Packaging Gateway

Daily Newsletter

11 August 2023

Daily Newsletter

Pelican installs new injection moulder at US factory

The machine has replaced the company's largest injection moulder in size and weight.

Temperature-controlled packaging manufacturer Pelican Products has invested in a new injection moulder machine at its US-based factory.

Dubbed Thor, the new machine is claimed to be one of the largest in the Western US region.

The machine is equipped with 3,000 tons (t) of clamp pressure that can produce a new Pelican case every 209 seconds.

In addition, Thor features six chambers, each of which can accommodate coloured materials.

According to Pelican, this will improve efficiency and streamline changes during its manufacturing process and will also enable the company to meet evolving market demands.

Thor is set to expedite Pelican's production capabilities by creating larger cases at a faster pace, without compromising on its quality and durability standards.

The machine manufactures products and models of cases, including the 1755 Air Case, as well as the V730, V770, and V800 Vault Cases.

According to Pelican, the installation of Thor required the deployment of a custom crane and new infrastructure.

The new machine has now dethroned the company’s largest machine out of its 23 on the factory floor, moving the 1,800t Colossus to second place.

Pelican COO Kevin Miniard said: "Pelican is a global leader in protective cases - our products are sold around the world. Still, we work hard to keep the majority of our production and our workforce here in the US. The investment in Thor demonstrates that commitment - as well as our nonstop drive toward innovative solutions."

Pelican operates a network of 23 international sales offices and 11 manufacturing facilities in 27 countries.

Generative AI remains an untapped potential across the consumer industry

GlobalData estimates the total AI market will be worth $909 billion in 2030, growing at a CAGR of 35.2% between 2022 and 2030. The consumer goods, foodservice, and packaging sectors are undergoing digital transformation, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and changing consumer preferences. AI can help companies operating in these sectors by significantly reducing costs and production times. In Nestlé's 2022 full-year results, the company announced a renewed focus on digitalization to drive growth. Financial and reputational pressures associated with supply chain disruptions and sustainability concerns are also driving interest in the digitalization of supply chains. Data science and ML are strong investments across all areas. However, the sectors cannot stop at AI-powered data analytics applications. They must also explore computer vision (CV), smart robots, AI sensors that automate manufacturing and distribution logistics, and generative AI tools that increase efficiency across corporate departments and customer service operations and enable innovation in product design. For the most part, the consumer goods, foodservice, and packaging sectors will not play a significant role in creating and developing AI hardware or platforms. Instead, these sectors will help scale up the adoption of AI technologies, such as CV, conversational platforms, and smart robots. This adoption will be driven by the financial benefits and potential cost savings AI automation delivers across global supply chains.