Amy Wurth and Amanda Vernaglia Trusted Insights.png

Growing up, Saturday mornings were sacred. For kids like us in the '80s, it was all about cartoons: The Flintstones gave us a prehistoric twist on everyday life, but of course, The Jetsons were even cooler; they were the future! Set in 2062, now just a mere 37 years away, The Jetsons envisioned flying cars, robot maids, and voice-activated everything; it felt like pure fantasy. Looking back after two decades in engineering, sales, and business operations, we’re starting to think Hanna-Barbera wasn’t really describing the impossible; they were just fuzzy on the timeline. 

Over the past twenty years, we’ve witnessed a technological evolution that would have felt like science fiction not long ago. Two-hour grocery deliveries are now expected. Computers that once filled entire rooms now sit on our wrists. And in warehouses across the world, robots are moving goods with a level of autonomy and precision that rival human hands. As we look back on the systems we’ve built, sold, and optimized throughout our careers, one thing is clear: the future isn’t waiting for 2062, it’s on our dock doors right now. 

We’re seeing it in AI-powered fulfillment centers, autonomous vehicles that navigate like swarms, and predictive logistics that anticipate demand before an order is even placed. But while the headlines focus on the flash: robots, drones, and machine learning, we believe the real magic happens in the infrastructure. And that’s where Rehrig Pacific is helping shape what’s next. 

The Unsung Hero of Automation 

Automation likes consistency and repeatability. A slightly warped pallet or an unexpectedly misaligned tote might seem like a small issue, but in a fully automated system, it can bring operations to a grinding halt with quickly cascading consequences. When people ask us what it will take to unlock truly unmanned, autonomous warehouses, we say that it doesn’t start with robots; it starts with recovery. Every jammed conveyor, blocked sensor, or misread label still requires a human to step in, reset, and restart the system. 

To eliminate those moments, the infrastructure must be flawless. The containers matter. Their details matter. Precision matters. Rehrig Pacific’s injection-molded plastic solutions are engineered with exacting tolerances and built to integrate seamlessly with robotics, AS/RS, and AI-driven workflows. We know that if we want to build a future where warehouses run themselves, we need to start by building tools that never get in the way. 

Smart Containers for Smarter Systems  

Rehrig Pacific’s products aren’t just durable; they’re intelligent. With built-in RFID and the ability to integrate with GPS and IoT, they’ve evolved from passive containers into active participants in the supply chain. These assets don’t just move products; they move data. They tell you where they are, how they’re being used, and when they need attention. That means real-time visibility, predictive maintenance, and smarter decisions at every node of the operation. 

In a world where warehouses will communicate by adjusting inventory, rerouting shipments, and optimizing labor in real-time, we believe the containers inside them should be part of that conversation. Imagine a tote that alerts your system when it’s nearing the end of its beneficial use, or a pallet that flags a deviation in its route before it becomes a problem. It’s not science fiction; it’s today. 

Rehrig Pacific’s design team doesn’t just throw in technology for the sake of it. They collaborate alongside customers to address real-world problems like loss prevention, asset tracking, or throughput optimization. This results in solutions that are engineered for durability, field-tested for harsh environments, and future-proofed for automation. 

Let’s face it, 2062 isn’t that far off. The Jetsons may have had flying cars and robot maids, but we’ve got object recognition systems and smart containers. Turns out, Hanna-Barbera was onto something. And while we may not be building The Jetsons’ Orbit City just yet, we are proud to be part of a team that is helping to build the intelligent, automated warehouses that could one day supply it. Rehrig Pacific is focused on the unsung hero of automation, who is quietly revolutionizing the future, one smart container at a time. 

 

Authors: 

Amy Wurth Headshot.jpeg Amy Wurth, Senior National Account Manager

Amanda Vernaglia Headshot.png Amanda Vernaglia, Director of Target Development