Contract Packaging November/December 2020 by PMMIMediaGroup

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N F O R T H E C O N T R A C T PA C K A G I N G A S S O C I AT I O N

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CBD: A New Frontier

CP/CM company UBIX Processing maps new world of CBD, guided by a desire to share owners’ discovery of compound’s profound therapeutic benefits. p. 6

3 CPA sees reasons for optimism 5 Pharma CPO market

to grow at 7.1% CAGR

11 ERP brings perks to coffee pod co-packer

14 Survey studies COVID-19’s impact

RESOURCE GUIDE 2020-2021

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Contents VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

EDITORIAL Anne Marie Mohan EDITOR mohan@packworld.com

ART Dave Bacho CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kathy Travis ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

AUDIENCE & DIGITAL David Newcorn SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, DIGITAL AND DATA Elizabeth Kachoris SENIOR DIRECTOR, DIGITAL AND DATA Jen Krepelka DIRECTOR, WEBSITES & DIGITAL DESIGN STRATEGY

ADVERTISING Wendy Sawtell VICE PRESIDENT, SALES • wsawtell@pmmimediagroup.com Ron Levinson, SALES MANAGER • rlevinson@contractpackagingmag.com Lara Krieger PRODUCTION MANAGER • lkrieger@pmmimediagroup.com Kelly Greeby SENIOR DIRECTOR, CLIENT SUCCESS & MEDIA OPERATIONS Alicia Pettigrew SENIOR MANAGER, PRODUCT & REVENUE STRATEGY

PMMI MEDIA GROUP Joseph Angel PRESIDENT, PUBLISHER Susan DaMario DIRECTOR, MARKETING Amber Miller SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER Bea Greany BRAND OPERATIONS MANAGER Sarah Loeffler DIRECTOR, MEDIA INNOVATION Janet Fabiano FINANCIAL SERVICES MANAGER Lloyd Ferguson FOUNDING PARTNER

PMMI MEDIA GROUP 401 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60611 PHONE 312/222-1010, FAX 312/222-1310 • CIRCULATION FAX 312/222-1310 E-MAIL info@packworld.com • WEB www.packworld.com PMMI The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies 12930 Woodgate Dr., Suite 200, Herndon, VA 20170 PHONE 571/612-3200 • FAX 703/243-8556 • WEB www.pmmi.org Contract Packaging magazine is published for the Contract Packaging Association. For information on association membership, contact Paige Jarvi, 571/287-6818, pjarvi@contractpackaging.org, or visit www.contractpackaging.org.

6 CBD Business Maps New Frontier

After experiencing firsthand the medicinal power of CBD, Bruce Bernstein launches UBIX Processing, a private-label manufacturer and packager of a range of CBD wellness and cosmetic products.

11 Coffee Pod Co-Packer Realizes Perks of ERP System

Between limiting downtime, speeding up throughput, and a host of soon-to-be-realized improvements via ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software data harvesting, Pod Pack is making the most of its new ERP system.

DEPARTMENTS 2 Forefront 3 CPA President’s Letter 4 Brand Owner Insight 5 Industry News

EDITORIAL CONTACT Have a question or an idea for an article? Contact Anne Marie Mohan, Editor, 312/961-9904. Contract Packaging magazine prefers to receive press releases by e-mail. Send to mohan@packworld.com. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40064408 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Express Messenger International, P.O. Box 25058, London Brc, Ontario, Canada N6C 6A8

14 CPA News 16 Membership Directory 20 New Products 23 Resource Guide 33 Ad Index NOV EMBER /DECEMBER 2 02 0 CONTR AC T PACK AGI N G

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Forefront

E-comm: Worth the Challenges? ANNE MARIE MOHAN, Editor To help better understand how COVID-19 has affected its members, the CPA’s Education Committee conducted a survey in July/August and in October, the results of which were recently released. One area it explored was how the pandemic has impacted those members providing e-commerce services. Said Committee Chairperson Jason Tham of Nulogy in a webinar discussing the results, “I think we all know that before the pandemic, e-commerce was on the rise. And if anything has been proven, COVID-19 has accelerated those trends already in motion. What I found insightful with the data on how members were affected by growth or retraction of

their business was that it [the pandemic] amplified the winners and losers.” According to the survey, just 40%, or 29 of the 48 respondents to the survey said they offer or serve e-commerce channels. As Tham explained, this number is in line with CPG industry information showing that for a number of brands, e-commerce is still a small portion—just a single-digit percentage, in many cases—of their business. “But what has happened is that just as contract packaging and contract manufacturing has converged as a service to a brand or OEM, there’s this late-stage customization, where a CP/CM is well-positioned to also potentially capitalize on this omni-channel or e-commerce amplification.” When asked, “How has your company’s revenue in e-commerce channels been performing since the pandemic started?” the results were very impressive: Of the

respondents who said they do offer e-comm services, 72% saw increased business, 6% saw a decrease, and 22% saw no change. And, for those who did see an increase, seven of them saw growth of 20%, followed by four who saw 30% growth. While co-packers may ask themselves whether providing e-commerce services, with their attendant challenges of greater labor requirements for manual processes, higher volumes, and the different systems needed to support these channels, Tham said the survey results are compelling: “I’ll let you all make the decision, but I think you can see here that the growth is in the double digits.” CP

