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Metsä Board bundles research, development and design

In order to simplify processes and accelerate material and packaging development, the Finnish cardboard manufacturer Metsä Board has set up its Excellence Centre at the Äänekoski site.

Even for the most experienced packaging manufacturers, it is always a challenge to find new solutions that optimally protect the contents during transport and, in the best case, are also sustainable. And all tested and produced in the shortest possible time.

The pharmaceutical industry in particular is growing strongly and with it the need for safe packaging options. At the same time, the current global situation shows that quick solutions are required. However, safety must not suffer in the process. What they are looking for are packaging solutions that can withstand extreme temperature conditions.

(Image: Metsä Board)

In order to simplify processes and speed up material and packaging development, the Finnish cardboard manufacturer Metsä Board established its Excellence Centre at the Äänekoski site. Research and development facilities, a packaging design studio, a customer feedback centre and a state-of-the-art laboratory come together in an area of 1,500 square metres and offer optimal conditions for quickly developing sustainable and safe packaging solutions through close networking.

Do not compromise

The result is not only appealing designs that are convincing at the PoS, but also sustainable packaging that is specially tailored to the diverse requirements placed on it. This also includes testing them thoroughly: More than one hundred different measurement methods and analysis tools are available in the Excellence Centre's laboratory for this purpose. This is because the packaging must also be able to withstand the real-life conditions to which it is permanently exposed as part of the supply chain. This includes, for example, cyclical changes in temperature and humidity.

Display

Over 100 tools map the real conditions to which packaging is exposed during the supply chain as accurately as possible. (Image: Metsä Board)

"With the careful analyses, we give our customers the assurance that the packaging meets the high requirements. And if our results do not confirm this, we can recommend an alternative based on the data,“ explains Iiro Numminen, Structural Packaging Designer at Metsä Board. His job is to optimise packaging so that it offers optimum stability while using as little material as possible.

The 3D Experience platform from Dassault Systèmes can also be used in the Excellence Centre. This simulation technology enables an 85 per cent acceleration compared to conventional development methods. At the same time, they can be used to identify optimal packaging materials and structures and to minimise CO2-balance sheet.

Bundling competences

So-called co-creation workshops help to further increase efficiency. Here, material suppliers, technology providers, start-ups, universities and research companies come together at the (currently digital) table and pool their expertise. From the development of completely new solutions to the optimisation of existing packaging, everything is conceivable. This example shows how important a platform is for uncomplicated collaboration between customers and technology partners worldwide. This allows many problems to be recognised and avoided even before the test phase. All these measures combine to support companies in bringing pharmaceutical products to market and onto the shelves faster and yet safely.

Source: Metsä Board

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