AUTOMATION & PACKAGING

On Jul 30, 2013

PACKAGING refers to packing various forms of articles. The article can be consumable and non-consumable in various forms namely liquid, solid semisolid, pasty, tablets, medicinal liquids, eatables, drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic type in various types and shapes of containers.

Why packaging is necessary?
The purpose of packaging is to cover the product, protect the product for smooth and effective transportation and storing and distribution with minimal damages to all the places where the article is needed. The packaging should also create a brand image for the quality is good. In brief packaging is a carrier of goods and good image of the product with the help of modern technology

The role of AUTOMATION and PACKAGING plays a major role in the following products. The type of automation will be considered in the latter part of the article.

First we will give some interesting articles for consideration:

Life saving drugs
Special type oxygen cylinders
Special packs for liquid medical items
Special packaging for nuclear grade materials
Special packing’s for battery for critical applications
Special packages for biodegradable waste in the hospitals
Special impact proof packaging for supplying relief materials like food, water, medicine, clothes in disaster affected areas .(TSUNAMI, EARTH QUAKE, LAND SLIDE HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODS EXAMPLE UTTARAKHAND)

Characteristics of packaging for the above items

The packaging should be able to sustain the impact of the drop/fall
In case dropped in flooded area it should be able to float
It should be fire resistant
It should be light weight and easy to carry
It should have permanent and perfect labeling system

The above items are special need type and a conventional manual labour method can not be used. Here full automation with zero defects with fool proof method is necessary.

Now we will consider the Indian conditions with respect to labour, culture, habits, moral and social obligations. The packaging concept and method of automation differs from place to place due to social customs and cultural habits and living conditions. We will life. Milk and milk products play a major role in INDIAN ECONOMY. But the production and process of the same and distribution of the same differs from place to place. The fresh milk that is produced is immediately transferred into aluminum or plastic cans of 50 litres capacity. Further transport of milk to the individual customer is done in hand carts , cycles, motr bikes to the individual customer.

The second system is milk is sent to the milk cooperatives or private entrepreneurs .The above collected milk is tested for quality and processed with utmost care and pasteurized for safe consumption and packed in bottles, pouches, tetera packs with labeling and palletized for distribution throughout the country. The whole operation is fully automated from metering, quality check and packaging and labeling to ensure high quality product is made. The above system is followed in most metros and major cities. Here one is forced to think and come to a logical conclusion about looking into details of
1. Conventional method
2. Improved method with semi- automation to suit indian condition
3. Advanced automation with packaging system satisfying the international standarads.

“SMALL AND SIMPLE THINGS ARE BEAUTIFUL” This principle is more suited to Indian conditions.
The milk production and processing, transporting distributing from a small beginning with local ideas inputs of scientific method of working with affordable and innovative ideas with brought WHITE REVOLUTION in INDIA by Dr.KURIEN

The Indians are in apposition to afford milk and milk products easily. It also created a meaningful employment in all sectors .It helped to improve the farmers and cattle owners and their standards of life was improved. However if full automation and processing and packaging is considered it would have created a lot of unemployment and social unrest in the concerned activities.

Meaningful automation with proper balance of using economical labor force and local material for packaging
Will help in quality production in Indian conditions. This should include computerized operation and data sharing and monitoring with the help to meet the social obligations and not affecting the middle and lower income group people.

The second and most important packaging of agricultural products. India in earlier 70s used to depend on import of all food grains. GREEN REVOLUTION by Dr.NORMAN BORLAUG has changed the conditions. Today India is major exporter of food, sugar and related products.All the above products require a perfect foolproof,all weather conditions packing with the highest grade of safety standards. Here Automation plays an important role, Here we have to use eco-friendly, reusable.recycle type packing material.

White goods. Medicines.oil and other food products requires full automation without human intervention for safety purpose. In conclusion we can not avoid large scale automation and packaging in our country for the most efficient storing, transportation and distribution to all the parts of our country.s