mohan@packworld.com

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President’s Letter

Optimism in spite of Challenges MARK O’MALLEY, CPA President To say it has been quite a year is an understatement. While the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted our daily lives, it has also opened many doors to new opportunities and innovations for our industry. A majority of my conversations with other CPA members have been positive and optimistic. Many members have even seen significant increases in business and have solved interesting challenges along the way. Who would have thought hand sanitizer would be such hot commodity! CPA, The Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers, has been working hard to support and provide information to our members during these trying times. We are extremely pleased to report we have begun to post the Request for Quote (RFQ) data on the CPA website. It is the first time we have aggregated the data and summarized it for members to review and use. The report includes summary charts to act as a high-level overview, as well as more detailed data. The report will be shared monthly, quarterly, and annually and will be emailed to the primary contact and any RFQ contact at each CPA member company. If you have not seen this data yet, be sure to check it out! In other news, after thoughtful consultation with the CPA Board of Directors, CPA has made the difficult decision to postpone its in-person Annual Meeting originally set to take place in Clearwater, Fla., in March 2021. The CPA Board determined that due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and current state and local regulations, it is not possible to have a safe and productive event in 2021. The event is being postponed until February 2022 and will take place in Clearwater. Instead, we are moving ahead rapidly with a series of virtual events in early 2021. While they will not replicate the Annual Meeting, they will ensure members and the contract packaging and manufacturing industry remain connected. We are planning to host multiple virtual learning opportunities for our members and the industry that will include presentations and panel discussions that would have been featured during the 2021 in-person event. Don’t miss announcements for these sessions via the newsletter, email, and social media, as well as the CPA website. CPA’s committees are the heartbeat of the association. This is very evident with our Education Committee, co-chaired by Jerry Thompson and Jason Tham. This committee is currently piloting programs and platforms designed for the membership and its needs. From partnerships with The Packaging School and PMMI U for basic educational content, this committee has begun further outreach to others with educational content pertinent to our industry. One

such program is the recently launched Nulogy University & CPA Education Courses program, which offers free access to select, contract packaging industry-focused Nulogy University courses for CPA members. We will start with 13 courses that include a Contract Packaging 101 guide and some of the best practices in Contract Packaging and Manufacturing. PACK EXPO Connects was a great event. While it was virtual, CPA and its members had an opportunity to get in front of potential clients, and many more reached out to our members via this new virtual platform. We had a great response to The Solutions Room presentation on the State of the Industry report, and the Jumpstart session was a real hit, with a CPG’s perspective opening the day. The Ask the Expert program has led to several interesting opportunities for members and for the association. We have officially launched the much-anticipated “2020 State of the Industry” report. The newly expanded report now features sections on M&A and machinery trends. It also includes sections on defining the food/CPG industry by scope and revenue; industry CAGR 2020–2025 by sector; industry consolidation trends; customer views on the changing marketplace; the current labor market and widening talent gap; demographics on size, company age, locations, and revenue; and sustainability trends. Every member of CPA is entitled to the Executive Summary of this report at no cost, as well as a discount on the cost of the full report. We will be featuring the data in several presentations and events over the next few months. Check out the CPA website for more information. It’s that time of year again: CPA Membership renewal is due. Members of CPA comprise the nation’s leading CP/CMs. CPA works to connect member companies with those seeking help with products, processes, and packaging while also providing business development support, education, networking opportunities, and industry intelligence to our members. By renewing your CPA membership, you will continue to have access to industry expertise and best practices and will be actively supported and promoted throughout the year by CPA. If you haven’t checked out your many membership benefits, see www.contractpackaging.org/join. Once again, it has been a privilege to be leading such a prestigious and dynamic association. As a long-term member and now President, I see the future is very bright and filled with huge opportunities for CPA. I look forward to working with all of you in 2021 and wish you all the best in the new year. CP

Mark O’Malley is President/CEO of Paket Corp., www.paketcorp.com.

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Brand Owner Insight

Risk & Brand Protection: A Two-Way Street ROBBY MARTIN, Contributing Editor As we have previously discussed in this space, great relationships between a Consumer Packaged Goods company and a contract manufacturer have many factors. This is an important topic, because so much of the success found in solid business-to-business engagements is built on the relationship of the parties involved. For many companies that rely on solid co-man/co-pack relationships to support incremental capacity needs or innovation efforts, there has never been a more crucial time to count on great relationships than during the crazy year that we now know as 2020! Whether you were among the many that needed relatively instant incremental capacity, or among those whose businesses faced a severe disruption in a negative way, your position with supplier partners—more specifically, your relationship with them—went a long way in determining how your business has navigated these unusual circumstances to date. Let’s return to our list of some of the most critical factors that determine a successful business relationship. By now, I trust it’s becoming a familiar list indeed! • The provision for SAFETY • The power of TRUST • The purpose of HONESTY • The place for NEGOTIATION • The price of “SKIN IN THE GAME” • The protection of the BRAND • The promise of CONFIDENTIALITY Having covered the first four factors in previous columns (see pwgo.to/5624 and pwgo.to/5789), we will now take a look at the next couple of these relationship “pillars.”

