Machines for Packaging: The Ultimate Guide for Modern Production Lines

by The Brand Office

In today’s production environment, choosing the right machines for packaging is about more than speed. It’s about building a system that is flexible, reliable, and engineered to grow with your business. At MFT Automation, we specialize in everything from basic building blocks to complete integrated systems to help manufacturers streamline operations with automation that’s efficient, consistent, and tailored to unique needs.

Machines for Packaging: The Base Components

Every modern packaging line starts with its core components. These packaging machines are the building blocks of automation:

  • Friction Feeders: Designed for accurate and repeatable feeding of flat products such as paperboard, leaflets, or pouches.

  • Automatic Label Machines: Ensure products are identified, branded, and trackable with precision placement.

  • Conveyors: Move products seamlessly between processes, keeping lines efficient and minimizing downtime.

  • Tray Formers: Quickly create trays for secure packaging and transport with toolless components and easy operation.

  • Components & Accessories: From vacuum belts to static minimizers, accessories allow manufacturers to fine-tune performance for maximum uptime and throughput.

These individual systems form the foundation, but the real advantage comes when they’re integrated together.

Integrated Systems: Automated Systems for Packaging

The next step in packaging automation is combining multiple machines into a cohesive solution. An automated packaging machine links processes for greater efficiency and reliability. At MFT Automation, we engineers systems that integrate:

  • Processing: Feeding, collating, and preparing products.

  • Printing: Adding codes, expiration dates, and variable data.

  • Labeling: Attaching primary or secondary labels with precision.

  • Verifying: Using inspection technology to ensure accuracy and compliance.

This type of automated packaging equipment eliminates bottlenecks, reduces errors, and keeps production moving smoothly from start to finish.

Total System Solutions: Multi-Faceted, Standardized Automation

For high-volume manufacturers, total system solutions take automation even further. MFT’s standardized systems are designed to solve complex challenges while maintaining repeatability and reliability. Popular solutions include:

These total solutions highlight how we combine proven standard systems with custom engineering to fit into your unique workflow and compliance needs.

Human-Centered Engineering for Packaging Operations

Investing in the right machines for packaging goes beyond equipment. Our goal is to solve real production problems, supporting your operators and ultimately your bottom line. MFT Automation brings decades of design and engineering expertise to every project, offering systems that are scalable, efficient, and built for the demands of modern manufacturing.

Whether you need a single packaging machine or a fully integrated system, our people-centered approach means we listen first, then design a solution that helps you achieve ROI, flexibility, and long-term success. Talk to one of our automation experts today about your latest challenge.

Meet the Tray Former 500: Compact, Flexible, and Built for What’s Next

by MFT Automation

This year at PACK EXPO Las Vegas, MFT Automation unveils the next generation of tray forming technology.

The Tray Former 500 is our newest innovation in packaging automation: a compact, operator-friendly system that’s designed to bring your production line speed, flexibility, and efficiency. 

In an industry where change is constant with new products, shifting demand, tighter spaces, this next-generation tray former helps operations keep pace without compromise.

Why a New Tray Former Matters Now

Manufacturers across food, medical, and cannabis industries are facing the same challenges:

  • More product SKUs to run in shorter cycles.
  • Limited floor space for new automation.
  • Growing demand for uptime and quick ROI.
  • Staffing, skill, and operator training hurdles.

Traditional tray forming equipment wasn’t built for this level of agility. That’s where the Tray Former 500 comes in. 

Key Features of the Tray Former 500

Compact Footprint

MFT Automation’s new Tray Former 500 takes up less space on your production floor without sacrificing performance. For facilities where every square foot counts, it’s a system that delivers maximum output in a smaller package.

Toolless Flexibility

Switching between tray sizes or product runs has never been faster. With a toolless, quick-change design, operators have easy access to swap dies and components. This ability to adapt means your line can handle shifting demands with less downtime and more throughput.

Operator-Friendly Interface

Built with intuitive controls, the Tray Former 500 is operator-friendly, engineered for reduced training time and simple day-to-day operation. Operators can get up to speed quickly and focus on production, rather than troubleshooting.

Designed for Uptime

Every detail of the Tray Former 500 is designed to minimize maintenance and maximize reliability. From durable components to easy access for adjustments, it’s built to keep your production lines moving.

