SOMIC America - Retail Ready Magazine Volume 1.3 - The Pack Expo Edition

SOMIC Issue 3, 2021 PACK EXPO Edition

See innovation in action Visit the SOMIC booth #SL 6460

Snack bar industry speeds up. pg. 4

What are mechatronics? pg. 6

Sustainability & SOMIC. pg. 10

LETTER FROM THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

The time is right for Retail-Ready realizing there isn’t one single packaging machine for every application, so we are ready to meet all demands for high performance.

“The pent-up demand fueling the economic turnaround should be evident at PACK EXPO Las Vegas.”

Three is considered a lucky number, so perhaps it only fitting our third issue of Retail-Ready Magazine is the PACK EXPO issue. After all, the big packaging show will be held September 27-29, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. As preparations continue, we are elated that our business continues to expand.

The timing for this year’s show could not be better. Midyear increases in the manufacturing of durable goods, nondurable goods (led by food and beverages), and services were strong, and the automation sector has started to surge. U.S. companies are innovating and adapting their businesses to handle the upturn, and we anticipate the pent-up demand fueling the economic turnaround should be evident at PACK EXPO Las Vegas.

We are excited to exhibit live and in-person at the show again, and demonstrate our new version of the SOMIC ReadyPack case-packing system for Retail-Ready packaging applications. Our cover story explores many of the show details, along with those about ReadyPack’s custom-designed simplicity, flexibility and smooth operation.

Our business has made great progress in the two years since the last live PACK EXPO event. Sales orders have grown for the 424 model series and other end-of-line machines. We are broadening our presence in new market segments, from snack bars and confections to nonfoods, and manufacturing new user-friendly, gentle-handling equipment to accommodate these markets. Decision makers are

Retail-Ready Magazine is published by SOMIC America, focusing on the Retail-Ready industry.

Based in Eagan, MN, SOMIC America manufactures advanced mechatronic case-packing systems that collate, unitize and load

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This third issue of Retail-Ready also highlights one of the technologies essential to our equipment: mechatronics. We explore what mechatronics is and why it plays a vital role in reducing time- and labor-consuming processes and increases cost efficiencies. We also look at the environment and explain how we are thinking and acting “beyond the machine”, with our sustainable engineering strategy that strives for optimum resource, material and energy conservation, and ergonomics.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at PACK EXPO Las Vegas and hope you are as eager to be there as we are. Stop by booth SL 6460, and let’s talk about what we can do for your brand. Many of our customers like our machines’ ability to work with various package and case configurations. Since one of our goals is to offer something for every customer, I hope you have a few minutes to discuss your operation, see ReadyPack in action, and envision what a SOMIC machine would look like in your facility.

Respectfully,

Peter Fox, Sr. Vice President of Sales

500 Lone Oak Road Suite #200 Eagan, MN 55121

cartons, trays, retail-ready packages, and wraparound cases.

+1.651.419.6050 somic.us

See how SOMIC can bring new efficiencies to your packaging line.

p.fox@somic.us

Follow us on LinkedIN for updated material and conversations.

Retail-Ready Magazine

INDUSTRY EVENTS

See the innovation of ReadyPack in action

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ne day after the Las Vegas Raiders play only their second home game in front of their fans at the new state-of-the-art Allegiant Stadium, the crowds are once again expected to fill the Las Vegas Convention Center for PACK EXPO Las Vegas, September 2729. More than 31,000 people attended PACK EXPO Las Vegas in 2019, and one of the star attractions on the floor this year will be in our booth, SL 6460.

We will be demonstrating ReadyPack with GOYA products in stand-up pouches.

We will be demonstrating the newest version of the SOMIC ReadyPack for Retail-Ready packaging applications.

A compact but mighty and fully automated case packer, it made its North American debut at the last live PACK EXPO in Las Vegas two years ago. This year, this middle-speed machine will be running GOYA food products in our newly designed booth. You’re going to want to make time to see it.

“We are looking forward to getting back in front of the crowds and being able to show PACK EXPO attendees the ReadyPack in action. It was a really electric atmosphere at the last live event in 2019, and I expect there will be a lot of energy and excitement all three days of this show,” says Peter Fox, SOMIC’s Senior Vice President of Sales.

Fox says that the newest version of ReadyPack is now available under different and very suitable conditions compared to when it was introduced to the marketplace two years ago.

