Mid-year volume spikes don’t send advance notice. Whether you’re ramping up for summer retail peaks, back-to-school season, or a surge in e-commerce orders, one truth holds across every distribution center and warehouse floor, equipment that hasn’t been serviced won’t survive the rush.
Here’s how to make sure your packaging line is ready — and how IPG’s service programs can help you scale with confidence.
WHY IT MATTERS
The Cost of Unplanned Downtime During Peak Season
A tape head that jams, a case sealer running at reduced speed, or a stretch wrapper with degraded film tension — these aren’t minor inconveniences when order volume doubles. Unplanned packaging line downtime during a volume spike can mean missed shipment windows, increased labor costs, damaged goods, and dissatisfied customers.
Proactive packaging equipment maintenance is the most cost-effective strategy for high-volume operations. The window before mid-year demand builds is the right time to act.
YOUR PRE-PEAK CHECKLIST
5 Things to Do Before Volume Spikes Hit
-
Schedule a preventive maintenance visit. IPG’s machinery support team services case sealers, tape heads, stretch wrappers, case erectors, palletizers, and more. -
Run a packaging diagnostics assessment. IPG’s Packaging Diagnostics program evaluates your entire end-of-line operation, from tape adhesion and case seal integrity to stretch wrap efficiency — and identifies vulnerabilities before they become failures.
-
Stock up on spare parts and consumables. Tape heads, film rolls, and wear components should be on hand before demand peaks. Running out mid-shift isn’t an option.
-
Optimize your stretch wrap settings with Gear Up. IPG’s Gear Up program reviews your pre-stretch percentage and wrap efficiency — small adjustments often yield significant film savings and improved load integrity at higher throughput.
-
Consider iTrack monitoring. IPG’s iTrack system monitors tape usage in real time, flagging low-tape or no-tape conditions before they result in unsealed cartons leaving your facility.
IPG SERVICE PROGRAMS
End-to-End Support for Your Packaging Equipment
IPG services the full range of packaging equipment — including competitor systems — giving you a single partner with the expertise to resolve issues quickly across your entire line.
The IPG machinery support team is equipped to service a full range of packaging line equipment:
-
Case sealers (semi-automatic and automatic)
-
Case erectors and case packers
-
Palletizers
-
Stretch and shrink wrappers
-
Water-activated tape (WAT) dispensers and tape heads
-
Vision inspection systems (SafeSeal AI)
-
E-commerce mailing machines
-
Cartoners
IPG TAPE PORTFOLIO
Three IPG Programs Built for Growing Operations
|
Packaging Diagnostics: A comprehensive checkup of your end-of-line packaging operation. IPG evaluates tape performance, case seal quality (AF2K testing), and machine efficiency — and delivers actionable recommendations. |
|
Gear Up: Expert analysis of your stretch wrapping process. IPG optimizes pre-stretch settings, film selection, and wrap cycles to improve load containment while reducing film consumption — especially important at higher volumes. |
|
Machinery Service & Support: IPG’s dedicated machinery support team provides expert guidance, preventive maintenance scheduling, and hands-on field service for the full range of IPG-serviced equipment. |
BOTTOM LINE
Don’t Let Your Equipment Be the Bottleneck
The packaging line that runs flawlessly at your baseline volume is not automatically ready for two or three times that output. Tape heads wear. Sealer belts degrade. Film tension drifts. When order volume spikes, those small issues become major failures.
IPG’s service programs are designed to get ahead of those failures — before your peak season begins. Whether you need a full packaging line assessment, a Gear Up stretch wrap optimization, or scheduled preventive maintenance on a specific machine, IPG has the expertise to keep your operation moving.
