5 Easy to Implement Manufacturing Product Packaging Solutions

When you’re focusing on the quality of the product, you need simple product packaging solutions that take the stress away and allows you to concentrate on the central aspect; your product.

1. Flat pack solutions

Flat pack furniture came about when a Swedish draughtsman had to unscrew the legs off a table to fit it into his car. The experience made him wonder about developing a system where furniture could be manufactured in a kit form. The Swedish legacy lives in one of the largest flatpack furniture retailers that have stores across the globe. While the concept of flat pack relates to the design and manufacture of the furniture, it has generated an entirely new process in packaging. Flat pack furniture comes unassembled. It is therefore packaged with sometimes hundreds of small bits and pieces as part of the greater package.

This has led to the necessity for product specific flat pack packaging, where the goods are packaged as tightly and with as much space economy as possible. The consequence is that people can fit an entire bedroom’s furniture into the back of their car. The need to design boxes that fit into boxes to take advantage of all interior space came with the advent of flat packed products, and innovative furniture packaging has led to the development of newer solutions. These solutions, however, have not left the flat pack in the corridors of obsolescence. It could be argued that the special economics of flat pack packaging is the grandparent of modern compact packaging solutions.

When retailing larger products particularly, furniture flatpack makes storage and sales implementation a dream.

2. Automated solutions

Automated packaging comes in all different shapes and sizes and can be varied depending on your requirements. This type of packaging can be used for both perishable and non-perishable products, but is also useful, with small furniture items. Flatpack designs have now become so flexible that they form part of automated packaging systems. While flat packing is an innovative packaging method, it marries well with automation to offer an easy production line solution in manufacturing. While automated packaging saves time, it is the precursor to what has become the packaging method of preference in large warehousing operations – on demand packaging.

In situations where a business warehouses its stock, automating the packaging process makes sense. There are times when combining one other or all of the methods mentioned in this post can form part of the automation process and automation makes sense, particularly when running a twenty-four-hour operation.

When a product line can be assembled in a uniform size and shape, automated packaging usually makes sense. It must be noted however that automated and on-demand packaging are two different processes.

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3. On-demand product packaging solutions

On-demand packaging is probably one of the most versatile and innovative product packaging solutions developed yet. On-demand machines package, according to the size and shape of the products placed on the device. In other words, every product can be different, and the machine will wrap the item according to its weight and dimensions. Apart from saving space in transit, this type of packaging saves time and labour costs. The on-demand packaging also means that items can be packaged when and where the warehouse wants it to happen.

On-demand machines will build the custom packaging for a particular product in real time, saving storage space, packaging materials and make reverse logistics a much easier process – the perfect packing solution.

4. Hexacomb packaging

Hexacomb packaging is extremely lightweight cardboard packaging constructed with a typical honeycomb design. The honeycomb design provides immense strength while reducing the amount of weight that conventional strips of packaging would to the end product. When products such as furniture are heavy, this product has done its duty to reduce even more potential weight to the fully packaged product. This packaging can also be cut and shaped to snugly fit into vulnerable furniture parts keeping them safe in transit.

This kind of packaging usually forms part of a greater product packaging solutions strategy and demonstrates a solution for otherwise difficult items to ship.

5. Protective packaging

Protective product packaging solutions come in a variety of shapes and forms. It is most commonly identified as packaging that is designed to fit over sharp corners of furniture such as on tables and cabinets. Often surface protection is also provided for polished wooden tables. In the past, polystyrene was consistently used for its protective packaging properties, however, as environmental factors have become a consideration, it is now more common to see these packaging products made with recyclable corrugated cardboard.

These pieces of additional protective packaging not only serve as protection for the item to which they are attached but also as a safety precaution to prevent damage to vulnerable items that are transported with them.


Want your packaging simplified?

If you want to make packaging your products easier with, then talk to the leading product packaging experts in the UK. Our friendly advisors will help you to keep costs and time down with the best sustainable packaging solution for your needs.

How Etailers Save The Planet With Ribble Right Size?

The Ecommerce market increased by 16% between 2015 and 2016 carrying on the year on year growth pattern which has shown no signs of stopping any time soon. This huge increase in customers purchasing online has led to Etailers reviewing their logistics processes in order to handle the increase in traffic.

One of the single, greatest issues that arise with logistics is how to save time, money and space when transporting products from point A to point B. However, many Etailers have also perfected the concept of saving the planet with Right Size solutions.