“Since then, we’ve grown our status as the leader in two-piece, Retail-Ready and secondary packaging needs. We have customers who understand that with Retail-Ready packaging, shelf presentation means everything. So they tested the waters with ReadyPack and found success with a flexible, user friendly, entry-level machine,” he says.

PACK EXPO Sept. 27 – 29, 2021 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Booth SL 6460 a moderate speed, automated case packer is greater than ever before.”

Available as a tray or wraparound packer, ReadyPack collates, cartons, and closes like SOMIC’s 424 series, but is designed to produce at a slower rate. Gaining a reputation for its operational and maintenance simplicity, it provides output up to 160 products per minute. Cartoning capacity tops out at 18 units per minute as a tray packer, or 12 per minute for a wraparound unit.

With customers needing to take advantage of every inch of their floor space, Fox says you can’t beat ReadyPack’s small, space saving footprint of just 70 square feet.

“Versatility is the hallmark behind the design of our machines. That includes the ReadyPack being demonstrated in Las Vegas,” he notes.

“All of our end-of-line machines have the flexibility to present the product lying flat or in an upright position.

Our customers have been running flowpacks, rigid bottles and jars on their ReadyPacks with solid results.

At the show, you’ll be able to see how it handles the GOYA products packed in stand-up pouches. I’m sure many people will be impressed.”

Interested in scheduling a booth appointment with Peter? Email him at: p.fox@somic.us. Interested in attending? Register for free with code: 33M81. Go to packexpolasvegas.com 33M81

“Today, the number of different products and packaging tasks for food, non-food, healthcare and other market segments continues to grow. Combine that with the current labor shortage of skilled workers, and the need for somic.us

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EQUIPMENT PERSPECTIVES

Cartoning System Upgrade for Snack Bars Brings Sweet Benefits

W The new SSL 800 system packs bars into cartons at speeds of 800 per minute.

ith more people snacking than ever before, muesli, nut, cookie and cereal snack bars are great choices for a source of energy. The snack bar trend has been around for several years, yet consumers continue to favor better-for-you, nutritious bars as a meal replacement, breakfast, dessert or something crunchy between video calls. According to Statista’s 2020 figures, some 1.9 million people in Germany age 14 years and up enjoy cereal bars as snacks several times a week. Nutrition and wellness are important to consumers, and better-for-you snack bars are just as popular in the U.S. Snacking as meal replacements is where the market sees the most growth, which is why SOMIC developed the SOMIC SSL 800 highperformance end-of-line packaging system. To provide high quality, good tasting products with a substantial shelf life and a perfect appearance on-shelf, marketers require the right packaging and continuous-motion cartoning system that’s flexible, reliable and gentle. The SSL 800 bar machine was designed with this high-performance concept in mind.

“It was developed specifically for snack bars because the market has seen a continuous increase in demand in them from about 5 to 10 percent,” says Stefan Julinek, SOMIC’s Director of Sales International.

Gentle handling every time Equipped with a gripping head that uses vacuum suction technology, the SSL 800 system gently handles wrapped bars at speeds up to 800 per minute, packing them into six- or eight-count cartons at a minimum of 120 per minute.

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“The speed is required to match the rate of bars approaching from upstream bar production equipment, such as flow wrappers,” Julinek explains. “Such flow-wrapped products must be processed gently, and the outer paperboard packaging must match the product and appearance perfectly. The cartoning system equipment must be able to produce a high-quality carton with a defined number of bars each and every time."

The SSL 800’s infeed can accept wrapped snack bars from a flowpacker or bagger directly, without lengthy buffering or any bottlenecks. The infeed was designed with flexibility in mind to handle various feeding styles. For example, snack bars that exit the wrapper with a gap or space in between each bar, can proceed to the SSL 800 with the short or long side leading. This is possible due to a patent-pending component incorporating SOMIC’s mechatronic assembly technology, which ensures positive handling accuracy rated at 97 percent.

A counting system paces the snack bars using SOMIC’s lamella chain transfer system - often used in coffee capsule applications - that collects and positions the bars for loading into an open carton or tray. Once the counter reaches eight bars, they are loaded into a carton with one stroke as the machine reduces the speed of incoming bars for optimized movement. At the discharge section, the cartoning system completes a check for the correct number of bars per carton before the machine ejects the finished package. Julinek points out that all functioning stations of the machine are servo-controlled for precision and accuracy.

Saving energy, consumables In the carton forming station, the cartons are erected with the help of a twin-axis robot, customized with a specialty gripper head and vacuum suction technology. The gripper head picks up a predefined group of snack bars and gently places them into a carton as a loading module then positions the carton without the usual gaps for the folding flaps.