Applications Across Industries

The versatility of the Tray Former 500 makes it a strong fit across multiple sectors:

  • Food & Beverage: Feed and form corrugated, cardboard, or other unformed packaging products for prepared foods with precision and speed.
  • Medical & Pharma: Maintain consistency and reliability in regulated environments where accuracy matters most.
  • Cannabis: Adapt to a wide variety of tray sizes and packaging formats in an industry that’s constantly evolving.

Smarter Investment, Faster ROI

Automation isn’t just about keeping up, it’s about moving ahead. With the Tray Former 500, your production line achieves:

  • Decreased downtime through toolless components.
  • Increased efficiency in tight spaces.
  • Reduced training requirements thanks to intuitive controls.
  • A strong return-on-investment with an adaptable system.

In short, it’s a new-and-improved system designed for the long haul and ready to grow with your business.

See It First at PACK EXPO

The Tray Former 500 will make its debut at PACK EXPO Las Vegas. Attendees will be able to see live demonstrations, talk with our automation experts, and experience firsthand how this system is driving tray forming forward.

If you’re heading to the show, make sure to stop by booth W-544 to see us and the Tray Former 500 in action. And don’t forget, you can register for free with our comp code: 85G78.

Visit our website or connect with our team anytime to learn how the Tray Former 500 can enhance your packaging line.

Automation for Traceability: Future-Proofing Food, Pharma, and Cannabis Packaging

by MFT Automation

Traceability is the backbone of product safety, recall readiness, and supply chain visibility. In industries like food, medical, pharmaceuticals, and cannabis, compliance is non-negotiable and consumer trust is hard-earned. As rules and regulations change and evolve, flexible, automated traceability systems are now essential.

At MFT Automation, we engineer labeling and serialization solutions that help your manufacturing operation meet the growing demand for traceability with precision, speed, and confidence.

Why Traceability Matters

Today’s supply chains are under a microscope. From source to shelf, products must be identifiable, verifiable, and traceable through every stage of the packaging and distribution process. Regulatory agencies are tightening standards while consumers expect transparency and accountability.

Whether you’re working in food safety, pharmaceuticals, or medical packaging, traceability supports:

  • Rapid and accurate product recalls
  • Inventory control and expiration management
  • Authentication and anti-counterfeiting measures
  • Regulatory reporting and compliance readiness

Automation ensures these processes aren’t just accurate–they’re scalable.

Traceability Across Industries: Different Needs, Same Mission

While the need for traceability is universal, the requirements vary depending on your industry:

  • Food Industry: Must comply with FDA’s FSMA rules, trace ingredients, and ensure product recall precision.
  • Pharma & Medical Packaging: Requires serialization, tamper-evidence, and compliance with DSCSA and cGMP standards.
  • Cannabis: Demands strict seed-to-sale tracking with RFID and labeling to meet rapidly changing state and national regulations.

In all three sectors, the margin for error is razor-thin and the need for real-time, automated traceability solutions is rising.

Labeling + Serialization: Two Key Systems for Compliance

MFT Automation provides end-to-end labeling and serialization systems to help operations meet evolving standards across industries. These systems allow you to meet strict traceability requirements while optimizing production speed and minimizing risk.

Impresso Labeler Series

Our versatile print and apply label machine series is ideal for RFID and UPC labeling—two cornerstones of trackable packaging. 

Benefits:

  • Reliable application of RFID or barcode labels
  • Seamless integration into packaging lines
  • High-speed throughput with consistent label placement
  • Compliant with evolving pharma packaging and cannabis regulations

Track and Trace System

This fully integrated system combines product feeding, printing, vision inspection, and reject mechanisms into one cohesive solution.

Benefits:

  • Serialization coding for lot, batch, and unit-level tracking
  • Inline vision verification to ensure coding accuracy
  • Reject functionality to remove non-compliant products
  • Ideal for medical packaging, pharmaceuticals, and high-scrutiny food production lines

Compliance Doesn’t Have to Be Complex

The regulatory landscape is only getting more demanding. But with the right automation, staying compliant doesn’t have to slow you down. MFT Automation’s systems are engineered for reliability, customization, and future scalability–whether you’re labeling ice cream pints or unit-dose medical vials.

From RFID-ready print and apply label machines to integrated Track and Trace systems, we can help you build transparency and compliance directly into your production lines.

Looking to Upgrade Traceability?

MFT Automation works with food, pharma, and cannabis manufacturers to implement automation systems that meet today’s traceability standards and adapt to tomorrow’s. If you’ve got a unique challenge or are curious about improving your automated traceability, let’s talk.

