Abstract: Techniques for improving packaging systems are described. In an example, a computer system receives item data from a workstation. The item data includes a description of an item. The workstation is configured to facilitate packaging of the item. Based at least in part on an input to the predictive model, the computer system generates a package decision indicating a package type associated with the packaging of the item. The input is based at least in part on the item data. The predictive model is trained based at least in part on damage data associated with packaging. The computer system sends the package decision to the workstation.

Abstract: Techniques for improving packaging systems are described. In an example, a computer system receives item data from a workstation. The item data includes a description of an item. The computer system also receives fit parameters. The fit parameters adjust the fit of items within packaging. The workstation is configured to facilitate packaging of the item. Based at least in part on an input to a packaging decision system, the computer system generates a package decision indicating a package type associated with the packaging of the item. The input is based at least in part on the item data. The packaging decision system is trained based at least in part on packaging data associated with historical item orders. The computer system sends the package decision to the workstation.

Abstract: A padded mailer includes elongated air cells that provide stiffness, especially in the transverse direction. The increased stiffness helps prevent the mailer from flipping over during conveying, which would put a label on the underside of the mailer.

Abstract: A padded mailer includes ribs that provide stiffness, especially in the transverse direction. The increased stiffness helps prevent the mailer from flipping over during conveying, which would put a label on the underside of the mailer.

Abstract: A reinforced shipping container along with method for generating the reinforced shipping container are described herein. A digital model of the shipping container is received and simulated with an expected load. The expected load may represent an expected loading scenario for the shipping container during shipment. A reinforcement profile is determined based on stress data developed from the simulation to increase a strength-to-weight ratio of the shipping container. The reinforcement profile is used to apply a reinforcing agent to a substrate used to form the shipping container in a selective manner to reinforce regions of the shipping container that will experience stresses during shipping.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a packaging material wraps around an object so as to protect the object from damage. The material has a substrate and a plurality of adhesive members adhered to the substrate, each having a plurality of microspheres. The adhesive members are arranged on the surface in a pattern so as to define first and second pluralities of pairs of linear arrays of the adhesive members. The linear arrays of the first plurality are elongate along a first direction and are spaced from one another so as to define a first bending gap between the linear arrays in each pair of the first plurality. The linear arrays of the second plurality are elongate along a second direction, angularly offset from the first direction, and are spaced from one another so as to define a second bending gap between the linear arrays of each pair of the second plurality.

Abstract: A customer profile for each user of a plurality of users is generated based on purchase history and reception of meals by the each user. A preferential fabric for each user is generated based on attributes of ingredients and dishes preferred by the user according to the user's customer profile. Users are clustered together according to the similarities of the preferential fabrics thereof. A sample product is selected based on its attributes having a high correspondence to the preferential fabrics of the users of a cluster. The sample product is transmitted to a portion of the users of the cluster and a response thereto is evaluated. In response to positive reception, direct shipment of the sample product to the cluster is invoked, bypassing a retail store. The sample product may therefore have a shelf life shorter than required to stock the sample product in a conventional retail store.