No matter the industry, every business strives to improve its shipping process. A sluggish operation cuts your profits and reduces package security, but how can you speed things up? Many factors are in the way of your supply chain running smoothly, many of which you might not realise.

Efficiency is vital, especially, when it comes to businesses with a high volume of goods that need to be prepared for transport. Even the smallest slowdowns can spell disaster for your output!

Here at Bridge Johnson, we’ve been a leader in the world of industrial packaging solutions for more than a decade. We've learned a thing or two over the years, and have worked with some of the biggest names in the food production industry. 

We've given hundreds of businesses the tools necessary to transform their processes all over the UK. Optimising your dispatch operation shouldn't be difficult, which is where we come in with specialist insight.

Our packaging specialists can help take the pressure off by helping your site pack faster, ease stress and ensure your operation runs like a well-oiled machine. In this blog, our experienced founder Jon is giving you the rundown on four of the most common slowdowns that we help resolve every day.

1. Poorly Maintained Automated Packaging Machines

Traditionally, packaging has relied heavily on good old fashioned physical labour, even with equipment such as strapping tools. Nowadays, automated packaging machines are a key component in busy dispatch operations. 

While strapping machines, taping machines and pallet wrappers are an excellent way to ensure maximum efficiency, they only deliver high-performance results when properly cared for.

It may sound obvious but this is likely more prevalent than you think. Many engineering managers and operational staff agree that poorly maintained machines are surprisingly common in food production facilities. Investing in packaging automation increases productivity, package security and ensures consistent results. All these benefits are why it’s so important to keep wrapping machines and other machinery in good working order.

Sudden mechanical issues can stall your process, heavily impacting your team's output, halting the packaging line and costing a significant amount of money. Whether you rely on an automatic strapping machine or a pallet wrapping machine, maintaining them is important. Make it a standard practice to have preventative maintenance on all equipment every six months or (at the least) annually.

2. Not Optimising Your Pallet Wrap 

Businesses all over the world count on pallet wrap to ensure load security and prevent damage to palletised goods while in transit. This is one of the most common forms of packaging, so it’s easy to assume that if your pallet wrap holds the loads, you’ve got all you need. However,  finding the stretch film that provides optimum results for your operation can be the secret to uncovering huge time savings, and £100,000+ cost reductions. . Without the correct support from your provider,  finding the most efficient wrap for your application is a big task, which is why using the wrong one is something we (unfortunately!) see often. 

There are plenty of options for pallet wrap, whether you use a machine applied pallet wrap or hand film. Relying on the wrong shrink wrap results in far more time spent wrapping, which massively increases downtime and slashes your throughput times. 

Struggling with the wrong pallet wrap is frustrating enough, but breakages are also possible. Repeated snapping and rips causes stoppages on the line and inevitable exasperation for your team, not to mention increased packaging spending due to wasted packaging materials. However, how do you know you’re using the wrong pallet wrap? Our online audit helps you to identify which of our stretch wrap options will work best for your operation, taking into account specific needs such as the volume of pallets you ship. 

With sustainable packaging options such as EcoStretch, which uses more than 30% recycled post-consumer materials, or Surge Film which cuts plastic use by 50% with high puncture resistance, we have it covered.

3. Using Ineffective Packaging Tape

Packaging tapes are a frequently used packaging method and by far the most common sealing product for cardboard boxes and more. Choosing an effective tape is vital to your load security and packaging spend, but many rely on a run of the mill option that delivers less than optimal results.

Taking the time to use multiple strips of tape is a popular practice when applying by hand, which wastes time and your budget. Using the wrong packing tapes can also lead to more plastic waste, making them less than ideal for businesses looking for eco-friendly packaging.

Unless you count on a semi-automatic or automatic taping machine, changing rolls of tape can be an irritating and time-consuming task. Why switch out rolls of tape every 66m when you could cut the changeover time by 250%? 

E-Tape Plus 52 is a highly effective packaging tape enhanced with additional adhesive. It also has a 150m long roll, allowing for more use and far less time spent on changing out empty tapes. You can even speed up taping even more with an E-Tape dispenser, which offers an ergonomic grip for a comfortable user experience.

4. Lack Of Packaging Automation

As we mentioned before, automating your packaging process can increase your output and reduce production time. We often work with clients with fast-paced production lines lacking investment in packing capacity. Sticking to the “old way” of doing things is common among businesses with established processes, but they could be missing out!

For example, businesses wrapping a large number of pallets by hand could increase throughput time and have a six month payback period. Or, applying stapping without an automated tool and taking 25% longer to dispatch each package. 

If you struggle to raise the CAPEX budget for new machinery, don't worry. We have the solution. We offer many finance options, including rental, lease-purchase or pay-as-you-go options. With Bridge Johnson, your streamlined packing process could be closer than you think!