The price of ‘skin in the game’ I wondered if we should call this section, “Who’s going to pay for all of this?” You see, great relationships have more give than take, and it comes from both sides. So, deciding in advance that you will or will not carry some of the risk or financial burden of a new engagement can be an important factor to consider. Some customers expect a provider or supplier to carry all the risk. And, if those customers have a large enough business proposition to offer, they may find a receptive partner—even with that stipulation in place. The truth is that most ventures involve risk and uncertainty. So, why would it be unreasonable to expect both parties to share in the risk whenever possible? Many relationships begin from a place of uncertainty. In the world of co-man/ co-pack, uncertainty may be about the product offering and its volume promise from the customer. Or, uncertainty may exist if the package and/or product offering is stretching the supplier’s capability beyond familiar parameters. Like our previous discussions on honesty and negotiation, open and transparent discussions about “skin in the game” can ensure that a new relationship is built on a foundation of openness. Because, openness leads to trust, another of our key factors for success!

The protection of the brand “But, Robby, I’ve already got plenty of skin in the game. It’s called my brand!” Yes, you may have plenty of skin in the game via a solid, well understood, and beloved brand. I know how important brand protection is to my company. I have also heard the warnings before that we have to be sure to protect our brand. So, I get the concern.

However, I also think we need to understand that “brand protection” works both ways. When you align with a co-man or co-pack partner, and you are confident in their capabilities, and their honesty, and all of those other factors, what must it say to them when you lean in really hard on your fears about protecting your brand. Remember, they have a brand to protect too! And, while it may not be a broadly recognized brand in the eye of the consumer public, you can bet they feel quite vulnerable when it comes to the risk of a mistake that taints your brand. One need only to review certain food recalls or major brand mistakes to realize that those involving co-mans or co-packs took down, or at least severely tainted, far more than the brand appearing on the store shelf! I guess I’m trying to say that we all need to understand that we all have a brand to protect. So, let’s not maintain a posture (mental or otherwise) that the protection of our brand is necessarily more important than the protection of our partner’s brand. After all, we are trying to all succeed together, right? I hope these columns have provided you with an opportunity to consider a broad group of ideas and factors that can lead to better relationships. In future columns, we will put a bow on the list as we discuss confidentiality. I will also offer a few more areas of thought or consideration that go beyond just relationship building, but blend ideals and practical needs into more successful engagements. In the meantime, may we all keep the needs of our partners and others in mind as we determine our next steps through these unique times. Robby Martin is Engineering Specialist for Bush Brothers & Company.

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Industry News

Report Looks at Pharma CPO Market The global pharmaceutical contract packaging market size was valued at $28.2 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2020 to 2027, to reach $47.7 billion. That’s according to a new report from Grand View Research, Inc., which lists several drivers of this growth. Among them, the desire of pharmaceutical companies to reduce their overall cost of production and to increase speed to market; the lack of in-house packaging capabilities and expertise along with budget constraints by smaller pharma companies; the need for pharma companies to meet serialization regulations; and the overall growth and increasing competitiveness of the global pharmaceutical industry. In 2019, North America accounted for the largest share of the pharmaceutical Contract Packaging Organization (CPO) market, at 32.7%, due to the quality offerings provided by CPOs and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations

(CDMOs), the report explained. During the forecast period of 2020 to 2027, however, Grand View Research forecasts that Asia Pacific will witness the fastest growth, owing to the presence of a large number of contract service providers in the region. When it comes to the type of packaging services requested, the report notes that primary packaging accounted for the largest share of revenue in 2019, at 40.2%, and is expected to dominate the pharmaceutical contract packaging market through the forecast period. By packaging format, bottles comprise the largest segment, owing, the report says, “to the growing requirement of pharmaceutical bottles worldwide and the increasing adoption of pharmaceutical bottles for unit-dose packaging, particularly from high-demand regions such as Asia Pacific.” However, it adds that the blisterpack segment is expected to register a higher CAGR over the forecast period due to an increase in the outsourcing of blister-

packing activities to emerging countries such as China, India, and Brazil. In terms of packaging material, in 2019, glass held the largest revenue share, at 37.6%, as it is suitable for most parenteral and non-parenteral preparations in the industry. As for plastic, it is anticipated to witness an 8% CAGR over the forecast period, due to the growing demand for plastic packaging for the storage and delivery of medicines. CP

Co-Packing Industry Watch • U.K.-based co-packer APS has migrated to Nulogy’s cloud-based software to improve the traceability and visibility of its materials and labor productivity across its operations. Given the constraints of the COVID-19 lockdown, Nulogy implemented the solution entirely remotely, handling the change management process from ASP’s legacy systems through a combination of

video-based conferencing and its online learning platform, Nulogy University. • Custom and private-label supplement manufacturer BL Bio Lab of Clearwater, Fla., has expanded its initial machinery for capsules, tablets, powders, and liquids, and now offers a wider range of private-label supplements and custom formulations. • Four companies with beverage commercialization experience—PTI, Symrise, Califormulations, and Haney, a Packaging Microfactory—have joined together to form IncuBev to accelerate pre-commercial activities, including product development, package conceptualization, prototyping, and activation for consumer testing and concept validation.

