# S6E51 Eric Richins | What It's Like Being A Packaging Engineer

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2025-12-19
- Length: 20m
- Episode: 51
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-12-19-s6e51-eric-richins-what-its-like-being-a-packaging-engineer

## Summary

Eric Richins, a packaging engineer at Stryker with 10 years of experience, explains the complexities of medical device packaging, distinguishing between primary, secondary, and tertiary layers and the critical role of the Tyvek sterile barrier. He details the regulatory hurdles of sterilization methods like ethylene oxide and gamma radiation, and the massive documentation required for validating automated packaging lines. Richins discusses the challenges of implementing new automation, such as a carton erector that increased throughput from 400 units in three hours to one every six seconds, while managing the gap between design intent and production reality.

## Chapters

- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-12-19-s6e51-eric-richins-what-its-like-being-a-packaging-engineer#t=15) Introduction to Packaging Engineering at Stryker
- [2:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-12-19-s6e51-eric-richins-what-its-like-being-a-packaging-engineer#t=137) Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Packaging Layers
- [3:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-12-19-s6e51-eric-richins-what-its-like-being-a-packaging-engineer#t=233) Sterilization Methods: Ethylene Oxide and Gamma Radiation
- [4:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-12-19-s6e51-eric-richins-what-its-like-being-a-packaging-engineer#t=296) Automating Carton Erection and Production Efficiency
- [6:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-12-19-s6e51-eric-richins-what-its-like-being-a-packaging-engineer#t=363) Regulatory Challenges and Validation Documentation
- [7:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-12-19-s6e51-eric-richins-what-its-like-being-a-packaging-engineer#t=475) Career Path and Problem-Solving in Packaging

## Topics

- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Stryker (company)
- Tyvek (material)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Packaging Validation Best Practices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2022-09-07-packaging-validation-best-practices) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [70 - Charlie Webb from Van Der Stahl Scientific](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-08-19-70-charlie-webb-from-van-der-stahl-scientific) (People of Packaging)
- [127 - "If we do our job, no one will know" with LeRonda Perry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2022-04-27-127-if-we-do-our-job-no-one-will-know-with-leronda-perry) (People of Packaging)
- [97 - Medical device packaging and the IoPP with Jennifer Benolken from Dupont](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2022-01-11-97-medical-device-packaging-and-the-iopp-with-jennifer-benolken-from-dupont) (People of Packaging)
- [Essentials of Sterilization for Med Device Professionals](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-01-26-essentials-of-sterilization-for-med-device-professionals) (Global Medical Device Podcast)

## Citing this page

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