BW Packaging integrates divisions into a single entity to maximize innovation

Photo courtesy of BW Packaging

INCREASED EFFICIENCIES — BW Packaging notes some of the trends in demand for cheese and dairy today include higher speeds, increased throughput, simplified machine operation, and the growing role of automation and hygienic design.

Photo courtesy of BW Packaging

HYGIENIC DESIGN — The Hayssen ISB Sanitary Bagger from BW Packaging delivers industry-leading hygiene, intuitive design and high-performance bagging for cheese and dairy applications.

By Alyssa Mitchell

ST. LOUIS — BW Packaging, Barry-Wehmiller’s packaging machinery business based in St. Louis, recently announced that the company now is operating as a single, unified organization under the BW Packaging brand, transitioning from its three business units — BW Flexible Systems, BW
Filling & Closing and BW Integrated Systems — to one focused, product line-oriented business. Company officials say the strategic move will simplify the business experience for its customers by consolidating flexible, rigid and end-of-line packaging solutions into a single entity, allowing customers to engage with BW as a one-stop shop and benefit from integrated solutions.

Founded in 2016, the BW Packaging platform historically has operated as the glue between distinct packaging machinery businesses acquired by Barry-Wehmiller. Now, the unified BW Packaging business is strengthening its focus on investing strategically in product development and support for its portfolio of branded equipment. These brands include Ambec, Angelus, Arcil, Burt, Continental/Closetech,
Dairy Pack, Fleetwood, Goldco, Harland, Hayssen, Hema, Mateer, Nigrelli, Pneumatic Scale, Sleevit, SWF, SYMACH, Thiele, Trine and Zepf Solutions.

• Strategic leadership

“We couldn’t be more excited about what this transformation means for our team members, customers and industry partners,” says Rachana Creeth, president, BW Packaging.

“In addition to strengthening collaboration among our 2,000-plus team members globally, the single BW Packaging structure positions us to solve our customers’ most complex challenges through integrated packaging solutions while enabling us to deliver on our core Barry-Wehmiller values — to touch the lives of our team members and our customers in an even greater way.”

By bringing its divisions together under the unified BW Packaging brand, BW Packaging has enhanced its ability to deliver innovative packaging solutions across its core markets and leverage its aligned team to provide greater responsiveness and services to customers around the world.

“Our collective expertise and shared commitment mean customers can expect more agile support and forward-thinking solutions,” says Denning Saum, chief product and marketing officer, BW Packaging. “No matter where they are, we’re dedicated to providing a seamless, elevated experience for every customer we serve.”

Saum notes that the restructuring provides team members with opportunities to work across product lines and functions, promoting growth, fulfillment and the sharing of expertise, which previously was limited by divisional boundaries. It also enables the pooling of research and development (R&D) talent, allowing mechanical designers and engineers to collaborate across different machine platforms and product portfolios to accelerate innovation and problem-solving. Additionally, the new structure allows for more flexible use of manufacturing sites and resources, with the potential for sites to work on multiple product lines and for talent to move between machine portfolios, maximizing output and efficiency.

Throughout the transition, current contracts and purchase orders will remain in effect without disruption, and transactions with all BW Packaging entities will remain unchanged, ensuring customers and suppliers experience no issues with their ongoing projects or agreements, officials note. Any future organizational or legal entity changes that may impact customers and suppliers will be communicated well in advance to provide ample time for planning, they add.

“Our customers can feel confident that their current agreements and daily operations will continue seamlessly as we move forward,” says Matt Venezia, chief commercial officer, BW Packaging.

“Looking ahead, our priority is to keep our partners informed every step of the way, making transitions as smooth and predictable as possible.”

In addition to Creeth, Saum and Venezia, BW Packaging’s experienced and ready-to-serve senior leadership team includes Pete Carlson, chief operating officer; Eric Collier, chief automation and integration officer; Heath Eckert, chief finance and administration officer; Geoff Nykin, chief strategy and enablement officer; and Greg Wolf, chief strategic initiatives officer. Since announcing this transformation internally to its team members in June, the BW Packaging senior leadership team has appointed 150-plus team members to leadership positions to help steer the updated BW Packaging organization toward its vision of becoming a formidable, global packaging partner and trusted advisor to customers.

• Innovative cheese solutions

BW Packaging’s new unified structure enables the company to focus on markets where it can deliver the most value, such as the cheese and dairy sector, by leveraging consolidated offerings to address customer needs across integrated lines.

“By consolidating product lines, BW can address a customer’s needs across the entire operation, offering solutions like flow wrappers, vertical baggers, fillers and thermoform fill seals as part of an integrated package,” Saum says.

Brantley Turner, senior product manager, horizontal flow wrap solutions for BW Packaging, notes some of the trends in demand for cheese and dairy today include higher speeds, increased throughput, simplified machine operation, and the growing role of automation and hygienic design.

“Customers are seeking higher speeds and greater throughput to maximize output in limited facility space, with a focus on reducing scrap and downtime,” Turner says.

Due to high operator turnover, there is a demand for machines that are easy to operate and allow for rapid onboarding, with BW focusing on intuitive interfaces and streamlined training approaches, he adds, noting that new equipment platforms offer complete washdown capabilities, which is becoming a standard expectation in cheese packaging.

• Up and coming

BW Packaging has some exciting innovations coming online soon, including a new slice and chunk cheese flow wrapper, as well as ongoing development of mid-speed machines and a continued focus on intuitive human-machine interfaces (HMIs) and vertical baggers for foodservice shreds.

Turner notes the new machine for slice and chunk cheese flow wrapping will offer higher throughput, speed and reduced maintenance, and will be showcased at upcoming trade shows. A second machine in early development is aimed at the mid-speed market, incorporating the same design principles of improved throughput and simplified operation.

Meanwhile, the Hayssen ISB vertical form-fill-seal bagger incorporates the same ease-of-use and performance features, while the move to standard HMIs across all BW packaging equipment will ensure a consistent and intuitive user experience for operators regardless of machine type.

Looking ahead, Saum notes BW’s vision is to become a formidable global solutions provider in packaging.

“We’ve had pockets of great opportunity and success, but it’s about bringing all of our capabilities and talents together to be a key provider in the packaging space,” she says. “We wanted to offer more opportunities to our team members to work across product lines and functions, to grow and do things in a new way, so they can feel more fulfilled every day when they come to work.”

Bringing these functions together also allows BW Packaging to focus on its customer and all of their needs to help them maximize their full operation rather than a single machine, Saum adds.

“It’s important that we deeply understand our customers’ unique challenges and market drivers to enable BW Packaging to become a true partner and deliver tailored solutions,” she says. “Cheese has evolved a lot — the way people eat it and consume it, and the niche markets for speciality — and we want to make sure our equipment is well suited for all of those needs.”

CMN

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