Celebrity-centric blog spots have led to a proliferation of rumors — whether true or not — surrounding those in the public eye. Although this sort of proliferation usually is met with disdain and resistance, SKU proliferation within the consumer packaged goods (CPG) market is fueling a marketplace full of choices. In order to accommodate these choices, though, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are tasked with developing equipment that can manage all of the benefits and challenges that come along with them.
Suppliers from the conveyor industry understand the impact that SKU proliferation has within the CPG market, including the beverage industry. “Proliferation of SKUs means multiple packages [are] running in the same bottling line,” says Tony Gregory, U.S. manager for Posimat, Doral, Fla. “Conveyors have to be flexible in order to accommodate a large range of bottles, and changeovers have to be quick and simple.”