• Legacy Pharmaceutical Packaging, a contract packager serving the global pharmaceutical industry with bottling, blistering, pouching, unit-of-use, serialization compliance, and secondary packaging services, has rebranded itself as Legacy Pharma Solutions. • PLZ Aeroscience Corp., a Downers Grove, Ill.-based manufacturer of specialty aerosol and liquid products, has acquired Mansfield-King, LLC, a contract manufacturer of specialty personal care products in Indianapolis. • Sonoco has signed an agreement to sell its Europe contract packaging business, Sonoco Poland Packaging Services Sp. z o.o., to Prairie Industries Holdings for $120 million. CP

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Packager Profile

CBD Business Maps New Frontier After experiencing firsthand the medicinal power of CBD, Bruce Bernstein launches UBIX Processing, a private-label manufacturer and packager of a range of CBD wellness and cosmetic products. ANNE MARIE MOHAN, Editor

ccording to Bruce Bernstein, founder, President & CEO of UBIX Processing, his first experience with CBD was “like catching lightning in a bottle.” At 48, Bernstein, a telecom executive, learned the devastating news that he had prostate cancer. He was adamant though that conventional treatment was not for him. Says Bernstein, “I like to keep all my body parts in place, so I was one of those crazy guys looking for a naturopathic solution. Usually, as you know, those kinds of people wind up killing themselves. I don’t think I’m self-realized enough to understand that that was a potential. But I happened to be one of those idiots who actually pulled it off—I’m cancer free.” In doing research on naturopathic therapies, Bernstein had come across information on the Internet that claimed cannabis could cure cancer. While he found the notion “absurd,” he gave it a try and began creating his own cannabis and CBD oils at his dining room table. Through experimentation, he found that cannabis oil gave him unbearable vertigo. But upon taking CBD oil for the first time, Bernstein—who was a chronic insomniac—began sleeping better than he had in years. Even more significant, though, was how rapidly his PSA numbers began dropping. “Once this started happening, where the numbers started reversing, my wife, Britt [Stanford], and I basically said, ‘We’ve got to do something,’” says Bernstein. “It’s almost as if we caught lightning in a bottle. I felt like running down the street yelling like Paul Revere, ‘This is something amazing.’ This is something that everyone, whether they want to

take it or not, should at least know is a powerful compound for good.’” As a result, in May 2014, Bernstein and Stanford founded UBIX, a Colorado Springs, Colo., company offering privatelabel and wholesale hemp-extracted CBD products for people and pets.

CBD market seeing impressive growth CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of the compounds, or phytocannabinoids, found in cannabis plants. As Bernstein explains, there are more than 120 known cannabinoids in nature. Most people are more familiar with another compound in cannabis, THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychoactive responses. While CBD is a component of marijuana, by itself it does not cause a “high.” According to Bernstein, one of the biggest misconceptions regarding the cannabis industry is that there is a distinct difference between industrial hemp and cannabis. “At the end of the day,” he says, “it’s all cannabis.” The difference is a legal demarcation, established by the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill. According to the bill, cannabis and related products containing 0.3% THC or greater are classified as marijuana, which remains a Schedule I drug and is regulated as such. But, cannabis plants and products containing <0.3% THC (which is considered to be merely a “trace amount”) are designated as industrial hemp, which is legal to possess and consume at a federal level. CBD is a hemp-derived product. As Bernstein explains, CBD works with

the body’s own endocannabinoid system. “The ECS is a network of receptors that spreads through our entire body and controls some of its most vital functions, including your immune system, memory, appetite, mood, and pain sensations,” he says. “When I first discovered this, it was almost like discovering a continent.” When diseases are present in the body, the ECS system kicks into high gear, with ECS deficiency linked to a number of common illnesses, including migraines, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. “So what cannabinoids do is they feed your endocannabinoid system so it can help regulate all functions in your body,” Bernstein says. “In other words, our bodies need cannabinoids.” CBD has been shown in studies to reduce anxiety, attention deficits, and depression, and can also provide pain relief and lessen the frequency and severity of seizures. It’s also being used by consumers for a variety of other conditions, including PTSD, allergies and asthma, nausea, sleep disorders, and migraines, among others. Given its 100% natural medicinal properties, CBD products have seen a meteoric rise in both use and popularity over the last few years. In 2019, a report from Brightfield Group noted that the hemp-derived CBD market is on track to grow to $23.7 billion through 2023, with the bulk of the growth coming from large retailers like CVS, Walgreens, and Kroger.