Julinek says this opens up the power reserves needed for highperformance operation.

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“Part of our philosophy is to incorporate sustainability in every machine design solution. We consider the customer’s overall goals, and assist in organizing their production operation in the most optimal way for the best output and throughput. The more complex the system, the greater the number of product manipulations, and the greater the possible loss of efficiency, which no food manufacturer wants.

It’s more energy-efficient and cost effective to operate one highperformance machine than several smaller systems. Our machine designers take energy savings and sustainability into account with each machine they design.”

Especially important are the folding and loading sequences in the packaging process. Movements must be smooth, so SOMIC built the machine’s linear axes in-house to be lightweight and agile, which saves on drive power and energy during the acceleration processes.

Machine movement is also supported by intelligent servo-driven controls as well as software-controlled electronics.

“By coupling the drives,” explains Julinek, “the energy released during deceleration is used for the acceleration process of other motors.

That way, the SSL 800 consumes much less energy in operation than conventional cartoning equipment.”

When it comes to saving resources, he says hot melt adhesive consumption is a key factor in the packaging business. SOMIC’s high-precision nozzles ensure controlled adhesive application that stays in the millimeter range, which can save as much as 10 liters of adhesive per week.

“The adhesive nozzles keep pace with the machine’s high speeds, so controlling them at a dispensing cycle of less than two meters per second minimizes consumption yet remains consistent at machine speeds.”

important: the heaviest changepart “Such flowweighs no more than 5 kilograms.

This and SOMIC’s Quick-Change wrapped technology - available on all machine products must models - make the changeparts easy to loosen and lock in again.

Strict standards were applied in the be processed machine’s four-way carton magazine gently, and to ensure that all areas are easily and quickly accessible and that working the outer heights are comfortable.

“We designed the components to be as practical as possible,” Julinek adds.

"An operator must feel comfortable with our technology, not only in operation and maintenance, but in terms of safety."

Operating information is available in the customer’s national language, with additional languages available as an option.

“We try to account for as many situations that could occur as possible to ensure that the production process is smooth and efficient over the long term,” Julinek concludes. “Not only when the customer explicitly asks for sustainable solutions, but as one of our principles. Sustainability is always a key consideration for all of our machine developments.”

paperboard packaging

must match the product and appearance perfectly."

Stefan Julinek, SOMIC’s Director of Sales - International

For more information about the SSL 800, visit somic.de and somic.us or scan the QR Code.

Quick, easy changeovers Along with conserving resources, the new SSL 800 machine had to be operator-friendly and was ergonomically designed to make internal parts easily accessible for quick part changeovers. The weight of the interchangeable parts is also 5

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

UNIQUE & UNRIVALE

& D ED

Advanced mechatronics provide peerless solutions for Retail-Ready packaging Mechatronics is Robotics, Electronics, Computerization, Telecommunications and Systems Control.

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etail-Ready packaging gives customers an edge in the increasingly crowded, competitive marketplace.

With over 40 years of experience, SOMIC’s end-of-line case-packing equipment is leading the way in its use of mechatronics technology.

Involving both mechanical and electrical engineering technologies as well as robotics, mechatronics became available in the late 1990s and has seen significant growth over the last few decades.

SOMIC has taken a unique and proprietary approach to the technology, incorporating the expertise of SOMIC Haag to apply to its Retail-Ready food and nonfood packaging equipment prevalent in

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both European and U.S. markets. A diverse manufacturer of precision parts for the robotics, optics, aerospace and medical industries, SOMIC Haag was acquired in July 2019.

Applications in snacks, meat, confections, health and beauty aids, pet care, coffee, dairy products, condiments and more are now enjoying the benefits of SOMIC’s mechatronics equipment capabilities, says Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America.

“These markets were being challenged at the retail level to provide Retail-Ready solutions to replace the traditional pegboard display,” he says. “There was a great Continue on page 8 7

industry need for Retail-Ready packaging options, and the need to continue to run standard shipping cases provided the springboard for SOMIC’s mechatronics-based equipment.”

Mechatronic engineering can be seen everywhere today.

Embraced by a multitude of diverse companies, the principles of mechatronics incorporate a multidisciplinary branch of engineering, including electrical and mechanical systems. Both feature decentralized motor and drive principles, along with robotics, electronics, computerization, telecommunications, systems control and product design and manufacturing. The 424 models were the first in SOMIC’s equipment lineup to use these principles.

