The packaging industry is moving faster than ever — and the decisions companies make about automation in the next 3–5 years will define whether they keep up or fall behind.

In this episode, Meredith sits down with Bryan Lacy, President and Chief Revenue Officer at Viking Masek, for an unfiltered look at what's actually happening in the packaging equipment market right now. Bryan brings nearly 14 years of industry experience to the conversation — and he doesn't hold back.

What we cover:

• Why labor shortages (not growth targets) are the real driver behind packaging automation investment
• The generational knowledge gap hitting manufacturing floors right now
• Why automation isn't replacing your workforce — and the ATM analogy that explains it perfectly
• How the capital equipment buying process has fundamentally changed since COVID
• The hidden cost of slow decision-making that most buyers never calculate
• What the "handshake deal" era left behind — and why contracts matter more than ever
• Why flexibility is the most underrated factor when speccing a packaging line
• What Bryan would tell any buyer making a capital investment with a 5-year horizon

Whether you're evaluating a packaging line purchase, managing a production operation, or just trying to make sense of where the industry is headed — this episode gives you a ground-level view from someone who talks to customers, operators, and leadership teams every day.