Full-service CBD source When UBIX launched, its services included everything from the extraction of the CBD oil from the hemp plant all

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Bruce Bernstein, founder, President & CEO, UBIX Processing

the way through product formulation, manufacture, packaging, and fulfillment. Since then, however, Bernstein switched to buying the oil from farmers, who were able to offer him a better price than what it cost him to do his own extracting. “We’re a private-label manufacturer, but we do R&D, prototyping, and copacking,” he says. “We’re also doing a lot of reverse engineering and replication.

And we’ve been doing some R&D for a private-equity firm where we’re making seven products for the customer. So, some customers have a very clear, concise ingredient list, and then there are others who don’t have a clue, so we’ll develop a formulation for them.” Most of UBIX’s business is private label, but it also manufactures its own lines, which include a selection of wellness

products under the Nu Apothecary brand and Nu Remedy cosmetic products. The company’s product mix comprises roughly 85% topicals and 15% ingestibles. Topicals include balms, salves, and lotions. Its cosmetic line features hydrating oil, hyaluronic creams and serums, face creams, face washes, and much more. Ingestibles include tinctures, capsules, and gummies, among other products.

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Packager Profile

Most of UBIX’s business is private label, but it also manufactures its own lines, including its Nu Apothecary wellness products and Nu Remedy cosmetic items.

UBIX offers a large stock of ready-to-ship CBD products, or, as mentioned, it can customize products and packaging to meet customer needs. At presstime, Bernstein shared that UBIX is in the process of launching five different websites: two upscale sites— one called Baxter for pet products, and one called Golden, which will feature products for the 50-and-up demographic; two featuring products in the medium price range, for its Nu Apothecary and Nu Remedy lines; and a liquidation site, called Big Bad Bear. “So we can be more daring with trying new things,” he says, “because if they don’t sell, we have the high end we can move to the medium, and if it doesn’t sell there, we can liquidate it.” According to Bernstein, what differentiates UBIX is its creativity, its agility, and its analytics. “There are a lot of me-too products out there, and we do a really good job of customizing products and creating ensembles. For example, we just put together a beauty cream, an eye cream, a hyaluronic acid, and a hydrating product ensemble,” he says. “We can also quickly make modifications to products to meet customer requirements. We try to operate somewhat just-in-time, so we’re

not overburdened by product on shelf.” Because the CBD industry is not currently regulated, third-party testing resulting in a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for a product ensures its quality and purity. According to Bernstein, UBIX’s analytics are on-par with those of some of the larger CBD players. “I think maybe only 25% of the market is doing all the right things and being compliant,” he says. “So from a level of compliance, we’re there.”

Automated filling keeps product flowing While many co-packers keep their packaging processes highly manual to remain flexible enough to produce different product sizes and configurations, UBIX is up and running with a number of automated filling systems. Among them is an automatic in-line liquid filling machine from REB, Inc., for its topicals. The REBIVS has six filling heads and can produce about 75,000 units/day. Containers are capped using a semi-automated unit from SureKap. Because UBIX changes its topical product formulations and packaging quite often, it was important when selecting the

machine that changeover was a quick and easy. Pre-engineering, including cutting a channel in the floor at the plant and some piping within the machines, means that the REB-IVS can be sanitized and flushed out in approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Universal pressure adjustment for the filling heads allows UBIX to quickly change product viscosities with the turn of a switch. In terms of changeover for different package sizes, Bernstein explains that there are different piston sizes for packages above eight ounces. “But I would say that right now, one hundred percent of the product we’re filling is 1.7 to 2 ounce, or 3.4 to 4 ounce, and once in a while, we’ll get an eight ounce. So very rarely do we have to change the pistons.” For its tinctures, UBIX has two Flexicon FlexFeed 20 fillers from Watson-Marlow, each of which can produce around 3,500 units/day. Secondary packaging operations are currently manual. As for the packaging itself, UBIX provides an array of package types and sizes, depending on the product, and offers an in-house graphic design team to help customers create their own labels. Says Bernstein, whereas the biggest packaging concern for cannabis

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Packager Profile

companies is the requirement for a childproof container, the biggest packaging challenge for CBD producers is a lack of sophistication. “I’m encouraging my customers to pick up their packaging game and use better bottles that are more aesthetically pleasing,” he says. “I’ve been trying to make our cosmetic products look more like a Lancôme, by doing silk-screen printing and having a really sleek white on black or white on grey appearance. I just think there’s so much more ahead of us when it comes to presentation.” UBIX is also working to add recycledcontent and recyclable packaging to its offerings to meet consumer requests for these types of materials.

Co-pack partnership opportunities The potential for CBD products is massive, and it’s only just begun. “The market is going to be so huge,” relates Bernstein. “We talk about the cannabis space. I say that’s a micro market where it’s

A UBIX operator uses a semi-automated machine to cap bottles.

almost like a liquor store type of setup. In Colorado, it’s pretty much normalized where there’s a cannabis dispensary, and people or businesses make enough for their store. And it’s small batches. You’re

not going to see cannabis in Target or Walmart—you’re going to see CBD. I’m already seeing it at King Soopers and Kroger.” Because of this, he adds, he envisions much opportunity for cooperation among co-packers, such as regional outsourcing of items such as food or beverages that are expensive to ship. He adds, “And working with known entities in the industry will limit unpleasant surprises, especially when co-packers have relationships with CPGs and big box stores. I think that’s going to make this whole transition to retail and big-box stores much easier.” In conclusion, Bernstein says, “I have a tremendous reverence for this compound because it really saved me. So we don’t make products just to make money; we make products because we really believe this is a powerful medicine. And, if it’s done properly, we will have a profound impact on the people who use our products.” CP

UBIX operates a 20,000-sq-ft facility in Colorado Springs, Colo.