“We embraced the opportunity to combine today’s computer technology with the mechanical requirements of end-of-line case packing,” says Fox. “Leveraging computer hardware, along with significant software developments, provides us with the tools necessary to minimize the mechanical components required in our flexible, efficient 424 equipment platform.

This platform was launched in 2010, and has been the key driver behind SOMIC’s growth in Europe and around the world. The SOMIC 424 multi-functional case-packing system was introduced at the right time and in the right market as the culmination of a seamless system of software, hardware and mechanical functions, together with plugand-play operation and a compact footprint.”

Uniquely configured equipment

SOMIC’s customers look to these “non-commodity solutions” as a competitive advantage.

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SOMIC uses mechatronics in machine modeling and analysis, experimental validation, computer simulation and hardware implementation practices. One benefit to applying mechatronic technology is the high degree of functionality it provides in equipment electronics, software and visualization, says Stefan Julinek, SOMIC’s Director of Sales International.

“The basic idea of mechatronics addresses customer needs and wants for highly functional performance, Retail-Ready Magazine

so our mechatronics technology is organized to best manage system functions at various levels, including human-machine interfaces (MHI) and performance simulations. The technology also makes it easy to identify spare parts. You know immediately what every tool or part is for.”

The company’s end-of-line equipment includes decentralized servo motion and control, which provide both precision and programmable motion regulated by a HMI. These can be costeffective features because they reduce maintenance and inperson service visits. The fully automatic production equipment also alerts operators when regular maintenance is needed.

“Mechatronics plays a part in this, and helps to cut costs,” Julinek observes. “The hardware may be a little more expensive up front, but in the long run, it saves customers considerably in assembly, commissioning and operation.”

Fox indicated another benefit has to do with flexibility.

"(Mechatronics is) the culmination of a seamless system of software, hardware and mechanical functions, together with plugand-play operation and a compact footprint.”

Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America

Ready configurations on demand.”

The popularity and availability of mechatronics engineering opens the door to many equipment opportunities in the packaging and manufacturing industries.

“We’ve talked with companies representing a wide variety of industries,” says Fox, “and we received a tremendous amount of positive feedback about this technology.”

Julinek says by marrying traditional mechanical and electrical concepts with practical knowledge of software, motion control, sensors,

and networking, the mechatronics technology SOMIC applies to its customized packaging equipment will meet multidisciplinary industry needs for many years to come.

“In the future, we expect to develop equipment with even more standardized mechatronic functionality using new elements.

The goal isn’t to go to the Moon anymore, so-to-speak. Now it’s to go to Mars.”

See the role that advanced mechatronics can play on your team by visiting somic.us or doing a virtual tour at www.somic.de/fileadmin/user_upload/messe

“Many food products that vary in size and shape require equipment that can accommodate the variations. The mechatronic structure of our 424 Series offers these advantages. After PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2017, we sold many of these multipurpose, Retail-Ready case-packing systems to collate and package soft or flexible products.

Since then, we have installed the 424 in various food and nonfood markets across the U.S., and are currently preparing more machines for installation.”

Fox also notes that SOMIC’s customers look to these “noncommodity solutions” as a competitive advantage.

“Our customers determine what package is best for their market, and then we configure our standard 424 machine platform according to these needs using standard functional groups; not a new, one-off design.

The resulting system can change to meet future needs. Our machines can run standard shipping case and tertiary case configurations while adapting to the growing Retailsomic.us

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CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY

From the machine and materials to the people and processes, every detail counts in reducing waste.

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key objective at SOMIC is to always consider how people, the environment and technology can work together as a unit to reduce waste and resources and facilitate production in today’s global market.

Consumer Packaged Goods manufacturers, brand owners and retailers are proactively embracing ways to improve packaging sustainability as consumer demands and regulatory requirements to reduce packaging waste are driving change. Approximately one in four CPGs interviewed in a recent report

by PMMI Business Intelligence are making machine purchases or modifications specifically to address packaging sustainability goals. Solutions such as integrated monitoring, offering less waste and more flexible functions, were indicated to improve packaging operations overall.

Equipment manufacturers like SOMIC are, in turn, proactively saving on resources and raw materials through optimized equipment developments to meet these increasing sustainability needs.

“When SOMIC was founded, it was important that we worked in partnership and on a long-term basis with our employees, suppliers and customers. This ensures appreciation, reliability and market success,” remarked Managing Director Patrick Bonetsmüller, who represents the second generation of his family to run the company.

