Article:
Mohan, A. (2017). Four technology advances reshaping the folding cartons market. Retrieved 13 July 2020, from https://www.packworld.com/design/materials-containers/article/13373407/four-technology-advances-reshaping-the-folding-cartons-market
Summary
This article by Packaging World enlists four technology advancements already in use in the folding carton industry that have driven the market in new directions. The authors of the article refer to research by Smithers Pira, which argues that the global packaging carton board passed the $100 billion mark in the year 2016 when it consumed materials that cost them more than 40.3 million tonnes in the mini and micro flute and folding carton packaging applications. Several market influences will work together to push the global demand for folding cartons so that they will have an increase of 4% annually until 2022, and create a global market value of $124.1 billion by then.
The same research by Smithers Pira reveals four technologies that will supplement the folding cartons market growth. The first one is innovative materials that promote environmentally friendly packaging. In addition to lightweight board grades, the industry is seeking to introduce recyclable paper content. The environmental pressures from consumers and brands also continue to increase and push the industry towards eco-friendly materials. The second is the advancement in printing technologies, which has helped improve the product shelf appeal and promote a print turnaround. The new technologies are also crucial in an era where brand owners require a wide range of finishes and more color to ensure that the parties involved in the process remain competitive.
The third technology is anti-counterfeit and security, which includes RFID technology, which creates new value-adding opportunities. The opportunities for RFID is maybe slim since it may not be clear about where to embed the device, but the industry is still working on RFID labels. These labels are used in a system that interfaces with smartphones and measure and record temperatures during the lifetime of a label and indicates whether a label has been opened or tampered with. The article reveals that the anti-counterfeit and security packaging market will grow significantly over the short and medium-term. Smithers Pira indicates that the market worth of about $2.75 billion in 2015, but notes that the same will grow to over $3,5 billion by the years 2022.
The last technology lies in the development of coated carton grades that meet the ongoing concerns in food safety. There is an increasing awareness of food safety that has resulted in the creation of a broad range of coatings for cartons to prevent the absorption, as well as the ingress of undesirable contaminants in food products. Currently, various products have been introduced in the market, and there is the leading technology that is produced by Mayr-Melnhof’s FoodBoard, which it launched in 2015. This is among other products that provide a barrier against harmful substances and protect the products against toxic materials such as printing ink, outer packaging, and other contamination sources.