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Pod Pack

Coffee Pod Co-Packer Benefits from ERP Perks Between limiting downtime, speeding up throughput, and a host of soon-to-be realized improvements via ERP data harvesting, Pod Pack is making the most of its new enterprise resource planning system. MATT REYNOLDS, Editor, Packaging World magazine

rom humble beginnings nearly 25 years ago in a 400-sq-ft New Orleans facility, with a single SKU of single-serve espresso, Pod Pack has grown to be considered “the Switzerland of coffee pod packaging,” as the company does business with just about every coffee brand, these days, on some level. That includes many major national, regional, and privatelabel store brands as a value-added co-manufacturing partner. The company also serves the institutional and hospitality segments where its products can be found in hotels, hospitals, offices, college campuses, QSRs, convenience stores, and foodservice locations, plus a host of local, high-growth boutique brands. “We offer a wide array of turnkey singleserve solutions,” says Marion Gray, CFO, Pod Pack. “Whether using the customer’s coffee or one of our in-house blend selections, we can manufacture virtually any single-serve format the customer prefers. We have 14 different packaging lines—all primarily custom-designed, highly specified equipment.” There are many tight-tolerance, multipoint processes and ensuing packaging operations that occur dependent on the specific format desired. For instance, coffee beans that are designated for K-cup compatible products are ground precisely 24 hours prior to primary packaging to allow for optimal degassing to occur, a necessary step for this format. But other single-serve formats go from whole bean to ground coffee to packaging in less than 180 seconds, ensuring maximum freshness for the end consumer. For soft filter pod offerings, coffee beans are ground

Pod Pack now operates 14 packaging lines producing more than a dozen formats with contract packaging customers, including all the big national brands, local regional brands, hospitals, schools, foodservice, and anywhere else you can imagine.

to exacting specifications per a predetermined amount that is automatically metered out by volume or bulk density onto the bottom layer of a single-serve filter paper pod, and the top layer is heat sealed to enclose the pod. Secondary packaging involves a number of individual pods being placed into a film pouch, which is then nitrogen flushed and sealed, again ensuring maximum freshness.

Dealing with SKU proliferation Far from its original digs, Pod Pack now operates a 75,000-sq-ft facility in Baton Rouge, La., and in 2018, the family-owned business took on private equity partner to accelerate growth. And grow it has. Like other contract manufacturers and packagers that are growing and dealing with major brands and private label, as well as growing its own brand, Pod Pack has recently been dealing with a rising number of SKUs.

“We currently support over a dozen convenience-portioned formats, and certain lines are tailored to certain applications,” Gray explains. “On a given day we are likely to be running all formats across our 14 different production lines. Each product that we develop or manufacture for a customer will have its own product specifications sheet. That product specifications sheet details all the materials that are used, including the precise grind, weight, flavor profile, and packaging format. Anything you can imagine that’s specific to that product is on that sheet— we think of it as a unique, custom recipe for each product.” Until recently, this meant operators starting a new production run had to consult a Microsoft Excel-based database—a clunky but familiar and functional workaround for so many manufacturers for so long—to find the right recipe. Then, they would have to manually gather the

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correct packaging materials and components, such as film and filter paper or machine changeparts and the tools needed to changeover. Often, Gray says, this could mean operators physically checking for stock parts, a time-consuming process. “It was a fairly manual process that involved a combination of paper, binders, Excel files, and access databases,” Gray says. It was also a static process with little runway for scale. Such a process would suffice for a limited number of SKUs, but in a dynamic growth environment, the process no longer worked. The facility was growing, and with outside investment, the prospects for the future were growing. It became clear that a better solution was in order.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) modernizes operations In recent years, Pod Pack implemented the DELMIAWORKS (formerly IQMS) manufacturing ERP system to drive the real-time insights and automated processes required to handle SKU proliferation, ensure quality and compliance, maximize productivity, and provide a superior customer experience. Though, as the name implies, the ERP system is enterprise-wide, advantages are felt right down to the packaging line operations. Each production cell now has its own workstation with an HMI. From that workstation, operators are running a shop data interface out of DELMIAWORKS that’s giving them continual information on the production. Operators have spec sheets available to them, and they can monitor materials and inventories. They’re also using that interface to load real-time production data on quality checks, downtime, or maintenance issues specific to the equipment they’re running. Everything’s right there, digitized, and at their fingertips. By now, most large, international brand owners are well-versed in ERP; they wouldn’t be able to successfully compete on that stage if they weren’t. And there are a lot of options for companies seeking ERP solutions. But after thorough

From an HMI in each pack cell, operators interface with shop data that relates real-time metrics and parts and material inventories.

research, Gray and Pod Pack saw the DELMIAWORKS system was the right fit for them since it had all the capacity to grow, but still was a manageable stack for its unique set of needs. As a contract manufacturer and packager with a large and growing SKU base and a need for flexibility and variability, Pod Pack needed an ERP system that would grow with them. “The size is right for our company,” Gray says. “It can handle a lot of transactions and multiple locations as needed. From an install perspective, it has been much easier to digest and operationalize than some of its competitors’ offerings. “At the same time, you benefit from having a fully integrated system across finance, HR, manufacturing, and purchasing,” he adds. “We are able to leverage cutting-edge technology solutions without the headache and cost of a larger, less tailored option.”

