Is the production of the future already here?

The government recently launched its new industrialisation strategy for Sweden, which is intended to help strengthen industrial competitiveness and make investment in Swedish industry more attractive. According to the report, there is an image that industry is of declining importance in Sweden, but when industry-related service jobs are taken into account, it is clear that overall Sweden is still an industrial nation. Industry is responsible for a fifth of the country’s economy and employs about one million people. Industry also accounts for 77% of total export value.

Sweden is at the forefront when it comes to packaging, both in terms of research and development, and in terms of production and exports. To provide a perspective, we can compare the use of consumer packaging, which is estimated at 1.3% of total European consumption, with production of the same, which is approximately 4.5%.

However, industry is also facing digitalisation and the production of packaging is becoming ever more refined and automated. High efficiency and automation are almost a must in order to be competitive as a converter. New technologies provide new opportunities and the salary component in production will not be as clear when automation increases. Robots are doing more jobs and are becoming ever more advanced. The term “Black Factory” has been around for many years, i.e. production completely without staff, but will it ever become a reality? If not, how will human and machine communicate in order to make production easier?

Industrial robots have become cheaper, more intelligent, easier to program and more secure since they first appeared in the 1970s. New technologies such as 3D printing enable rapid prototyping, while digital printing and hybrid machines combine traditional printing methods with digital techniques to open up new opportunities. It is likely that new technologies will make it possible to manufacture intelligent products in ways that we have not previously seen.

We have therefore come together with the automation cluster Automation Region and THINGS to organise a day in Stockholm where experts, innovators and entrepreneurs will meet to develop the packaging industry. As a participant you will have a unique opportunity to both find inspiration and contribute towards a brighter future for Swedish packaging production.

Read more about the event here

/ Packbridge