Wrapping Things Up

The Packaging Engineer’s Survival Guide: Adapting to a Changing Industry

Viking Masek Season 1 Episode 5

In this episode of Wrapping Things Up, host Meredith Denning sits down with Lucas Daane, Applications Engineering Manager at Viking Masek, to explore how packaging engineering is evolving with the rise of Industry 5.0.

Lucas unpacks how manufacturers are shifting from designing everything in-house to relying on smart systems and integrators, and what this means for the role of engineers today. They also dig into collaborative robotics, augmented reality for service, and how engineers can become automation influencers (and avoid project-killing scope creep).

Whether you're on the plant floor or planning the next system rollout, this episode delivers key insights into the intersection of packaging, automation, and human collaboration.

What you’ll learn:

  • The difference between Industry 4.0 vs 5.0, and why it matters now
  • How engineers can thrive in an age of automation, data, and AR
  • Why labor shortages are the #1 disruptor in packaging today
  • Tips to prevent automation projects from failing due to bad scope or planning
  • The rise of pre-made pouches, spout packaging, and refillable formats in CPG

Plus: clever packaging innovations Lucas can’t stop thinking about (spoiler: pancake batter pouches).

Subscribe to Wrapping Things Up for more smart takes on packaging innovation, automation, and engineering.