Navigating a Fast-Moving Co-Packing Industry

The co-packing industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by shifting consumer preferences, seasonal trends, and the accelerating pace at which brands need to bring products to market. In this dynamic environment, co-packers are expected to be agile, efficient, and responsive to an ever-changing mix of product types, packaging formats, and customer demands.

For co-packers, time is money. Downtime leads to lost productivity, rising operational costs, and ultimately, reduced profitability. To maintain an edge, they must offer packaging solutions equipped to handle everything from the latest breakout snacks to pet treats to nutritional supplements. Every day brings a new set of production demands. Flexibility, once considered a competitive advantage, is now a necessity for long-term success.

According to PMMI’s 2024 Business Intelligence Report, Contract Packaging & Manufacturing Drivers of Machinery Investments, 53% of brand owners outsource between 10% and 49% of their business to contract packaging or manufacturing partners, signaling a growing reliance on co-packers as an extension of their brand. Working with co-packers allows businesses to focus on their core operations, like new product development and distribution channels, while benefiting from a co-packer’s specialized expertise in production and packaging. 

Smarter Weighing Systems, Stronger Performance

Flexible weighing systems empower co-packers to quickly pivot between diverse product lines and seamlessly integrate with a variety of packaging styles. As a result, co-packers are no longer just service providers, but strategic partners, playing a vital role in driving innovation, speed to market, and brand growth.

To support their expanded role, today’s co-packers need more from every machine on the floor. Equipment must perform at a high level with fewer resources while adjusting to constant changes in product types, formats, and schedules. Agile weighing systems meet this challenge by combining precision, versatility, and ease of use to keep production running smoothly.

Key benefits include:

  • User-friendly operation: Intuitive HMIs with recipe storage and toolless changeovers simplify setup and reduce training time.
  • Minimal downtime: Quick, repeatable transitions between runs keep production on track.
  • Built-in versatility: One system handles a variety of products and packaging formats, eliminating the need for specialized equipment.
  • Adaptability: Output adjusts easily to meet changing demand or new contracts without major reconfiguration.

Positioning for Growth Through Adaptability

Flexibility sets co-packers apart in a competitive landscape, attracting new business and positioning them as preferred partners. As brand owners increasingly seek agile, responsive collaborators, co-packers equipped with flexible solutions are uniquely positioned to take on new business.

According to PMMI Business Intelligence’s Contract Packaging & Manufacturing report, demand for contract packaging and manufacturing services is on the rise. In fact, 67% of brand owners plan to increase their reliance on co-packers or contract manufacturers over the next few years. This growing demand is driven by the need for greater flexibility, faster speed to market, and access to specialized expertise without expanding internal resources.

In response, 87% of co-packers and contract manufacturers report that they intend to invest in additional equipment within the next three years. These investments aim to boost capacity, expand capabilities, and improve efficiency, allowing co-packers to better serve a broader range of products and customer needs. As brand owners continue to look for agile partners who can adapt quickly to shifting market demands, co-packers equipped with advanced, flexible machinery will be well-positioned to capture new and profitable opportunities.

Yamato’s Frontier Technology Provides a Competitive Edge

In today’s evolving production environments, frequent changeovers are the norm. With a constant rotation of product types and packaging formats, co-packers need equipment that supports fast, repeatable setups to keep operations running smoothly. The ability to switch quickly between product runs has a direct impact on throughput, overall operational costs, and productivity. Advanced weighing systems like Yamato’s Omega Series with patented Frontier Technology enables co-packers to meet their customer’s expectations by delivering products with exceptional speed and accuracy across a broad spectrum of applications. 

Integrating Frontier Technology with an Omega Series combination scale equips the scale with three operating modes, such as simplex, duplex, and reject mode to provide exceptional versatility. Toolless changeover between modes helps operators maximize uptime. A single Omega combination scale can accommodate different production formats without sacrificing speed or accuracy. Whether managing single-lane packaging, dual-discharge operations, or single-piece counting, Yamato’s Frontier Technology ensures maximum uptime, consistent performance, and the agility co-packers need. 

For co-packers navigating unpredictable production schedules and product mix, this level of built-in flexibility is a game-changer. The Omega combination scale with Frontier Technology seamlessly integrates with a wide range of packaging applications, including tray lines, cup lines, horizontal and vertical form-fill-seal machines (HFFS/VFFS), and rotary packaging systems, making it ideal for today’s fast-paced, multi-format production environments.

Winning the Bid with Yamato’s Omega Series and Seamless Integration

When a leading vitamin brand needed a co-packer for a new product line, many couldn’t meet the requirements. By leveraging their existing Yamato Omega Series scale with Frontier Technology, the chosen co-packer quickly transitioned from a previous packaging style to a rotary system, ultimately winning the contract.

Operators were able to execute quick changeovers and keep the new line running efficiently, avoiding costly downtime. The co-packer’s successful integration of Yamato’s flexible co-packer weighing solutions with a rotary bottle packaging line delivered a decisive competitive edge.

Future-Proof Your Packaging Operations

As companies continue to demand faster turnarounds, co-packers must be ready to respond. Investing in flexible co-packer weighing solutions like Yamato’s Omega Series with Frontier Technology is not just about meeting today’s needs, it’s about staying ahead of tomorrow’s challenges.

Ready to streamline your operations? Contact us to weigh your options.