Summary of Innovation
WestRock’s Meta®?BornDigital™?automation system — an integrated case-forming and inline tagging system — accurately applies labels, tags and sensors to a strategic location inside the box to enable tracking of goods for improved inventory management and traceability across the entire supply chain. With box-forming and tag application in one machine, this innovative solution can help protect the tag from harsh environments and optimize its readability. It can also help customers meet mandates for tagging by QSRs and retailers while minimizing disruption to operations.
With increased throughput and lower labor dependency compared to manual tagging options, the automated tag application keeps pace with high-speed case-forming. The solution is highly flexible and offers fast format changes and multichannel adaptability, and can adapt to future tag and sensor technology, such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tags. Meta®?BornDigital™?automation can potentially help reduce waste, food spoilage, counterfeiting and loss of product. And with circularity in mind, the integrated tag also offers the opportunity to gather data on the recovery and recycling of fiber-based packaging as it enters the MRF and is detected through proper reading infrastructure.
Innovation Statement
Meta®?BornDigital™?automation sets a new standard in track and trace with its ability to apply smart tags on the inside of the package during case forming. The system even tests that tags are working before they’re applied, which can help reduce waste. This innovation is built upon a proven mandrel-forming technology (Meta® platform) that delivers consistent and accurate case forming across multiple end market applications.
Applicability
With options to apply tags to packaging in their own facility at the time of case forming OR order pre-tagged boxes, WestRock’s Meta®?BornDigital™?solution — an integrated case-forming and inline tagging system — eliminates the tedious manual application of smart tags enables the tracking of goods for improved inventory management and helps companies meet mandates for tagging by QSRs and retailers while minimizing disruption to operations.
| Posted Date | 1/22/24 |
| Contact | MAURIZIO CARANO |
| Contact Email | maurizio.carano[at]westrock.com |
| Category | Best Innovation of an Existing Product |