Meeting the Moment: Why Washdown & Hygienic Equipment Is on the Rise in Food and Medical Packaging

by MFT Automation

In industries where cleanliness isn’t just a standard–it’s a mandate–equipment design plays a crucial role. From food production lines to medical and pharma packaging facilities, the need for hygienic and washdown-ready equipment has never been more urgent. At MFT Automation, we’re seeing a clear trend: demand is rising for systems that can handle both rigorous sanitation and high-performance throughput.

Here’s why–and how we’re helping your food and medical manufacturers meet the moment.

Why Washdown & Hygienic Equipment Is Trending Now

Across the food industry and medical sectors, consumer expectations and regulatory requirements are tightening. Whether it’s preventing cross-contamination, complying with FSMA or FDA regulations, or improving food industry quality control, you need solutions that can withstand aggressive cleaning protocols–without compromising performance.

Some key drivers behind the current demand:

  • Heightened food safety standards across global supply chains
  • Increased scrutiny from regulators and retailers
  • A rise in automated, high-speed packaging lines that require easy, reliable cleaning
  • Greater emphasis on cleanroom-ready systems for pharma and medical packaging

Where Washdown Systems Matter Most

Industries that handle consumables or sterile products rely on washdown-ready systems to ensure cleanliness and compliance, especially in environments with frequent exposure to moisture, bacteria, or allergens.

Primary sectors include:

  • Food production & packaging: from dairy to meat to baked goods
  • Medical device packaging: where hygiene and precision are critical
  • Pharma packaging: requiring contamination-free equipment for blister packs, vials, and more

In all of these processes, equipment like washdown conveyors, interleavers, and packaging systems must not only operate efficiently–they must also be easy to sanitize, resist corrosion, and maintain integrity after repeated cleanings.

The Benefits of Washdown & Hygienic Equipment

MFT Automation engineers systems with sanitation top of mind. The benefits of our washdown and hygienic equipment include:

  • Use of FDA-Approved materials
  • Reduced risk of contamination and product recalls
  • Durable stainless-steel designs for long-term reliability
  • Faster, more efficient cleaning cycles to reduce downtime
  • Customizable solutions that integrate seamlessly with your existing food packaging equipment or medical workflows

MFT Automation’s Commitment to Clean Design

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all automation. Every piece of washdown equipment we build is engineered to perform under pressure–literally and figuratively. That includes:

  • Open, accessible designs that eliminate hard-to-clean areas
  • Corrosion-resistant components ideal for high-moisture environments
  • Flexible, modular systems that integrate into broader automation lines
  • Hygienic models of our most in-demand systems, including interleavers, friction feeders and labeling machines

Whether it’s food packaging equipment for a high-speed deli line or a hygienic conveyor system for medical packaging, our team delivers custom-engineered systems that help you stay compliant, efficient, and future-ready.

Let’s Build for Cleanliness and Compliance

If you’re looking for automation that meets today’s sanitary demands without slowing your operation down, let’s talk. MFT Automation offers trusted solutions for the food, medical, and pharmaceutical sectors–engineered with quality, flexibility, and compliance in mind.

Automation Solutions for Summer Surge: How Food & Beverage Companies Can Keep Up

by MFT Automation

When the Summer food and beverage demand heats up, your production line shouldn’t break a sweat. For many companies, summer brings a seasonal surge with more orders, tighter turnaround times, and higher expectations from retailers and distributors. Whether you’re packaging frozen treats or labeling cold brew, your automated packaging and labeling equipment needs to keep up with the industry needs.

At MFT Automation, we design systems that not only keep up, they get you ahead of the curve.

Summer Demand Calls for a Better Packaging Solution

From Independence Day celebrations and promotions to back-to-school prep, the summer calendar is packed with product pushes. But if your packaging or labeling systems aren’t built for flexibility and speed, you’re facing:

  • Delays that put a strain on your bottom line
  • Inconsistent labeling that can affect shelf appeal or compliance
  • Downtime that puts your entire schedule, and business at risk

MFT’s automated, high-speed systems are designed to adapt to shifts in volume, package size, and product variety without sacrificing quality.

How MFT Automation Help You Keep Up (and Get Ahead)

Here’s how MFT solutions give food and beverage manufacturers a summer advantage:

Labeling Systems Built for Speed and Precision

Whether you’re working with pouches, bottles, or boxes, our friction feeders and labelers can handle variable packaging with consistent accuracy even in fast-paced environments.

Custom Integration to Fit Your Line

No two production lines are the same. That’s why we specialize in custom configurations that integrate with your existing equipment that we design, build, and test in house to meet the needs and challenges of your unique system.

