Digital solutions in the industry of packaging machinery

For more than 50 years, KOCH Pac-Systeme GmbH in Germany has been manufacturing a wide range of packaging machines. Offering a high-quality and efficient custom blister machines, the company stands for consistently integrated packaging processes that allow different products to be packaged equally well.

As a proud member of the Uhlmann Group with more than 2,400 employees worldwide, KOCH offers solutions and services for comprehensive applications: from toothbrushes to shavers in the field of consumer goods to medical syringes or solid products in the competence of packaging sensitive medical technology and pharmaceutical products and individual packaging solutions in the contact lens sector.

The year 2020 and the Corona Pandemic have also forced the industry of packaging machinery to changes in the last weeks and months. At KOCH, a bundle of preventive measures was put together at an early stage to counteract the spread of the virus in the best possible way and for the benefit of customers and employees. Within a very short time, office activities at the headquarters in Pfalzgrafenweiler were completely relocated to employees’ home offices.

At the same time, delayed working models were introduced to reduce risks in the production area. Fortunately, the accompanying lock-down quickly took effect in Germany and the restrictions were gradually reduced at the headquarters. In conjunction with the high level of innovation, a protective shield made of glare-free PET was developed in cooperation with a local university. These face shields offer additional protection for eyes and face and can be worn in addition to a mouth and nose mask.

In KOCH’s classic product portfolio the innovation leader is currently concentrating on sustainable packaging solutions. Based on the principle “Package the smart way”, KOCH is very familiar with designing a packaging process according to customer specifications. Three points are particularly important to the company:

• Protection of the environment through recycled or bio-based materials that can be returned to the recycling loop or are biodegradable.
• Reduced use of materials in the process.
• Brand-oriented product presentation with multiple packaging formats: cyclePac® mono-material packaging, blisters made from sustainable film or formable paper.

All solutions were presented for the first time in June 2020 at a newly created virtual trade show. KOCHlive sets new standards in terms of product presentations and allows a digital, yet personal view of the new products at KOCH. After registering at www.kochlive.com visitors can view videos and product information and have personal contact via call/chat function.

In addition to innovations in the product portfolio pointed out, KOCH has introduced further digital solutions. A FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) was carried out purely virtually with a customer from North America for the first time due to travel restrictions. Despite a far distance, customers were able to experience the FAT of the packaging line as if they had been there on site. This was made possible by powerful hardware and state-of-the-art digital solutions, such as installed cameras, the KOCH remote maintenance system and service glasses that enabled an insight into the individual processes of the line. In the meantime, the virtual FAT has become an important component for KOCH Pac-Systeme.

Certainly, the digital world helps in the relationship “customer – machine manufacturer”. Digital services reduce travel costs, which can be very high in some cases. In the future, customers will take a more critical look at these and will tend to look for the digital way. However, we still consider personal on-site contact to be an important customer relationship, which is essential in our customers’ production environment.

For the future, KOCH expects to see a healthy mix of “digital” and “on-site” where both sides, customer and KOCH can benefit.