Respondents used fresh food packaging as the first factor to promote the growth of flexible packaging. Packaging manufacturers commented that the convenience of consumer products, single-serving products and the expansion of the fresh fruit market have further promoted the growth of flexible packaging applications.
　　 The second largest consumer goods market that stimulates growth in flexible packaging in the next five years is pet food. Fifty-two percent of the packaging companies that fill out the questionnaire believe that pet food is another extremely important growth point. The conversion of product forms, from original cans to independent bags, is seen by packaging companies as an excellent growth opportunity.
In the flexible packaging market, meat, edible poultry, and seafood are still the third hottest areas of growth. Due to the improvement of the graphic design level, the enhancement of product differentiation, the separation of packaging and the emphasis on product retail, the influence of seafood on the flexible packaging industry is also gradually strengthened.
The rapid growth of new technologies, biotech products, and disposable devices and transplants, as well as the aging population, led 47% of respondents to believe that the growth potential of flexible packaging in the medical and pharmaceutical product markets is also very large. 42% of respondents also viewed fast food as the fifth largest growth point. The factors driving these demands are the improvement of product features and design and the business-to-consumer service enthusiasm.
Practical application
Diane Farnham of Eastman Chemical and Bruce Foster of Mica said: "Polyester plastics play a big role in packaging applications because of their unique physical properties, including: toughness, heat resistance, anti-slip Sex, oxidation resistance, printability, heat sealable and odorless."
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company's Todd Robinson also made a similar assessment: "High-density polyethylene (HDPE) has made a certain sacrifice in the clarity and gloss, but it can produce high modulus and tensile strength. New developments are constantly changing the characteristics of high-definition HDPE resins, and there are many new opportunities for film makers to change the film structure of HDPE and increase the optical properties and stiffness of films, even single-layer films. This new technology will further improve the performance of composite extruded films and single-layer films used in food packaging, packaging and high-definition, high-gloss industrial packaging."
Two people at Ciba Specialty Chemicals also said: "Plastic films, especially polyolefin films, are the driving force for packaging and agriculture. Their generalization depends on their low prices, good mechanical properties and durability."
The current situation
Many packers report that their production levels have tripled in 2000, while some special aspects have declined.
The current shortage of timed workers affects 80% of packers, which was 90% in 2000. 70% of packers believe that the shortage of timekeepers in 2001 is still widespread, and 30% of packers say they are relieving this dilemma through monthly wages.
On the other hand, the 2001 Outlook survey indicated that 40% of packers expect to expand their business in the next 12 months. Among the companies that plan to expand, 70% plan to expand the scale of the existing plant, and 50% believe that this can be achieved through mergers and acquisitions. In addition, it is possible to gain more market share by strengthening services for existing customers or simply by involving other types of packaging.
By the end of 2001, more than 80% of packers had pushed their flexible packaging overseas, and 88% of flexible packaging material suppliers also went abroad. 80% of packers shipped their products to Canada, 70% of packers shipped their products to Mexico, 86% of suppliers traded with Canada and Mexico, and 64% of packers shipped their products to Europe. The latest figures show that the annual export volume of flexible packaging has exceeded 825 million U.S. dollars, accounting for nearly 5 percent of U.S. domestic product value.
Packager's Comments
Printers/packers are urgently demanding that raw material suppliers produce some of the more user-friendly machines and ask operators what they want. Some people stressed that suppliers should have a price advantage and initiative and not respond passively. Glenroy's Bruce Jondle asked suppliers to be concerned about people's needs. He said: "Big companies will fail if they become bulky and dull. Small companies will win because of their keenness and enthusiasm."
Jondle believes that the increase in productivity and efficiency comes from the judicious choice of equipment and large machinery. Tom Dunn of Printpak Co., Ltd. had promoted the company's 20% growth in the flexible packaging market. He expressed his observation of the current industry challenges in the following language: “Cannot stop progress, refuse to interrupt innovation!†The goals he pursued were both Bold and simple, that is: "Let soft packaging be as successful as bottle packaging."
Future Expectations Outlook for the future
In 2001, the pace of mergers and acquisitions in the flexible packaging industry was slightly slower. However, when commenting on what is an important factor affecting the flexible packaging industry, 56% of packers and suppliers pointed out that the number of mergers and acquisitions may increase. About 30% of the participants in the FPA survey believe that technological advances that promote industry growth will directly affect the size and shape of the flexible packaging market in 2006.
19% believe that there will be new market opportunities, and 14% believe that the daily competition results in a drop in profits and a weak profit. What will happen in the future? Some people said: "The quality of printing will increase." Others pointed out that "new printing materials will appear." Some people also predict that "there will be new applications." But everyone thinks that the growth of flexible packaging is inevitable. There will always be pressure and competition will become fiercer. Therefore, it is necessary to increase work efficiency and improve working methods. Service, speed and stability will undoubtedly be the key factors of competition.
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