Hanhaa’s system, Parcelive, tracks deliveries along the entire logistics chain via transmitter devices that are placed in parcels and uses GPS and GSM to track their position.
A bottle made out of paper
It is BillerudKorsnäs Venture’s third investment after Denmark-based EcoXpac and Norway-based Kezzler, which assigns digital identities for individual packaging.
EcoXpac specializes in 3D-forming of fiber-based structures. The firm is already working with Carlsberg, Innovation Fund Denmark, and the Technical University of Denmark to bring a product called the “Green Fiber Bottle” to market in the next two years.
BillerudKorsnäs acquired a 10% stake in the company last year to make a bottle made out of paper.
Kezzler enables packaging to be assigned with unique codes at the individual product level for identification at mass scale.
“We believe Kezzler’s technology is highly interesting for packaging for food and other consumer goods where traceability and authenticity is important; it also offers a new channel for real time consumer interaction,” said Anders Persson, MD, BillerudKorsnäs Venture.
It announced an equity investment with Kezzler in October last year to scale its organization in the US, Europe, and Asia.
As part of the investment, Persson will join Kezzler’s board of directors.
Kezzler 'high growth' stage
Thomas Körmendi, CEO, Kezzler, said at the time the company is entering a high growth stage and continues to partner with industrial investors and global innovative packaging companies.
“There is tremendous pressure on food and beverage and pharmaceutical brands to serialize their products and we believe we have the most cost-effective and secure item level product identification at mass volumes in real-time,” he added.
Parcelive’s sensors measure and report in real time the condition of packaged goods, their location and what they have been exposed to in terms of temperature, drops and knocks.
Persson said the system works regardless of country, scale or carrier and the devices are managed using a return system. The recipient pushes a button to prompt the display of a return address and then posts the device back.
“Together with Hanhaa, we’re continuing to build tomorrow’s Internet of Packaging,” said Persson.
“Expanding our digital services allows us to continue challenging conventional packaging for a sustainable future.”
BillerudKorsnäs Venture was created last year to develop new business by partnering with start-up companies.
Azhar Hussain, CEO, Hanhaa, added Parcelive is suited to logistics optimization, continuous cold chain management, high-value goods and time-critical shipments, for example allowing maintenance engineers to avoid expensive production losses by tracking consignments and precisely planning trips to customers.
“BillerudKorsnäs’ wide-ranging skills and network within sustainable and efficient packaging make them a perfect partner as we take our technology into the logistics and packaging industry on a large scale,” he said.