How co-packing technologies support the supply chain?

Every manufacturer has unique requirements for their goods, which necessitates the use of appropriate technology in the preparation for sale. Co-packing, depending on the industry or specificity of the goods, can involve simple operations related to identification, but also more advanced ones including grouping or product display. For many years, these types of operations were performed manually, but thanks to advancing automation, many of them are now carried out with the support of advanced technologies that increase efficiency, enabling the realization of large volumes in a short time.

Co-packing services cover two areas. The first involves working with a closed product that already has individual packaging. Product identification, i.e., labeling, placing barcodes, printing expiry dates or batch numbers, belongs to the simplest processes. It is used, among others, when introducing products to export markets to apply naturalization labels, describing, for example, the product’s composition in the language of a given country. More advanced operations include grouping products and preparing them for display, which often requires the use of automation. Many different techniques can be used for this purpose – from foiling, to heat sealing, blistering, or cartoning. Combining products has recently become an extremely popular sales tactic, stimulating sales by encouraging consumers to buy several units of a product at once. The last group of processes performed on a closed product includes the display of goods at points of sale, which is another element of the sales strategy, especially in retail chains and discount stores. This includes the assembly of stands, packing advent calendars, or gift sets. This is a particularly demanding process because it is carried out in a short period of time with very large volumes. It requires not only excellent organization and process automation, but also human resources to ensure the goods reach stores on time during sales peaks.

The second area involves working with semi-open products, requiring greater precision and additional technologies that meet restrictive quality and hygiene standards. In these activities, machines enable employees to efficiently pack products into individual packages. This includes, among others, dispensing, portioning, or repacking goods from bulk packaging into smaller units. – An example of a co-manufacturing process is the packaging of chewing gum, which arrives at our warehouse in large packages called big bags, where it is divided into smaller bags distributed in stores. Automated packaging and sorting systems used for these activities ensure high quality standards and enable flexible adaptation of production to dynamic market requirements – explains Mariusz Jóźwik, Regional Director responsible for co-packing and co-manufacturing warehousing at FM Logistic Central Europe.

Co-packing is much more than just product packaging. It is a complex process that supports manufacturers in optimizing logistics, reducing costs, and at the same time enabling quick adaptation of the offer to current trends.

However, the role of the logistics operator can begin much earlier. Already at the planning stage, the manufacturer can count on professional advice regarding the processes and technologies that will work best for a given product, as well as regarding display requirements in retail chains. Such cooperation is also an added value for companies starting distribution – both for new companies on the market and for brands that want to enter Polish retail chains. Knowledge of the requirements of individual chains, market specifics, and legal regulations allows for shortening the product adaptation time and accelerating its distribution.

Operators providing co-packing services in Poland are distinguished not only by a high level of organization but also by openness to innovation. Enterprises invest in new technologies, thanks to which our country gains on the European co-packing map. An additional advantage is the favorable location, which facilitates efficient goods management, especially during periods of increased sales.

– If an inquiry concerns a process that we do not carry out, we check the availability of technology in our other branches within the group and are able to quickly adapt it in another location. This is our huge advantage. In Poland, we have several centers specialized in co-packing, which also allows us to share volumes if the time criteria for project implementation are very demanding – emphasizes Mariusz Jóźwik from FM Logistic.

Poland also offers competitive rates compared to other European countries, while maintaining a high level of technological advancement. This makes foreign companies eager to transfer their packaging and distribution processes here, even if the production itself takes place outside the country. Additionally, co-packing services in Poland are also a beneficial solution for export companies whose products do not directly enter the Polish market but are intended for distribution in other countries.