If you’re a small business owner, how do you ensure that the customer is enticed to choose your product over other options in the market?
Small Business Packing Woes: How to Buy the Right Packaging Equipment
While the product itself is the king, packaging plays a huge role in attracting customers. While packaging by hand might allow for a personal touch, it often gets routine and mundane, causing errors.
For example, the most common area for human error is the labeling of the product. A smudged or poorly applied label on the packaging can put off potential customers and create a wrong impression for your brand.
However, modern solutions like an automatic labeling machine can eliminate human error and also ensure proper application.
This is just one instance, and there are several other steps involved in the packaging, from the actual packaging to film wrapping, and there is dedicated machinery for each.
On the flip side, the market is full of companies offering the same type of equipment, which makes it challenging to choose one. Here is a detailed guide on picking the right equipment for your needs.
Gather Intel About the New Equipment
Before picking up a new packaging line or equipment, determine whether it will be a completely new piece of equipment for your team or simply an upgrade to an existing packaging line.
While the latter is ideal since your team will already have the technical know-how of the machine and will require very little training, a new piece of equipment calls for detailed training.
Therefore, before making the purchase decision consult with crucial members of maintenance, safety, QA, machine operation, and production management teams.
Figure out what aspects of the packaging line need improvement and decide whether a simple upgrade will do the job or require a whole new line of equipment.
In the latter case, it would be wise to consult with other manufacturers in your network who have experience working with the new equipment and a particular vendor for intel.
Alternatively, you can also seek assistance from an independent technical consultant.
Determine Objectives to Achieve With the New Machine
Before contacting suppliers and vendors for the new machine, sit down and assess your business goals. This will help you determine your objectives for the upgrade. It could be anything from a productivity increase to a complete packaging overhaul.
Ask yourself questions related to the packaging and get the essential information in place. Go over details like minimum and maximum packaging size of the product, speed requirement for the largest and smallest package, types of packaging, and more.
These details will help vendors suggest machines based on your requirement.
Meet Your Packaging Material Supplier
Remember, whatever piece of equipment you get, they will ultimately have to work with the packaging material you source. Therefore, you must set up a meeting with one or two reputed packaging material suppliers in your network.
These suppliers will prove to be a valuable resource for your equipment purchase decision.
Packaging suppliers usually know which machine is more efficient with their material. You’ll be able to figure out if better packaging materials are available that are more sustainable and can be implemented with a certain kind of machine.
Moreover, you’ll get intel on the latest packaging innovation and where the industry is heading in terms of packaging.
They will also tell you about machines that work with newer materials like thinner films or recycled plastic blends, saving you money in the long run.
Do Your Due Diligence on Machine and Supplier
The next step is to research the actual machine supplier. Find out that the vendor you have selected has a good infrastructure in place. By this, we mean an excellent technical support team, access to a certified technician for the machine, and a training module for your employees.
Additionally, consider whether the manufacturer meets the safety and electrical standards. You should think long-term about whether you would be able to source components like controls, sensors, motors, and pneumatics for that particular machinery easily down the line.
Also, whether the vendor will upgrade the machine in the long run when your packaging demand increases.
While some manufacturers might offer good equipment at a lower price, there is a lack of technical support, spare parts availability, and long-term support. And before you know it, you might have a dead asset sitting in your plant.
Therefore, contemplate purchasing the equipment from reliable sources with good infrastructure.
Plan Your Financing
Small and Medium-sized businesses are often strapped for money, and it’s quite possible that on the off chance, the machine you need might be a little too expensive for your budget.
The good news is that there are financing options available in the market that would help you foot the cost of the machine. However, each financing option has its own set of pros and cons, which may affect your business depending on its track record, type, and assets.
If you’re considering financing the equipment purchase, the best way forward would be to consult a trusted financial advisor. A good financial advisor will inform you about the best possible options available to you and how to avail of the same.
While you do have the opportunity to lease or rent the packing equipment, these options should be considered only if you need the equipment short-term to fulfill a contract and the like.
For the long term, it’s best to purchase the equipment as you’ll own the machine, and your business should be able to recover the cost over time.
Conclusion
Lastly, if possible, don’t make a last-minute packaging machinery purchase because then price and lead time become the primary decision-making factors. Always think ahead in time and how the machinery will contribute to the business in the long term.
Such planning requires meeting with critical people, setting goals and objectives, and finding the right vendor. Therefore, give yourself a good window of time to plan before you jump the gun and make the purchase.
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