This incredibly innovative system produces a box for every product so that there is no excess packaging waste. Transportation and logistics are optimised because more space becomes available and of course, the cost is reduced for everyone involved.

This is how efforts to save the planet are improved with the Box on Demand process;

  1. Every box fits the product

Every single item is measured before packaging, and a box is automatically produced to fit that particular product. This means that there is no lost space inside the box. The product is firmly packaged with little or no room for movement which will dramatically reduce breakages. Reduction in damages reduces the quantity of products that need to be replaced, which in return reduces the unnecessary additional emissions from the vehicles used to transport the items. Reduced emissions take us one step closer to keeping our planet inhabitable. The safer packaging also means there are fewer returns thus preventing the quadrupling of emissions for any given transaction.

  1. Reduced lost space means greater transport volume

By reducing the lost space in a cardboard box, more boxes can be transported in a single journey. Effectively this means that the emissions produced can be reduced dramatically for each individual item, not only by reducing the unnecessary repeat trips but also by reducing the number of original journeys substantially, which means our planet will enjoy some relief. Truck emissions, aircraft emissions and even heavy traffic emissions are all reduced thanks to compact packaging and space-saving solutions.

  1. Less to recycle

Although good cardboard products are biodegradable, and repeat use of cardboard is encouraged some of it will always end up in a landfill. When you start to add up how many excess square centimetres of a box containing lost space will end up in landfill especially when considering the millions of annual deliveries made by Etailers, the rescue effort of our planet becomes incredible. Tightly packaged products with fewer cardboard centimetres will literally save tonnes of cardboard from the landfill.

  1. Reuse of the packaging

The Box On Demand package is made in such a way that it’s easy to open and if it may need to be returned, the very same packaging can be reused. If every single return is made with the same packaging the item was delivered in, then the cardboard saving is immense, not only regarding landfill space saved but all the way back to the emissions produced when manufacturing the original box.

 

  1. The cost saving

A large amount of companies are using inappropriate box sizes for their item’s being shipped, this cost is carried over to the end user. What this means for the consumer is that they are more likely to purchase products from an online retailer that is saving them money while also saving the planet. The cost of delivery is a huge influence in online buying decisions, and the cost reduction will have a domino effect when influencing those decisions.

  1. On-site packaging

Because Etailers are using box on demand machines on site in their warehouses, no emissions are being produced to order and have boxes manufactured and delivered to their sites. The manufacturing quite literally takes place as the product is packaged. There are fewer processes involved in the production as the box on demand is a turnkey solution for every single size of product. Since cardboard is already an eco-friendly product, the impact on the welfare of the planet is remarkably low.


If you want your business to follow in the footsteps of these successful retailers and save the planet one box at a time while at the same time saving on your packaging costs, then consider Box on Demand. Box on Demand gives you on-demand and on-site packaging with a box-making machine allowing your business to save money and save the planet.

Ribble Can Save The Retail Industry Billions

It’s a bold statement but one that we know is true.

With customers demanding their products to be delivered faster, companies are struggling to keep up with the rapid evolution of how e-commerce now works.

Many companies have spent a large amount of time and money creating advanced logistics processes to support faster product turnaround in an attempt to keep up with demand. Addressing the logistical process is one thing but in many cases the packaging process has suffered as a result.

Countless large retailer systems consist of stocking a limited amount of standard size boxes and hoping that the products they offer will fit, adding void fillers to take up wasted space. These legacy systems produce the unnecessary costs of buying void fill and purchasing larger boxes than needed. These two items alone amount to serious costs, reducing profit margins and taking up valuable storage space.

Excess packaging is creating poor customer experiences

Further to this, excess packaging can be a nightmare for customers. Fillers such as bubble wrap and polystyrene are not accepted in UK recycling bins, thus creating an added headache when attempting to dispose of their waste environmentally. A simple Google search of excess packaging opens a whole world of images and news stories relating to absurd amounts of packaging and disappointed customer reviews.

As all businesses know customers (especially new customers), will make a judgement of your brand based on the full order experience. The products packaging plays a significant role in this process, as it is the first physical representation of your company that they will be able to hold in their hands.

How can you find a way to eliminate void fillers, reduce your corrugated spend, decrease your warehouse storage of box pallets and decrease your transportation costs?

Stephen Rector talks to The Business Reporter about how Ribble can help:

Find out more about Right Size and the benefits it could bring you.