ERP data harvest drives continuous improvement One common refrain heard during ERP implementation is that it suddenly in-

troduces a whole lot of data that weren’t previously available on existing systems, and that can be overwhelming at first. But being able to manipulate these data to its advantage has been a boon to Pod Pack. “We’ve seen immediate benefit to having access to real-time shop data on the floor,” Gray says. “We have mandatory quality checks based on the size of the run and the type of product. Operators are flagged and required to do certain quality checks, and the quality data are logged into the ERP system. No paper means providing enhanced visibility into our endto-end quality program. “As important, we use real-time monitoring for all of the equipment, and we know every time a machine deviates from its production schedule,” he adds. “If unexpected downtime elapses for greater than 120 seconds, the operator is required to code and document the situation. We’ve utilized that data to empower our production supervisors, who have real-time insights that were not available before automating our manufacturing processes with the DELMIAWORKS solution.” Closing the loop, Gray and Pod Pack are able to use this information with their maintenance team not only to address issues, but proactively optimize preventative maintenance schedules. Enhanced data usage for continuous improvement doesn’t simply reduce downtime; it actively increases speed. “Real-time data allows us to monitor the actual production speed when the machine is running. So, if the machine’s running below our targeted units per minute, we can go to the floor and correct immediately. Targeted adjustments can be made to ensure each cell is hitting its production spec before the shift or run is over. Again, it’s all real-time data that allows us to preemptively manage potential risk and maximize overall productivity.”

Case in point Coffee packaging equipment is famously precise and complex. “If you take care of it and keep it running right, it will last forever, at least longer than I will,” Gray says of this well-known packaging

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machinery dynamic. “As an example, we have two pieces of highly technical equipment that we run for a customer, equipment that is not readily accessible in today’s market. We jumped at the opportunity to collaboratively solve the challenge. We brought it in, refurbished it, and customized it. By using downtime tracking and data collection, operators and engineers have been continually enhancing and fine-tuning the equipment. We successfully engineered a piece of legacy customer equipment and improved uptime from 35% to 70% on a regular basis. And these are very high-speed machines, so that was a dramatic improvement in productivity and reliability. And then there are knockon effects downstream, as more uptime in primary packaging then pushed the whole line to go faster, and secondary and end-of-line machine usage goes up. “As a finance guy, I love it. Because by increasing my uptime and my reliability, I’m essentially increasing capacity without spending capital dollars. And that’s huge for a high-growth company like us—being able to support additional volume running through the facility as our business continues to accelerate.”

regularly with our system reporting lead to roll out additional enhancements. We’re continually adding new inputs to the system to allow it to do more for us and become more valuable to the organization. We’re going to use it to drill down

into our manufacturing costs and continue to enhance customer success. We’ve got a lot of data, and now we’re realizing the full potential of that data to drive the best value and experience for our partners and customers.” CP

What’s next Many brands and packagers that implement ERP systems, with all their attendant data manipulation, take some time to realize all of the benefits. You connect all the cords and begin syphoning off so much data that it can’t all be immediately actionable on day one. Pod Pack’s experience has reflected this, but it intends, over time, to make the most out of the DELMIAWORKS ERP. After those initial wins in speed and downtime reduction, Gray and Pod Pack are moving on to new uses. “We’re rolling out dashboards to display on the production floor to provide the entire production team with a quick overview of production runs and performance. We continue to add projects, and this system can scale with our growth,” Gray says. “The system captures such an immense amount of data. We meet N OV E M B E R / D EC EMB ER 2 0 2 0 C P

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11/19/20 3:07 PM

Association News

Annual Meeting Postponed, But Virtual Events Fill the Gap After thoughtful consultation with the CPA Board of Directors, CPA, The Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers, has made the difficult decision to postpone its 2021 in-person Annual Meeting until 2022. The CPA Board determined that due to the evolving uncertainty connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, and state and local regulations, it was not possible to ensure we could hold a safe and meaningful networking event in 2021. However, we will still be connecting with our members and the industry through new and exciting events. During this crucial time, we are planning to host virtual sessions. Among them will be: • A thought-provoking, insightful look at 2021, with a view to the future of the markets, and material and consumer insights. • A Consumer Packaged Goods panel discussion on how CPGs utilized their contract-packaging/contract-manufacturing network during the COVID-19 pandemic, what they learned, and what CP/CMs can do to prepare for the future. • A CP/CM panel discussion covering the impacts of COVID-19, how they adapted their businesses, what they learned, and their thoughts on the long-term impacts resulting from the pandemic. • A full review of the 2020 State of Contract Packaging Industry report. • Numerous other sessions covering topics such as industry trends, labor impacts, flexible packaging marketing insights, smart technology, and more. In the coming weeks, CPA will be communicating its plans for these virtual events. For more information and to stay connected with CPA, visit www.contractpackaging.org. Any questions can be directed to info@contractpackaging.org or 571/287-6818. We look forward to connecting with you again at our much anticipated 2022 in-person event.