Hygienic and Durable Design

Our systems are engineered for the food industry, built with hygienic washdown materials and a focus on long-term durability in high-use environments.

On-Site Support and Scalability

Need to scale up for a promotion? Adjust labeling for a new product size? Our team is here to help with fast-response customer service and systems designed to grow with you.

Don’t Let Summer Slow You Down

Now’s the time to ensure your food and beverage production line is ready for the next wave of demand. Whether you’re planning ahead or trying to solve a bottleneck, our team is ready to engineer a solution that works for your unique operation.

Let’s talk about how MFT can help you make this your most efficient summer yet.

Flexible Automation for Food Production: Meeting Industry Demands with Scalable Solutions

by MFT Automation

The food packaging industry requires your operation to adjust to rapidly evolving trends and regulations, which are often driven by shifting consumer preferences for convenience and sustainability. It is also imperative that your facilities ensure a consistently sanitary environment. To keep pace, it is important to embrace automation that enhances efficiency, meets strict sanitation standards, and adapts to ever-changing production needs. At MFT Automation, we specialize in flexible automation solutions designed to streamline food packaging and optimize your production processes.

Why Flexibility is Key in Food Packaging Automation

Food production presents unique challenges: from handling different packaging formats to maintaining hygiene and compliance. Our flexible automation systems allow you as a food manufacturer to:

  • Increase Efficiency – Automated equipment in our washdown and hygienic line reduces manual labor, speeds up processes, and enhances overall productivity.
  • Maintain Sanitation Standards – Equipment built with passivated stainless steel and FDA-approved contact surfaces ensures compliance with food safety regulations.
  • Adapt to Market Demands – As consumer preferences shift, automation must support new packaging types, sustainable initiatives, and materials like wax paper, cardboard, and biodegradable plastics.

Hygienic Washdown Friction Feeders: Solutions for High-Performance Food Packaging

Designed for food producers who require reliable, washdown-ready automation, our Hygienic Washdown Friction Feeders ensure seamless food packaging with:

  • Minimal Contamination Points – Reduces downtime with a design that minimizes the need for disassembly and reassembly.
  • Easy Cleaning & Maintenance – Built with 304 passivated stainless steel, offering superior resistance to moisture and corrosion.
  • Sanitary Compliance – FDA-approved contact surfaces including feed belts, stripper wheels and discharge belts, and IP-certified components allow you to meet industry regulations.

Whether utilizing flow wrapping machines for snack packaging or food production machines for frozen goods, MFT’s custom automation solutions provide the flexibility you need to stay competitive.

Future-Proof Your Food Production with MFT Automation

Your food industry operation demands scalable, hygienic, and efficient automation to keep up with rising production needs. MFT Automation’s custom food packaging machines empower manufacturers to increase output, maintain safety standards, and adapt to evolving industry trends.

Ready to optimize your food packaging process? Contact MFT Automation today to discover how our solutions can enhance your production line.

Robot with suction cups picking up cans

Robotics in the Food Packaging Industry

by Shane

The fast-paced food packaging industry works hard to keep up with the growing demands of consumers and recently has been trying to overcome the recent global events and concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased public interest in food safety with many consumers demanding transparency and pushing for more regulations and requirements for food packaging. This public outcry has incentivized companies to eliminate even more human contact from their food packaging production lines. To meet the growing food safety and output demands of consumers, the food packaging industry is once again turning towards more automation. Let’s explore some of the applications and trends in the food packaging industry.

 

MFT Automation is a proud Diamond Partner with Mitsubishi Electric Automation. We provide a robotic, end-of-arm tooling option for a wide variety of packaging solutions.

How to Automate Your Pouch Packaging Process

by Shane

In many industries, heat-sealed pouches have become an efficient and cost-effective way to send product samples, and sometimes even products themselves to customers. Heat-sealed packets are highly versatile as they can be made with many different materials and come in many different sizes. Because of their versatility, they are used in many industries for many different kinds of products. And a new demand for custom samples and products has risen in consumers that make re-sealable and disposable pouches as a good way to fulfill lot size one orders for small items. The small and portable pouches are also perfect for the current grab n’ go culture. Anything from snacks to beauty creams to medicine, the pouches can hold a little bit of everything and fit easily inside bags. Looking to start using heat-sealed sample packets or looking to automate your pouch packaging process? From verifying barcodes to labeling pouches, there are many opportunities for automation. Here’s our guide on automating your pouch packaging process.