7 Specialist Packaging Solution Tips For Manufacturers

Whether your business is business to business or business to consumer, your packaging matters. How you package your products differentiates you from your competitors. While it often comes last on the list of priorities to businesses, your packaging is often the first tangible side of your business that your customers will see and feel. How you package your products can show the level of quality and speaks volumes on how you value protection and the goods that are contained inside. In this post, we share 7 specialist packaging solution tips for manufacturers to help you make the most more of your packaging.

The way you ship items says a lot about your business. Your business might be considered illogical, even stupid if the box isn’t big enough or is incredibly oversized that it is incomprehensible. The packaging you use ultimately reflects your brand and your company’s core values, whether you are eco-conscious or passionate about customer care.

Your value for the environment is one of the ways customers will judge your business. Consumers are becoming more environmentally aware; looking to buy from firms that care about recycling and ensure their products and packaging is sustainable. Customers also look at reducing their use of plastic and waste, so while you may think your products are most important, how you encase and deliver them has an impact too.

Packaging To Cut Costs

On the list of business improvements, packaging often has the lowest priority, but many companies are overlooking one of the largest cost-saving opportunities. By examining and altering your packaging, you can dramatically cut costs.

You can reduce costs through many aspects of packaging. Obviously, the key element is the right packaging will protect the goods inside which will reduce returns, damage and breakages. For mirror manufacturers, for example, the correct packaging with a specialist packaging solution is essential to ensure the mirror is delivered in good condition surviving the wear and tear of travel as well as surviving all manner of environmental conditions it is subjected to. The single most cost-saving solution regarding packaging is to have the right-sized packaging for your product.
By having the right-sized packaging you can cut costs through wasted space, the amount of protective materials and filler you use, the time spent packaging the item and then the cost of logistics.

7 Specialist Packaging Solution Tips

To deliver specialist items in a cost-efficient and customer-pleasing way, how you package your item is crucial.

  1. Use Corrugated Cardboard

Corrugated cardboard has a multitude of benefits which make it an ideal material for packaging. The highly-advanced construction of corrugated cardboard means it is strong and durable that can adapt to a range of weights. It also protects against environmental damage such as moisture. Corrugated cardboard is the perfect for the eco-friendly supplier as it is sustainable and easy to recycle. Corrugated cardboard is also lightweight and cost-friendly.

  1. Use The 5cm Rule

In packaging, the 5cm rule is gospel. Firstly, the protective packaging around the item should mean there is 5cm between the product and the edge of the box which helps to prevent under and over filling of protective filler. The 5cm rule also extends to the tape used to seal the box, which should be 5cm wide. A pressure sensitive plastic tape is recommended as it reduces assembly time and is flexible and secure.

  1. Don’t Ship Air

Where possible minimise the empty space in the box, this could be by adapting your product better to fit in the box or, more realistically, finding the right sized boxes. This will save you money in the cost of packaging materials, reduce unnecessary waste and will cut the cost of logistics.

  1. Label Well

While the delicate nature of what you’re shipping, such as mirrors or glassware, may seem obvious to you, logistics won’t be thinking about your product; they just see another box. So if your product is fragile, make it known. It is important to clearly label the box to give an added layer of protection, however never assume a label will protect the box; you need the right packaging too.

  1. Don’t Cut Corners

Having cheaper or a smaller amount of packaging may save you money in the first instance, but it will cost you far more through returns and refunds. In packaging, you need to get it right the first time to give your customers excellent service and to save you money in the long run.

  1. Use A Variety Of Logistic Suppliers

Different logistics companies will use different pricing structure, so you can actually save money by altering your provider depending on what you are shipping. Some carriers will work by weight, others by size, so judge your product accordingly and see the difference in your profit margin.

  1. Continually Improve

Through improving packaging, you will always be able to find ways to save money. Keep a document of lessons learnt and frequent packaging occurrences so you can regularly review the whole process. By building monitoring into your routine, you will always find new ways to improve packaging, reducing your costs and keeping customers happy.

Save Money And Improve Customer Experience With Specialist Packaging Solution, Ribble Right Size

For the right-sized box every time, Ribble Right Size is the specialist packaging solution for you. Right Size allows you, the manufacturer, to produce the perfect sized box every time, whether it is a one-off or a batch.

Ribble Right Size has a significant return on investment as the on demand boxing service allows you to cut costs through wastage, dead space, protective materials, the box itself and the labour intensive task of filling boxes with padding and other protective materials.