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Retail-Ready Magazine

“These principles still hold up today as a sound, sustainable foundation.”

With a mindset that production efficiency should be sustainable, packaging methods and machinery play important roles in SOMIC’s packaging strategy, and the company examines various ways to “stay green.”

When it comes to energy consumption, the end-of-line equipment from the easy-to-use ReadyPack system for RetailReady packaging applications to the compact SOMIC 424 and its variants as well as the high-speed, high-performance SSL 800 relies on an electronic control system. By coupling the drives on these systems, the energy they release during deceleration can also be used in the acceleration process. That way, the equipment consumes less operating energy and helps keep energy consumption low.

SOMIC calls on the building blocks of sustainability (reduce, reuse, recycle) when designing its end-ofline packaging equipment, explains Dr. Johann Härtl, Director of Engineering. But SOMIC emphasizes people in its designs.

“From the start, we focus on people.

We think in terms of the machine operators and the maintenance staff, and put ourselves in the machine operator’s position as early as the construction phase of prototype designs.”

Air and material consumption He says the systems’ power and compressed air consumption are also influenced by their designs. SOMIC replaces many of the conventional pneumatic functions with servo technology, which smoothly controls movement, reduces vibrations and eliminates leaks in the compressed air network. Machine functions are designed so that their functions are generated by energy-saving, electronically controlled sidechannel blowers, instead of Venturi nozzles.

Material consumption is a major concern when it comes to somic.us

“Carton/case material, adhesive, and energy consumption are directly measurable for the user. This has a direct impact on their operating costs.”

Dr. Johann Härtl, Director of Engineering, SOMIC

sustainable packaging. Packaging material consumption for shipping cases and cartons can be reduced while ensuring essential product protection. The design team uses a paperboard plotter to compare and reduce format variants to achieve as much material savings as possible.

Glue consumption is another factor in conserving resources. SOMIC’s machines incorporate high-precision glue nozzles that apply adhesive only as needed, in the millimeter range, and control the amount dispensed in the carton forming station at high speeds, with cycle times of less than two milliseconds.

“We pay attention to the consumption data, right from the machine concept stage,” acknowledges Härtl. “Carton/ case material, adhesive, and energy consumption are directly measurable for the user. We use lightweight but protective paperboard stock, shorter adhesive [application] lines and lower compressed air consumption to bring savings to the customer.

This has a direct impact on their operating costs.”

Sustainablity is a priority for all SOMIC end-of-line machines, beginning with the design phase that addresses the building blocks of reduce, reuse and recycle.

Dispensing additional adhesive is only a waste, points out Stefan Julinek, SOMIC’s Director of Sales International. Continue on page 12 11

“If the case-sealing adhesive is overly dispensed and the glue line is one millimeter longer than necessary, the glue requirement increases by 7 percent with 16 glue points on a wraparound carton,” he says. “That's 35 cubic millimeters more per carton than is necessary and can add up to as much as 10 liters per week. So it’s worthwhile to use the highest precision at the point of dispensing.”

Being kind to operators Along with consumables, Julinek also points to machine ergonomics and operator friendliness as fundamental elements of equipment design. During the commissioning phase of the equipment, SOMIC offers extensive training to familiarize customers and ensure that operators are comfortable with the machine’s operation. Each machine is built to facilitate parts inspection and replacement.

“The heaviest machine part the operator has to replace when changing formats usually weighs no more than five kilograms,” says Härtl. The design team also pays special attention to the accessibility of machine parts, and makes them as convenient to access as possible.

“Accessibility is factored into each machine using our CAD (computeraided design) system,” he adds.

Format trolleys organize the parts to keep them within reach and safely stored. User friendliness is also evident in machine changeovers.

SOMIC’s growing line of machines can be easily changed over from one product/package to another without tooling, thanks to quick-change connections that simplify daily adjustments so daily production can quickly continue.

Long equipment service life comes from quality components, precision assembly of machine modules and ergonomic machine design. They all play important roles, Härtl explains.

“We calculate the total cost of ownership and determine how durable installed assemblies and parts will be. We build the assemblies and parts to be durable for years, which also says something about our resource conservation.

Retrofit parts are available for older machine models, some of which are more than 20 years old. We try to sail under the flag of sustainability when it comes to service life.”

Likewise, a service life of more than 20 years for a high-cycle machine proves that sustainable design principles were in place when equipment was developed and installed at a dairy processor in 2000. “Our machines can also be disassembled into individual components and be recycled and put into a new use,” Härtl emphasizes.

