Macfarlane inaugurates new packaging Innovation Lab in Heywood, England

UK – Glasgow-based protective packaging provider Macfarlane Group has opened its second packaging Innovation Lab at its flagship Northwest Regional Distribution Centre in Heywood, near Manchester.

Macfarlane says that the lab, which is 465sqm, “is fully equipped to create solutions for the most demanding packaging challenges and fully test them to ensure they can withstand the rigors of supply chain handling”.

The Innovation Lab builds on the success of its first facility in Milton Keynes, which opened in 2016.

With an investment of £1.3m, the lab is equipped with various capabilities that will support the development of new solutions to address the ‘most demanding’ packaging challenges.

It will also allow the company to test its new packaging solutions to further ensure that it can survive the difficulties of supply chain handling.

The lab also includes an atmospheric conditioning chamber, augmented reality design tools, and a HoloLens mixed-reality headset.

It can support full design, digital print and CAD prototyping work to quickly create same-day packaging samples.

Other features of this lab include stretch wrapping, pallet load containment testing, ‘Packaging Optimizer’ software for minimizing costs and measuring the packaging’s CO₂ impact equivalent, as well as a packaging automation showroom.

Furthermore, the facility has a dedicated network handling simulator to assess whether the packaging solutions abide by the International Safe Transport Association standards or not.

Macfarlane Packaging’s design head Richard Garratt said: “Ongoing investment in our Innovation Labs allows us to push forward with the latest tools and technology to deliver creative solutions that reduce cost, improve sustainability and enhance customer experience.

“The new center offers market-leading testing capability, including technical offering[s] with ISTA testing, load containment and climatic conditioning, all accessible remotely through an advanced video conferencing system that connects UK and European operations together.”

Rachel Fellows, national account director at Macfarlane Packaging added: “At Macfarlane, we are focused on protecting our customers’ products with packaging that’s tailored to their business needs and goals while reflecting their brand and minimizing the impact on the planet.

“Our Northwest Innovation Lab is uniquely equipped to help us do that and I am confident that it will be an asset for our customers – existing and new – as we work together to ensure their products are effectively and efficiently protected on their route to market.

“The North of England is famous for its industry and innovation. Our Northwest Innovation Lab is ready to support customers locally and internationally to protect their products, profits, and environmental goals.”

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