automation’s Lee Coffey explains how AI, digital twins, edge computing, and model-predictive tools are converging to move CPGs from reactive to truly autonomous operations — and what brand owners should prioritize next.
November 24, 2025
According to Rockwell Automation’s 2025 State of Smart Manufacturing Report, CPG companies cite quality improvement (45%), cost reduction (44%), revenue growth (43%), risk reduction (40%), and higher OEE (40%) as the top business outcomes they expect from smart manufacturing investments. Nearly 70% of companies not yet using smart manufacturing plan to invest within the next 12 months.
Recycling
Babybel Latest Brand to Join Paperization Trend
By replacing bio-based cellophane with recyclable paper, Babybel shows how large brands can reduce plastic at scale while maintaining quality, safety, and consumer appeal, stakeholders say.
November 24, 2025
High-volume production runs highlight the scale of Babybel’s global transition from cellophane to paper packaging.
Workforce
SOMIC Packaging Adds Two Industry Veterans to Support Customers and Sales
SOMIC Packaging, Inc.
SOMIC Packaging hires Roy Hoke to be the Southeast regional sales manager and Joshua Larson as the after-sales and service manager.
November 21, 2025
Roy Hoke
E-commerce/D2C packaging
PAC Machinery Bags and Materials Achieves ISO 9001:2015 Certification
PAC Machinery
PAC Machinery Bags and Materials received the certification for its Quality Management System after a thorough audit of its facility by an independent certification body.
November 21, 2025
Pac Machinery Bags And Materials Earned Iso 9001 Certification
Digital Transformation
How AI Is Rewriting the Rules of New Product and Package Testing
Virtual prototypes, e-commerce mockups, and rapid A/B tests now let brands gauge demand in days, not months. It's transforming how teams design, validate, and launch new products and packaging.
November 21, 2025
From plain pack stock image (left) to a (hypothetical) branded prototype, shown in context on a shower shelf (right), AI artwork and context images now take minutes, not weeks.
Workforce
Duravant Announces Retirement of CEO Mike Kachmer, Names Jill Evanko Successor
Duravant
Kachmer to retire following a distinguished 43-year career, including nearly 12 years as Chairman & CEO of Duravant, and Evanko set to succeed him as chief executive officer.
November 20, 2025
Mike Kachmer
Digital Transformation
How These Two CPGs Boosted OEE and Speed With Digital Twins
A beverage line saw downtime drop 52% and OEE rise 14%. Another CPG cut NPI timelines by 32 weeks. Real-world case studies show digital twins are paying off fast for packaging teams.
November 20, 2025
A canned beverage manufacturer used a digital twin of its case and tray packing line to diagnose a persistent “yo-yo effect” fault. By testing virtually instead of on the live line, the team accelerated troubleshooting 10×, reduced downtime by 52%, and improved OEE by 14%.
Digital Transformation
Live from Automation Fair: What CPGs Should Ask OEMs About Digital Twins
More brands are writing digital twin requirements into RFQs. Here’s what they should be asking OEMs before the first design review.
November 19, 2025
Dwayne Negron, digital twin capability manager at Kalypso, a Rockwell business, noted that more end users are “bringing in digital twin requirements on first pass to their contracts.
Digital Transformation
Live from Automation Fair: Making the Case for Packaging Line Modernization
To win support for modernization, CPGs have to shift the conversation from replacing aging equipment to delivering measurable value in labor productivity, operational performance, sustainability, and future adaptability.
November 19, 2025
Jerry Plessing (left) digital solutions architect, and Lance Fountaine, CPG industry consultant (formerly with Cargill), presented Rockwell's vision for selling packaging line modernization up through your orgnaizaiton.
Controls & Machine Components
Rockwell Automation to Build New Greenfield Manufacturing Site in Southeastern Wisconsin
Rockwell Automation Inc.
New site advances a $2 billion investment plan to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and digital capability.
November 19, 2025
Rockwell
Digital Transformation
Chef Robotics and ILPRA Partner to Deliver Flexible Automation for Meal Assembly and Packaging
Chef and ILPRA's solution uses AI-enabled meal assembly robotics and advanced packaging systems to handle high-mix production, improve throughput, and reduce labor demands.
November 14, 2025
Chef Robotics Ilpra Press Release Image
Page 1 of 1078
Next Page
Products
Illuminate X Juana Roll
Manufacturing Intelligence Software
JuanaRoll elevates production efficiency and reliability with ATS Illuminate Manufacturing Intelligence Software.
AI Automation Tools
AI-powered Chatbot Agent
More Products