Industry 5.0 at the helm of the production system for the society of the future

by Industrial Meeting

This approach has given origin to a vision of industry that goes beyond the goals of plant efficiency and production and strengthens industry’s role and contribution to society. Industry 5.0 prioritizes worker well-being in the manufacturing process, utilizing new technology to bring wealth as well as job and growth while conserving the earth’s resources. The basis of industrial production is less waste of resources and a more sensible utilization of production elements. In this regard, we discussed how Volpak solves these difficulties with Francesc Busquets, Volpak’s Head of Sales and Marketing.

Great efficiency is required to ensure sustainability, and this must be measured

“From the point of view of sustainability, we are making great efforts so that our machines can work with the new recyclable materials, and I can say that we are moving forward on this idea,” Francesc Busquets says. “In fact, Volpak is researching new initiatives to align his contribution with this theme. We place efficiency alongside man at the center of our priorities. To continue on the topic of sustainability, Volpak, like our customers, uses the Ecovadis platform. Ecovadis assesses and certifies an organization’s level of sustainability, as well as the integration of its principles into its corporate system and the results obtained. Having a good rating is important, and our consistency can be seen in our machines, which must have excellent performance while also reducing consumption, saving the energy required for operation, and managing the materials used in packaging and the products themselves in the best way possible”.

The projects for the most practical and adaptable solutions come from customers

Volpak was able to make simpler a screen that could have been highly complex due to the multiple functions and parameters it must manage by cooperating with consumers.

“Our solutions are developed together with customers. Our professionals listen to them in order to design simple devices that must meet even the most difficult requirements. Using the HMI (Human Machine Interface) as an example, the teamwork was exceptional, allowing us to design a screen that was functional, user-customizable, and as simple as a smartphone,” explains Busquets.

“Today, it is critical to simplify procedures beginning from the HMI: operators in the same plant can deal with different operator panels on different machines. When dealing with a machine and having to use different interfaces, it can be a source of stress and potential problems. As a result, we developed this special interface for all Coesia machines, so that operators, whatever their task, find themselves in front of a screen with clear, visible, and easy-to-use three-dimensional graphic instructions. The most common example is the replacement of machine parts, which may be easily located by following the step-by-step instructions integrated in the HMI.”

The Lean factory project increases plant management and employee productivity

Volpak and the Coesia Group place a high value on human-centered design: “our innovations improve daily work; the operator panel simplifies many functions and makes them easily accessible from the screen, such as machine part replacement and maintenance operations. This is just one example of how we improve operator work,” Francesc Busquets explains.

“This is part of the Lean factory project that we began a few years ago, which has enabled us to implement our machine projects proactively, from the ground up. We have developed numerous technical solutions by questioning operators on the actions to be performed to improve plant operational management. These solutions improve the entire manufacturing system as well as people’s perceptions of the working environment, allowing them to be happier, less stressed at work, and even more productive. The project revolves about man. As a Coesia group, we are making significant efforts to change people’s attitudes in this direction. We are close to our customers, and we listen to and assist them. This end-to-end strategy comes from abroad; it simplifies and leans production from design to machine manufacture. Also taking into account what is truly valuable to clients.”

Production of flexible packaging using pouches, technology, and sustainability

Until recently, massive productions were the goal, which were obtained with high-performance but inflexible production lines. Sustainability is a powerful reason for technologies based on flexible packaging, such as Volpak pouches. “I would say that we are particularly consistent on this topic today. We began gradually working with machine retrofitting a few years ago. Today, we work in this manner, and it is customary for us to be concerned with the refit that considers the sustainability of the production line. Our goal had been to provide extremely adaptable machinery to meet the market’s fluctuating demand. We introduced a few systems at interpack 2023 that address these objectives, making it currently possible to carry out any imaginable flexible packaging project. When a customer must start a new production, we help him with everything from the machine purchase and retrofit to spare parts and format changeover strategy. In this way, the customer has the freedom to handle the market introduction of his products, his pouches, in any format”.

How can technology be used to reduce food waste?

“While we cannot completely eradicate food waste once it is in the hands of the final consumer, we may suggest measures that help to reduce it in the earlier stages. I honestly think that we are unable to find the solutions to waste reduction. The activities of the family members who handle the final purchases are significant. Often, you make purchases based on the price that is advertised even if it makes more sense to make needs-based purchases. For a proper usage of the items, it is crucial that the packages have the appropriate size. Instead, things are typically bought in bulk, frequently more than what is required, just because it is cheaper”, according to Busquets.

The creation of ad hoc portions for daily consumption would be the most logical solution. so would be expensive to do so with traditional packaging, but with flexible packaging options, like pouches created using Volpak machines, prices might be much lowered.

“Since individual portions created with pouches are suitable for even partial consumption from the container, they minimize typical packaging costs and reduce food waste. Our machines can create the ideal pouches on demand for consumption, closing and reopening the container as appropriate”. In his final comments, Francesc Busquets adds, “The consumer trend is also aiding us for the future; in the real world, when you go to the store to buy groceries, consumers increasingly buy smaller quantities at reasonable rates. Pouches are the answer we provide to our customers who are searching for a way to satisfy consumer demand. Plastic, which has already been too demonized, can be used to achieve another objective because it can be recycled easily and sustainably, provides a great barrier for preserving food products, and is cheaper to use than paper”.

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