Digital tools have greatly changed food packaging procurement. Being able to research different suppliers online helps get a quick overview of companies that may be suitable for your product market. This, however, often leads to overwhelm. You might find too many options with a similar offering and struggle to tell them apart.

While digital sourcing may feel faster and adapted to a tight budget, it is difficult to get the full picture of the solutions available. It doesn’t quite replace seeing the packaging technologies in person and meeting a team ready to answer questions specific to your product with expertise and honesty.

While trade shows might seem like an expensive legacy habit, they remain a valuable step to help you invest in the right packaging partners and save your company from a costly mismatch.

 

What Digital Sourcing Still Can’t Replace

 

Food packaging decisions involve many complex variables that are difficult to evaluate from a spec sheet alone. These can be material choice, product fragility, format flexibility, hygiene standards, and more.

A company website or spec sheet can tell you what a supplier can provide, but it’s still hard to know if they can meet your standards and your product’s specific requirements.

Digital sourcing is useful, but it is best when used hand in hand with live demonstrations during the buying process. Trade shows are particularly good for procurement as they allow you to compare packaging solutions side by side on a show floor, and the team on site can give fast and tailored answers to your questions regarding your product, instead of a long chain of emails.

 

What Meeting the PWR Team in Person Actually Adds

 

Packaging solutions can sometimes appear very similar, but very subtle things can make a significant difference between two options. When you meet suppliers at trade shows, you can more easily observe the subtleties of equipment and materials in person, better understand how a packaging solution may protect and preserve your product, how the finish and consistency of the pack will look on shelf, and how this solution may be integrated in your production process.

Trade shows are an opportunity to see our machinery and packaging options live and up close, helping you get a clearer understanding of build, quality, speed, and reliability. For instance, you can observe how fast PWR’s delta-robot is capable of fast changeovers, and of handling multiple formats gently.

Our fundamentals – product identification, distribution, handling, and operator interaction – are best demonstrated to their full extent face to face. Meeting our team of experts will also allow you to ask questions tailored to your product’s requirements with zero pressure to commit. These interactions will help you get tailored and honest answers adapted to your company’s situation.

 

Getting the Most from Time with PWR at a Show

 

Trade shows move fast, and it’s easy to leave without a clear next step. Here are a few pointers for making the most of meeting PWR at a trade show:

•       Come with your questions ready. Our team is there to discuss material compatibility, changeover speed, hygiene design, or sustainability requirements to help you find the best packaging solution for your product.
•       Ask to see specific solutions in action, whether that’s PWR SMARTLINE, our range of small-footprint solutions for product and case loading, or one of our large tailored multi-robot lines built around your production needs.
•       Ask follow-up questions and for more details on how these solutions work in context. The PWR team aims to give you all the information that is unique to your product instead of general information that won’t help you gain clarity.

 

 

While online research narrows the list of suppliers, trade shows and face-to-face interactions with potential suppliers are key to making a confident decision when choosing your product packaging partner. A conversation doesn’t have to be a big commitment, and the time you put in can save you from a costly mismatch.

PWR has installed over 2,500 robots in 20+ countries and offers global service and support for your peace of mind. Come and speak to us at our next show, Pack Expo Chicago, or get in touch to discuss your food packaging requirements with us.