Peak season fulfillment spikes expose operational bottlenecks across packaging, labeling, and sortation. Operations must build flexibility to optimize efficiency. Implementing solutions like SLAM (Scan, Label, Apply, Manifest) systems and right-sized packaging eliminates manual touches, reduces dimensional weight costs, and boosts throughput. Read how targeted automation and staff training enables fulfillment operations to handle Q4 volume surges.
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 delaying automation in your business is causing more financial distress than you may think. Access the automation and packaging solutions for your operation today!
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?
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 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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Modular automation helps warehouses start small, reduce risk, and scale efficiently over time without costly system overhauls or operational disruption.