Five Benefits Of Ribble Right Size
  1. Reduce logistics costs
  2. Less waste for you and the customer
  3. Eco-conscious and responsible way to package
  4. Less expense (time and labour) spent packing
  5. Customer appreciation – goods delivered without damage.

You can find out more about Ribble Right Size and the benefits it could bring you, by clicking here.

5 Benefits of Manufacturing Packaging Solutions: More Efficient Shipping

5 Benefits of Manufacturing Packaging Solutions: More Efficient Shipping

When you have spent time manufacturing a piece of furniture, there is a good chance that you will want to make sure that it is packaged and shipped securely. The trouble with packaging materials is that they can often be expensive, not to mention difficult to find the perfect size to match your furniture. The packaging industry has struggled to tackle this problem for manufacturers.

We have put together a list of the 5 lesser known efficiency benefits furniture manufacturers can draw on for more efficient shipping of your products:

  • You will use less corrugated cardboard and corrugated packaging
    Any business that ships out items will know that corrugated cardboard adds to the gross margin of products. By using boxes that are closer to the size that you need, usually smaller than a standard box, you will be cutting down the amount of corrugated cardboard that you use. In turn, the amount of money you spend on packaging supplies.
  • You will also use less void fillers and protective packaging
    You minimise the need to fill empty space in a box. The materials that are often used as void fillers are usually unsustainable, which means that they are not having the best impact on the environment. Something becoming increasingly important for end users and businesses alike.
  • You don’t have to worry about ordering boxes
    Finding the process of making sure that you always have boxes, as well as a variety of sizes, a little tiresome? Right Size packaging means you don’t have to worry about ordering boxes, print boxes only as and when you need them.
  • You will have more space
    Boxes, even when they are flat-packed, take up space. Space that you could be using to store your products. A dedicated custom packaging solution means that you don’t have to have boxes stacked up in your warehouse. Instead you can use the space saved to store more of your amazing products instead.
  • The order process will be much quicker and require less people
    When you are able to create a box that is the perfect size for your needs, you should find that the process is much quicker. Not only this, but you may find that you need less people to get the item packed and ready to be shipped. Saving you money in the long run and allowing you to redistribute these employees to other parts of your business.

This is where manufacturing packaging solutions can help. Custom packaging solutions just like those that are available at Ribble. Right Size offers on demand, perfect fit packaging. Just what furniture manufacturers need when packaging products.

Find out about the manufacturing packaging solutions we provide: Ribble Automate

Ribble Right Size allows you to create boxes to your products dimensions, all thanks to a specialised on demand box making machine. 1 box, or a batch of 1000 boxes. Ribble Automate will help you reduce your shipping costs and packaging material costs.


Want to know more about manufacturing packaging solutions and how it can help your business?

Find out more about Right Size packaging solution. Or get in touch with one of experts to discuss your manufacturing packaging needs where we can answer any Automate questions you might have.

Welcome to Ribble Packaging!

Welcome to Ribble Packaging, a leading UK packaging company that has been delivering an outstanding service to clients for over 75 years.

Our expert team help businesses from all kinds of sectors with their cardboard and packaging requirements. Our central UK location means that we offer efficient national delivery.

UK Cardboard Packaging Manufacturers

Originally established in 1938, Ribble Packaging are always looking to move forward and innovate. In 2013 we invested £3.5m in a new, fully automated manufacturing and stacking system, that would allow our service to improve, and in 2016 we opened a state of the art Centre of Excellence for Ribble Restore.

Ribble Right Size is an innovative packaging service from Ribble Packaging that allows businesses to streamline their packaging process, thereby reducing overall costs. We can provide your business with boxes that are the perfect size, reducing waste and saving you up to 25% on annual corrugated spend. Right Size reduces product returns as items are well protected and arrive intact.

If your business needs high-quality cardboard boxes fast, then our Ribble Packaging service can help. Whatever the scale of the order or the size of the boxes, Ribble Packaging provide a fast cardboard packaging service to clients of all kinds. We approach each project with the same attention to detail and excellent customer service.

Contact Ribble Packaging for Cardboard Packaging

For more information on our UK cardboard packaging services, please get in touch with Ribble Packaging today. Contact us online to discuss your business’ requirements or call our team directly on 0161 622 2302. Our friendly team are on hand to help you find the service that best suits you.

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