Kickstart: Some things are needed, some things are not

I always appreciate a company that sees a need for a product and figures out how to fill it.

Sometimes those needs are big, like medical items or safer cars. Other times, it's those little things that just bug you, like how to carry your ID and cash when you don't have pockets.

Sheet extruder Crawford Industries LLC, which was just acquired by Spartech LLC, has a wide product line that takes in packaging, presentation boxes and folders.

Crawford's business line also includes the Cap Caddy, a small plastic sheet that fits into a baseball cap and can carry money, cards and a key. (Ask any woman who has had to deal with clothing made without pockets, and they'll be glad to tell you how frustrating that is and how much they need a place to stash items without carrying a purse.)

And like every good company, Crawford has also shown it knows how to adapt to changing times. Earlier this year, it rolled out the COVID Immunization Card Holder, a secure spot to keep your medical paperwork.

On the other hand, KraftHeinz Co. has just rolled out the Heinz Packet Roller, a small gadget that "aims to ensure not a single drop of the 12 billion packets of ketchup, mustard or mayo produced in the U.S. each year goes un-squeezed," according to our sister publication Advertising Age.

As the name suggests, the device allows sauce fans to feed a condiment packet between between rollers to squeeze out all the contents.

"Our packets bring the magic to mealtime no matter where people are having their burger and fries but squeezing out every drop is no easy feat," Ashleigh Gibson, Heinz brand director, said in a statement. "We engineered the Heinz 'Packet Roller' to give fans a whole new way to savor their favorite condiment and ensure the last drop never goes to waste again."

Was anyone asking for this? Does it solve an opening in the marketplace? Or is it just a $5.70 trinket you'll rarely use and quickly lose.

You're familiar with guard dogs patrolling businesses and private homes. But will a robot guard dog be as effective at warding off potential thieves?

We may be about to find out. Hyundai Motor Group just unveiled the Factory Safety Service Robot that will conduct midnight patrols at a Kia auto assembly plant in South Korea.

"Scanning its surroundings with an integrated thermal camera and 3D lidar, the robot will use artificial intelligence to assess the situation and alert security when trouble is brewing," writes Hans Griemel of our sister paper Automotive News.

The robot, made by Boston Dynamics, won't bark or growl at intruders, but instead will silently notify managers electronically of any problems.