Ranpak Corp., an innovative global manufacturer of eco-friendly, paper-based packaging products, came to MAGNET Product Design & Development with a unique problem.

The company’s business model revolves around selling biodegradable crinkled paper for commercial packing boxes, eliminating the expense and environmental problems created by Styrofoam “peanuts.”

However, on a packaging production line, decisions about how much packaging material to place in the box was made by individual operators. Overfilling not only wasted the packaging material, it also rendered it ineffective since an overfilled box transmits shock from the box to the product. The company was searching for a way to automate the process that would simultaneously save its existing customers money and create loyalty to their equipment line.