Most machine assemblies and components that cannot be made in-house are sourced from the local vendors, Julinek notes. “We have assorted suppliers of the necessary parts within less than a 40-kilometer radius in the rural region around our production site, which saves time and transportation costs.”

No doubt, sustainability pays off for everyone involved.

“Every aspect counts. Our sustainable actions are only successful if all system areas are consistently checked against their criterion,” Härtl says. “We take these steps seriously because as a packaging equipment manufacturer, sustainability is a fundamental part of our company. We know we can make a difference. Sustainability has always meant a lot to us.”

“When SOMIC was founded, it was important that we worked in partnership and on a long-term basis with our employees, suppliers and customers."

Managing Director Patrick Bonetsmüller

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Retail-Ready Magazine

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Meet Thomas Hadersberger, SOMIC America’s Senior Engineering Manager

“We design each machine based upon the customer’s product and packaging requirements, and combine those needs with the latest automation technology and environmental friendliness."

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homas Hadersberger, SOMIC’s resident Senior Engineering Manager, has enjoyed designing endof-line packaging systems during his six years with the company in Germany and now Minnesota. He began his career as a tool mechanic in Germany, serving an apprenticeship in the packaging industry. He’s been fascinated with equipment and packaging systems since he was a boy.

“My father owns an auto mechanic shop, so I have been interested in engineering and mechanics since I was young.

I realized I was destined to become an engineer and enjoy packaging technology.”

He studied mechanical engineering in Munich, and his experience has served him quite well.

“I started with SOMIC in Germany in September 2016 as Engineering Manager, and was there for three years,” he recalls. “I was interested in the company because every one of its packaging machines is equipped with the latest technology, which is intriguing. I joined SOMIC America and became Senior Engineering Manager in January, 2020. I’ve enjoyed developing this equipment because it is always specially adapted to customer requirements. ” Customizing equipment may be a challenge for some, but not for Hadersberger. His exceptional work ethic and dedication are evident in his equipment layouts and creative skills. His attention to detail and focus on perfection is reflected in his designs of fully automatic case erectors, packers, tray formers and wraparound systems.

“The results are the most rewarding aspects of my job,” he says. “A

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solution has to be found for every technical problem. SOMIC offers many options for customers in terms of service. We provide them with additional machine upgrades, on-site and remote support, as well as online help finding any parts for existing machines.

“Mechatronics is effective in our automation technology. With it, we are able to control the whole casepacking process effectively with each product that enters and exits the machine.”

Hadersberger says designers make it part of the mission to consider energy savings and sustainability with each machine they develop.

“We design each machine based upon the customer’s product and packaging requirements, and combine those needs with the latest automation technology and environmental friendliness. SOMIC incorporates sustainability practices in all of our equipment designs so they are durable, solid and reliable for the long run."

Instrumental in supporting the company’s Operations Team, Hadersberger addresses technical and design questions that arise and assists the After Sales Team, working to solve requests from customers.

When he’s not in the case-packing equipment design department, Hadersberger enjoys the outdoors.

He’s hiked the Bavarian Mountains of Germany, and likes to work out in Minnesota, play soccer and he loves to travel.

“It’s gratifying to work in an interesting engineering position that suits me, especially one that’s packaging-related. There’s always something new happening and something to learn about. It’s never boring.”

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Live and Virtual FATs: One final test to ensure you are Retail-Ready.

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Retail-Ready Magazine

Considering the current labor shortage and increasing demand, you need your new machinery to ramp up production quickly.

Before your SOMIC machine is delivered, the Factory Acceptance Test takes place. This can be done on-site or virtually, and will provide detailed insights on machine operations with your products and specific case packing formats. This ensures your machinery makes an immediate impact in your operations. It’s another way SOMIC is helping you get Retail-Ready.

See for yourself at PACK EXPO or scan the QR Code to learn more.

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500 Lone Oak Road Suite #200 Eagan, MN 55121 1.847.915.9872 / somic.us

Compact & Mighty Reduced size, simple design, and fast availability make SOMIC a smart choice for meeting increased demands in today’s tight labor market. It can be preconfigured as both a tray packer and a wraparound packer, and upgraded as your needs change over time, bringing maximum flexibility to your Retail-Ready Packaging production. SOMIC machines will deliver consistently strong results today, tomorrow, and long into the future.

See SOMIC in action at PACK EXPO Las Vegas in booth SL 6460. Learn more about SOMIC by calling 1.847.915.9872 or visit SOMIC.US.