The packaging industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation, with activity driven by multipurpose suitability, digitisation, and convenience and growing importance of technologies such as bio-degradable packaging, near field communication (NFC), and connected packaging. In the last three years alone, there have been over 310,000 patents filed and granted in the packaging industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Internet of Things in Packaging: Mechanically Actuated Dispenser Packaging.

However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilising and reaching maturity. 

Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have. 

80+ innovations will shape the packaging industry 

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the packaging industry using innovation intensity models built on over 87,000 patents, there are 80+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry. 

Within the emerging innovation stage, autonomous vehicles for warehousing, shipment tracking and authentication, and automated mixers and dispensers are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Mechanically actuated dispenser packaging and automated bundling tools are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are automated tissue dispenser and dosage metering type vials, which are now well established in the industry.  

Innovation S-curve for Internet of Things in the packaging industry

Mechanically actuated dispenser packaging is a key innovation area in Internet of Things 

Mechanically actuated dispenser packaging systems are increasingly being used in LED assembly industry for a variety of reasons including efficient storage, safer handling, easier opening and portion control. They are considered as a good fit for any automated process that uses fluids with fluctuating viscosities. 

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 10+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established packaging companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of mechanically actuated dispenser packaging. 

Key players in mechanically actuated dispenser packaging – a disruptive innovation in the packaging industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of different applications identified for each relevant patent and broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators. 

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of different countries each relevant patent is registered in and reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’. 

Patent volumes related to mechanically actuated dispenser packaging

Company	Total patents (2010 - 2021)	Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Kimberly-Clark	97	Unlock company profile
Procter & Gamble	49	Unlock company profile
Unicharm	47	Unlock company profile
SCA Hygiene Products	35	Unlock company profile
AptarGroup	32	Unlock company profile
Unilever	29	Unlock company profile
Daio Paper	23	Unlock company profile
Essity	22	Unlock company profile
Altevo	19	Unlock company profile
Johnson & Johnson	16	Unlock company profile
C. H. Boehringer & Sohn	15	Unlock company profile
LINDAL Dispenser	14	Unlock company profile
Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget	10	Unlock company profile
3M	9	Unlock company profile
Taiki	9	Unlock company profile
SmartWave Technologies	8	Unlock company profile
Coster Tecnologie Speciali	6	Unlock company profile
L'Oreal	6	Unlock company profile
Sca Tissue France	5	Unlock company profile

Kimberly-Clark is one of the leading patent filers in mechanically actuated dispenser packaging. In February 2022, Kimberly Clark launched ICON dispenser collection, which includes a first-of-its-kind dispenser that offers interchangeable and customisable faceplate options to elevate commercial washrooms with added sophistication and enhanced functionality. Some other key patent filers in mechanically actuated dispenser packaging include Procter & Gamble, Unicharm, SCA Hygiene Products and AptarGroup. 

Johnson & Johnson leads the pack in terms of application diversity. Sca Tissue France and 3M are in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, C. H. Boehringer Sohn held the top position, followed by Altevo and Unicharm. 

Mechanically actuated dispenser packaging will be a revolutionary innovation in the packaging industry as it provides efficient storage, safer handling, and easier opening from the container. To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the packaging industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Internet of Things (IoT) in Packaging.

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