Established in 1984 Shawpak Systems prides itself on providing high level technical sales and support to our valued customer base. Offering solutions for Product Inspection, Packaging and Hygiene equipment sales and after sales support including certified customer training on site or at our Centre of Excellence training and demonstration facility.

What Our Clients Are Saying

Blister Packaging Machines

A blister packaging machine is industrial equipment that forms, fills, and seals individual product cavities into clear plastic sheets, commonly used to present tablets, capsules, small components, or food items in retail-ready format. Shawpak Systems Ltd, based in Oakville, Ontario, has been supplying and supporting these machines for food processing, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing facilities across North America since 1984.

The Challenge: Inconsistent Packaging and Rising Waste

A mid-sized food processing operation in the Greater Toronto Area was hand-packing delicate products into clear plastic blisters. The process was slow, labour-intensive, and produced a rejection rate of nearly 8 percent due to seal failures, misalignment, and contamination. Each rejected unit represented wasted material and labour. The facility needed to increase throughput by 40 percent within six months to meet a major retail contract, but manual packing could not scale without tripling their staff.

The operation's plant manager understood that upgrading to automated equipment was necessary, but selecting the right machine is not straightforward. Different products require different cavity shapes, seal temperatures, and film types. Choosing equipment that did not match their specific needs would waste capital and delay production even further.

How Shawpak Systems Matched Equipment to the Operation

The facility contacted Shawpak Systems Ltd for technical advisory consultation. Rather than recommending a standard off-the-shelf solution, Shawpak's team spent time understanding the product specifications, current production volume, facility layout, and future growth plans. They examined the company's existing material handling workflow and identified where a semi-automatic blister packaging system would integrate without requiring a complete line redesign.

Shawpak arranged a demonstration at their Centre of Excellence facility in Oakville, where the client could see comparable equipment in operation and test their actual product samples. This hands-on approach meant the plant manager and operations team could observe seal quality, cycle speed, and jam recovery in real time before committing to purchase. The team also discussed:

• Cavity tooling and format changeover procedures
• Film compatibility and supply chain considerations
• Integration with existing conveyors and palletizers
• Maintenance requirements and parts availability
• Staff training and ongoing technical support

Because Shawpak Systems is the exclusive North American distributor for a leading hygiene and packaging equipment manufacturer, they could draw on deep technical knowledge and had direct access to engineering resources for customization questions.

Implementation and On-Site Training

Once the equipment arrived at the facility, Shawpak's certified technicians oversaw installation and configured the machine for the client's specific product dimensions and packaging film. More importantly, they conducted on-site training for the plant's operators and maintenance staff. This training covered daily operation, basic troubleshooting, changeover procedures, and preventive maintenance schedules. Unlike vendors who disappear after delivery, Shawpak established an ongoing support relationship with the facility.

Training is not a one-time event. Plant staff have access to Shawpak's technical team for questions that arise during the first weeks of operation, and the business maintains a documented parts distribution network across Canada and the USA. When a replacement seal roller or pressure plate is needed, the facility knows they can source it quickly through Shawpak rather than waiting weeks for international shipment.

The Results: Efficiency and Confidence

Within two months of going live, the facility achieved a 92 percent reduction in packaging defects. Cycle time dropped from manual handling at roughly 120 units per hour to 650 units per hour on the automated system. The operation met its retail contract deadline ahead of schedule and eliminated the need to hire temporary staff. Labour was redirected to quality inspection and secondary packing tasks that still required human judgment.

More significantly, the facility's managers now had confidence in their equipment. Because they understood how it worked and knew they had a trusted partner to call, they could plan a second production line expansion 18 months later. That second installation went smoother because the team already understood the workflow and Shawpak already understood the company's preferences and constraints.

Why Equipment Selection Matters in Oakville and Beyond

Many facilities approach equipment purchases as a transaction: identify the cheapest machine that performs the function and install it. This often leads to poor integration, underutilised capabilities, and frustration when problems arise. Shawpak Systems Ltd views equipment selection as a strategic partnership. The Oakville-based team listens, demonstrates, educates, and supports because they understand that a food processing facility in Oakville or a pharmaceutical company in Toronto is not just buying a machine; they are adopting a production method that will run for years and affect their operational margins and reputation.

If your facility is currently evaluating packaging automation, or if your existing equipment is no longer meeting your production needs, Shawpak Systems would welcome the opportunity to discuss your specific requirements. Reach out to their team through their website at shawpak.com to arrange a confidential consultation and, if appropriate, a visit to their Centre of Excellence to see the technology in operation.