FORT WASHINGTON, PA — Amtech has introduced software for corrugated manufacturers that adds hand assembly and contract packaging management to its production platform, reflecting growing demand for value-added packaging services as rising containerboard costs pressure industry margins.
According to the company, the new capabilities are designed to help box and sheet plants manage hand assembly, assembled products, fulfillment operations and contract packaging from a centralized system rather than relying on multiple standalone tools.
The launch comes as corrugated manufacturers seek to diversify revenue beyond traditional box production. Higher containerboard and sheet costs have squeezed profitability, while customers increasingly are requesting packaging services such as kitting, retail displays, pack-out and fulfillment.
Amtech’s new offering consists of two software modules. EnCore Assembled Products is designed for managing kits, displays, sets and other hand assembly workflows. EnCore Contract Packaging expands those capabilities to support contract packaging and co-manufacturing operations, including customer-supplied materials, component tracking, production reconciliation, variance reporting and audit support.
The company also added hand assembly scheduling to its Advanced Planning Board, allowing manufacturers to coordinate converting operations with downstream assembly work. Amtech indicated the functionality provides greater visibility into staffing requirements, production capacity and labor hours while linking converting schedules with fulfillment activities.
“Amtech worked directly with the industry to deliver a solution that simplifies the planning, scheduling, execution, and tracking of assembled products and contract packaging,” Danna Nelson, the company’s senior vice president of products, said in a statement.
The company indicated integrating those workflows into its EnCore platform is intended to reduce reliance on spreadsheets, internally developed databases and software designed primarily for third-party logistics providers. The platform also supports production reporting, inventory management and scheduling within a single operating system.
Amtech described the software suite as part of its broader effort to help corrugated manufacturers expand into higher-value products and services that are less dependent on fluctuations in containerboard and sheet pricing.
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