U.S. packaging machinery shipments increased by 6 percent,
to $7.9 billion, in 2013; and a rise in retail-ready packaging (RRP) is
changing the role of secondary packaging, according to Pack Expo owner and
producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.
PMMI released the findings of its 2014 State of the
Industry: Packaging Machinery Shipments Study (SOTI) and 2014 Secondary
Packaging Market Research Study this morning at a press briefing conducted on
site at Pack Expo International and Pharma Expo 2014.
PMMI member packaging machinery manufacturers provided data
for their 2012 and 2013 shipments for this study; total U.S. packaging
machinery shipment estimates also incorporated projected non-member shipments.
“Total U.S. consumption - an overall figure that includes
imports, exports and domestic shipments - reached $9 billion in 2013,” says
Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, Market Development, PMMI. “Foods and beverages
together continue to account for more than half of the shipments. This is
consistent with what we’ve seen over the past 10 years.”
While SOTI illustrated a consistent overall market, PMMI’s
2014 Secondary Packaging Market Research Study revealed a dynamic industry
segment feeling the strength of consumer trends.
“In 2008, when we last conducted this survey, every company
we spoke to said they were trying to reduce their costs and improve their
sustainability ratings in secondary packaging, and retailers demanded those
changes because of consumer preferences. In contrast, roughly half of the 2014
study participants say they’ve implemented those changes and are satisfied with
the results,” Izquierdo says.
One of the most visible trends for secondary packaging,
however, is its role as a retail-ready packaging medium.
Izquierdo adds, “Retailers are asking for more shelf display
containers and as a result, we’re seeing secondary packaging going directly
from pallet to store shelf.”
Changes in primary packaging are also driving shifts in
secondary packaging, the report notes. Food (45%) and beverage (50%) producers noted changes such as switching flexible packaging and light
weighting primary packaging are resulting in the need for stronger support from
secondary packaging.
The 2014 study also shows a decrease in RSC usage and
corrugated fiberboard materials, and an increase in the use of recycled
material content, overwrapped trays and shrink-wrapped pads.
Executive summaries of both reports are available at the
PMMI booth (N–4550) on the Grand Concourse and online at PMMI.org.
