What is EPR?
Learn how rising Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) state laws impact fashion ecommerce margins, and how right-sized packaging automation cuts fees.
The Next Pharmacy Automation Challenge Is Not More Volume. It Is More Complexity.
Mail order pharmacy fulfillment is changing. The next challenge for pharmacy automation is not simply handling more prescriptions, it is handling more complex prescriptions efficiently, accurately, and at scale.
The Cost of Standing Still: What Delaying Automation Is Really Costing Your Business
The cost of delaying automation in your business is causing more financial distress than you may think. Access the automation and packaging solutions for your operation today!
Automation Shifts From Optional to Essential – MODEX 2026 Insights You Can’t Pass Up
Tension had the pleasure of attending the 2026 MODEX show in Atlanta this year. From April 13-16, we connected with customers, partners, and fellow industry leaders. This blog outlines some of our key takeaways.
MODEX 2026 made one thing clear: the industry is moving faster, thinking smarter, and demanding more from automation. Across every conversation, one theme consistently surfaced. How to do more with less, without adding complexity.
Hear from three of our subject matter experts on what to look out for in packaging and automation this year.
Automation Has Shifted from Optional to Essential
“The biggest takeaway is that automation is not a ‘nice to have’—it’s a requirement. We are seeing customers being much more strategic in their purchases. They are not looking for one-off pieces of machinery, they want to see how it fits into their entire system.”
— Jim Herbert, VP & GM of Tension Packaging & Automation
That sentiment echoed across our conversations. What stood out even more was how companies are approaching automation. There is a clear shift toward practical systems that can be deployed quickly and scaled over time.
Want to know more about how to start small and scale with confidence?
Intelligence Is Becoming the Differentiator
“Warehouse technology isn’t simply automated; it is becoming more adaptive… capable of making real time operational decisions.”
— Erin Moloney, Account Executive
Robotics were everywhere at MODEX, but the real story was the intelligence layered on top. AI-driven optimization, adaptive workflows, and smarter decision making are reshaping fulfillment operations. When paired with packaging automation platforms like fitPACK500™ and HPS300, these technologies create connected workflows that are faster, more efficient, and more responsive.
See how fitPACK500™ is driving smarter packaging outcomes:
Labor and Cost Pressures Continue to Drive Urgency
“No matter how large or small a company is, the goal is to further automate their warehouses and distribution centers.”
— Jeff Ringel, Account Executive
Labor challenges remain one of the most pressing issues. Companies are struggling to find and retain qualified workers, leading to inconsistent operations.
At the same time, rising costs and economic uncertainty are pushing organizations to rethink how they operate. Automation is about more than efficiency. It is about stability and long-term sustainability.
Explore automation strategies built for today’s labor challenges:
Flexibility Over Complexity
“There’s a common belief that more automation always equals better outcomes. In reality, the key is thoughtful system design.”
— Jim Herbert, VP & GM of Tension Automation & Packaging
As automation adoption increases, so does the need for balance. Overly complex systems can create new bottlenecks instead of solving them.
Customers are looking for flexibility, systems that handle variability, and solutions that integrate cleanly with existing operations.
Learn how to design automation systems that actually work together:
MODEX 2026 offered a clear preview of where the industry is heading. Not toward isolated machines solving single tasks, but toward connected systems working together intelligently.
The opportunity is not just to automate. It is to automate with purpose.
Start building a smarter, more connected operation by getting in touch now.
3 Ways Sustainable Packaging Helps Your Operation Reduce Waste
Sustainability in high volume packaging is no longer a tradeoff. The expectation is clear: reduce waste, lower environmental impact, and maintain the speed and precision operations depend on. At Tension Packaging & Automation, sustainability is built into our daily operations, combining material innovation with automation that drives measurable efficiency.
1. Right-Sized Packaging Helps Eliminates Excess
Packaging should fit the product, not the other way around. Automated right-size packaging reduces excess material, eliminates unnecessary void fill, and improves cube efficiency across every shipment. The result is less waste, lower shipping costs, and a more efficient operation from pack out to delivery. Read our Sustainability Promise.
2. Recycled Materials Engineered for Performance
Sustainable materials must perform at scale. Recycled polybags, including C-fold configurations, are designed to run consistently in high-speed automated environments while incorporating recycled content. This allows organizations to reduce their environmental footprint without introducing risk to throughput or system reliability.
3. System Level Efficiency That Reduces Impact
Sustainability is driven by how the entire system performs. Integrated automation reduces manual handling, streamlines workflows, and minimizes variability across operations. Fewer touchpoints and optimized processes lead to reduced waste, lower energy usage, and a more controlled, efficient packaging environment.
Tension continues to expand sustainable packaging solutions through collaboration with material partners. This includes recyclable padded mailers and paper-based alternatives that reduce reliance on plastic while maintaining durability and protection during distribution.
