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.

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Industrial Packaging

Industrial packaging is the process of selecting, installing, and operating machinery that wraps, seals, and prepares products for distribution while maintaining hygiene standards and production speed. Shawpak Systems Ltd, based in Oakville, Ontario, has guided manufacturing and food processing facilities across North America through this process for decades, providing equipment selection, installation support, and comprehensive after-sales training.

This guide walks you through the essential steps to implement packaging automation in your facility. Whether you operate a meat processing plant, pharmaceutical manufacturer, or food production line in Oakville or elsewhere across Canada and the USA, proper equipment setup directly affects product safety, worker efficiency, and compliance with hygiene regulations.

Step 1: Assess Your Facility's Packaging Requirements

Begin by documenting the specific demands of your production environment. Measure your product dimensions, weight, and material composition. Determine your target throughput in units per hour. Identify the final package format you need: shrink-wrapped cases, sealed containers, or bundled products. Record environmental conditions in your production area, including temperature, humidity, and contamination risks that may influence equipment selection.

Create a detailed specification sheet including the following data points:

• Product size range and weight tolerance
• Current manual packaging time per unit
• Target production volume per shift
• Available floor space for equipment installation
• Electrical capacity (voltage, phase, amp requirements)
• Material compatibility (film type, shrink film gauge, label stock)
• Hygiene and contamination control standards you must meet

This documentation becomes the foundation for equipment consultation. Shawpak Systems' technical advisory team uses these specifications to recommend machinery matched to your actual operational needs rather than oversized or undersized alternatives.

Step 2: Select Equipment That Matches Your Production Scale

Packaging equipment ranges from semi-automatic systems requiring operator intervention to fully automated lines. Semi-automatic machinery suits facilities with moderate volumes or product variety, where operators feed items and the machine applies film, seals, and cuts. Fully automated systems handle high-speed throughput but require consistent product dimensions and dedicated production runs.

Evaluate your options across three dimensions: speed capacity measured in cycles per minute, versatility across product types, and integration with your existing conveyor or manual handling systems. Shrink wrapping equipment specifically requires consideration of film width, heat tunnel temperature control, and cooling speed. A facility producing 500 units per hour needs different machinery than one targeting 2,000 units per hour. Shawpak Systems provides demonstration access at their Centre of Excellence facility, allowing you to test equipment against your actual product specifications before commitment.

Step 3: Plan Installation and Utility Requirements

Industrial packaging equipment demands precise utility infrastructure. Shrink wrapping systems require three-phase electrical service with adequate amperage capacity; undersized service leads to voltage drops that slow heat tunnels and reduce seal quality. Calculate total connected load in kilowatts and confirm your facility panel can support simultaneous operation with other production equipment.

Plan the physical layout with these considerations:

• Infeed and discharge space for product flow (typically 4 to 8 feet on each side)
• Ventilation ducting for heat tunnel exhaust to prevent ambient temperature rise
• Maintenance access on all sides of the machine for film loading and seal adjustment
• Compressed air lines if your equipment uses pneumatic controls
• Drainage if your facility also uses an industrial boot cleaner or other hygiene equipment upstream

Shawpak Systems coordinates with your facility team on these infrastructure details, ensuring electrical, plumbing, and HVAC modifications are completed before equipment arrival and installation begins.

Step 4: Implement Training and Establish Operating Standards

Once equipment is installed and operational, comprehensive operator training determines consistent output quality and equipment longevity. Training must cover film loading procedures, temperature control settings, seal pressure adjustment, and troubleshooting common issues like wrinkled film or incomplete seals. Operators need to understand how product moisture content affects shrink wrap adhesion and how ambient humidity influences film feed tension.

Shawpak Systems provides on-site training tailored to your team's skill level and your equipment's specific features. Beyond initial startup, establish written standard operating procedures documenting optimal settings for each product type you package. Create a daily checklist for equipment inspection: verify film supply, check seal bar temperature calibration, inspect conveyor alignment, and confirm exhaust ventilation function. These procedures prevent operator error and catch maintenance needs before they cause production downtime or quality failures.

Step 5: Establish Preventive Maintenance and Parts Supply

Industrial packaging equipment operates continuously in demanding conditions where film residue, heat stress, and mechanical wear require disciplined maintenance. Develop a preventive maintenance schedule that includes weekly seal bar cleaning to remove film buildup, monthly conveyor belt tension inspection, and quarterly heat tunnel element examination. Document all maintenance activities in a facility log to track equipment performance trends and predict component replacement timing.

Establish a relationship with your equipment supplier for parts availability before problems arise. Common wear items include seal bars, conveyor belts, heat tunnel elements, and film guide rollers. Shawpak Systems maintains parts distribution across Canada and the USA, ensuring you access genuine components quickly rather than facing extended downtime sourcing replacements through multiple vendors. Having critical spare parts on hand, particularly seal bars and conveyor belts, typically costs less than one hour of unscheduled production stoppage.

If your facility also uses a boot cleaning machine or other hygiene equipment, coordinate spare parts ordering to simplify vendor management and reduce administrative overhead. Shawpak Systems supplies the complete range of industrial equipment your facility needs, from hygiene solutions protecting worker safety to packaging machinery ensuring product integrity.

The industrial packaging process succeeds when equipment matches your production demands, infrastructure supports continuous operation, and your team understands both routine procedures and preventive maintenance. Shawpak Systems serves food processing, pharmaceutical, meat processing, and general manufacturing facilities throughout North America, bringing the technical expertise and after-sales support that turns equipment investment into sustained operational advantage. If you are ready to evaluate packaging automation for your facility in Oakville or elsewhere, contact Shawpak Systems to discuss your requirements and arrange a demonstration of equipment matched to your specific production goals.