These options allow organizations to align packaging choices with broader sustainability goals without sacrificing performance.
You Are What You Repeatedly Choose
Sustainable packaging is not a single decision. It is a system level strategy that requires the right materials, the right automation, and the right partner.
Explore how Tension Packaging & Automation can help you reduce waste, improve efficiency, and scale smarter with sustainable solutions.
Talk with one of our experts about sustainable solutions without environmental compromise.
MODEX 2026 fitPACK500™ Demo and Anniversary Celebration
Tension Packaging & Automation will showcase the company’s latest advances in automation and celebrate Tension Corporation’s 140th anniversary during MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, April 13-16, 2026.
Tension Corporation Celebrates 140 Years
As we honor Tension Corporation’s 140th anniversary, discover where we started, and how our heritage continues to inspire innovation within the Packaging & Automation industry, as well as the Envelope & Print industry.
Get It Right the First Time: How PharmaPATH Maximizes Accuracy in Pharmacy Fulfillment
Find out how PharmaPATH helps pharmacies reduce dispensing errors, ensure compliance, and deliver every order with confidence.
Modular Automation: How to Start Small & Scale Big in Your Warehouse
Modular automation helps warehouses start small, reduce risk, and scale efficiently over time without costly system overhauls or operational disruption.
Built to Scale: How PharmaPATH Supports Growing Pharmacies Without Growing Pains
Summary
As pharmacies expand their prescription volumes, outdated systems can become a bottleneck. Without scalable pharmacy automation systems, growing operations can face fulfillment slowdowns, staffing challenges, and costly workarounds. This blog explores how PharmaPATH’s modular, task-based architecture reduces those issues and allows you to scale effortlessly while maintaining efficiency and accuracy.
Key Takeaways
PharmaPATH is a scalable pharmacy workflow solution that grows with your prescription volume and staffing model.
Its modular, single-task station design allows you to expand operations without disrupting existing workflows.
It reduces risks and costs by eliminating the need for system overhauls or retraining.
Why Scalability Matters in Pharmacy Fulfillment
Modern pharmacies are evolving. Whether you’re growing due to eCommerce, expanding to serve multiple locations, or simply seeing higher demand from patients, your workflow solution must keep up. The challenge for high-volume pharmacies isn’t just handling today’s load. It’s also preparing for tomorrow’s growth. When the system reaches its limits, the result is slower turnaround, frustrated teams, more errors, and expensive workarounds. That’s why scalable pharmacy workflow solutions like PharmaPATH are critical. Designed with growth in mind, PharmaPATH ensures your back-end operations drive your success. No need to rip and replace. No need to slow down to scale up.
A Modular System That Grows With You
PharmaPATH is built around a modular structure of single-task workstations. That means your team can add capacity exactly where and when you need it, whether that’s at a packaging station, a pharmacist verification point, or during manual dispensing. As your order volume increases, your processes can scale seamlessly—without reworking your entire system. This kind of flexibility is essential for growing pharmacies, especially those juggling high throughput with strict compliance requirements. Start with a few core workstations and expand gradually, adding new equipment or software modules from the Tension line as needed. All of it integrates with your existing system through our TensionCONNECT interface. With PharmaPATH, scalability is not a future add-on, it’s built into the foundation.
Growth Without Complexity or Downtime
Scaling operations usually means downtime. With PharmaPATH, you don’t need to stop the line to grow. New stations can be added without disrupting current production, and thanks to the intuitive, single-task design, your staff needs minimal training to onboard. This helps your pharmacy avoid the classic “scaling friction” that creates confusion and delays. Instead, the system adapts to your workflow. The command center dynamically routes orders based on available capacity and station configuration. As you grow, the system grows smarter, automatically optimizing routing for speed and efficiency. Whether you’re adding staff, increasing prescription load, or expanding physical space, PharmaPATH lets you do it on your terms.
Future-Proofing Your Pharmacy
The most successful pharmacy operations are the ones that think ahead. Investing in scalable pharmacy automation means you’re not just solving today’s problems, you’re preventing tomorrow’s. With PharmaPATH, your pharmacy is ready for increased demand, seasonal spikes, new product categories, or geographic expansion. Everything is tracked, audited, and managed through the centralized server, so you stay compliant and efficient at scale. Whether you’re aiming for 2,000 or 20,000 prescriptions a day, PharmaPATH can support you every step of the way. No workflow bottlenecks, no custom re-coding, and no capacity limits. It’s pharmacy fulfillment without growing pains.
Your pharmacy’s growth shouldn’t be limited by your software. With PharmaPATH, you’re equipped with a pharmacy automation platform that grows with you smoothly, efficiently, and without compromise. If you’re ready to future-proof your fulfillment operation, PharmaPATH is the partner to scale with.