CPA Participates in First-Ever PACK EXPO Connects In November, CPA participated in the first-ever PACK EXPO Connects virtual tradeshow. While we missed seeing everyone and connecting with the industry in-person, the virtual show helped CPA start many conversations both with potential members and with those seeking the services of CP/CMs. During the show, CPA participated in several educational events, including: • The PACK EXPO Connects Ask the Experts program, which offered lively discussions between CPA members and show attendees interested in contract packaging services.

• The “Packaging and Processing Potpourri” Jumpstart Session, on Nov. 13. • The CPA Solution Room session, “How the Supply Chain and Need for Innovation Paradigm is Reshaping the Contract Packaging and Manufacturing Industries,” also on Nov. 13. A special thank you goes out to those CPA members who helped staff the chat function of the CPA virtual showroom and helped answer questions for the Ask the Experts resource during the event. Now more than ever, your contributions to the industry are needed and much appreciated. Whether or not you connected with us during the show, we would love to hear from you. If you work for a CP/CM company and would like to get more involved with CPA, or you are looking to partner with a CP/CM, CPA has the resources you need. Learn more at www.contractpackaging.org.

Why Use a CP/CM? When choosing a CP/CM, you are developing a partnership. A CP/CM partner must be able to complete your project at a competitive cost aligned with your time schedule with quality assurance. They may also solve common problems in startup businesses, limited production facilities, concerns about equipment investments, physical facilities, personnel training, and more. There are so many reasons brand owners and CPGs might turn to a CP/CM, and potential customers may have a lot of questions. To promote the CP/CM industry and to accompany the video we recently released, CPA has created a printed collateral piece for members to share with potential customers to help decide if partnering with a CP/CM is right for them. Find the video and the PDF of our new collateral piece online at www.contractpackaging.org/why-use-a-contract-packager. If you are a current CPA member who would like to host the video on your company website, contact CPA to learn how.

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Partnerships Provide Greater Value for Members Recently, CPA has fostered relationships with multiple companies to offer additional benefits to CPA member companies. These include: Eric F. Greenberg: The law firm of Eric F. Greenberg, P.C., represents clients at every level of the food and drug development, manufacturing, distribution, and packaging industries. The firm represents clients from across the U.S. and around the world. Each CPA member company receives a halfhour session with Greenberg, who can provide information on food and drug regulatory law with an emphasis on packaging and labeling issues, general business, and commercial litigation. YRC Freight: CPA has partnered with YRC Freight to offer members discounts on freight services. YRC’s dedicated Time Critical service with customer-defined delivery dates and times ensures that shipments move through YRC’s fastest network and are handled by a dedicated team from start to finish. When projects are complicated by short timelines, Time Critical provides a customer guarantee and the proactive notifications customers need to feel secure about their shipments. YRC offers fast, flexible solutions to fit customers’ business needs—from just-in-time inventory strategies to ensuring port arrivals to meet sailing schedules. SGS: SGS, the world’s largest certification body, with over 200,000 customers globally, is offering to help CPA members navigate the complexity of Quality and GMP standards and certificates needed to operate in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and medical device industries. Questions may span the selection, design, implementation, training, certification, and maintenance phases of certification. Blaige & Company: Thomas Blaige is offering his expertise in M&A exclusively to CPA members. Each CPA member company receives a complimentary one-hour session with Blaige, who has over 30 years of transaction experience in contract packaging and contract manufacturing M&A. Blaige & Company covers five CP/CM markets, each having its own dynamics, trends, and strategies. For more information on these new offerings and everything else CPA membership has to offer, visit www.contractpackaging. org/membership.

CPA Members Share COVID Challenges In late October, the CPA hosted a hybrid webinar session to present the results of the Education Committee’s survey on how its members have been faring during COVID-19, as well as facilitate discussions among the webinar participants on how they are handling workforce challenges associated with the pandemic. According to CPA Executive Director Ron Puvak, the survey was conducted in July/August 2020, with additional comments collected in October 2020. There were 49 total respondents, representing a variety of market segments and packaging

services. Eighty-four percent of respondents were co-pack/coman members; 16% were supplier members. Of the findings, one of the “big ones,” shared Puvak, was respondents’ answer to the question: “Overall, if you compare your business YoY, last three months 2020 vs 2019, how has your business been negatively or positively impacted in terms of overall revenues?” Of the respondents, 51%, or 25 people, saw their business increase; 33%, or 16 people, saw a decrease; and 16%, or eight, reported no change. When asked by what percentage they saw an increase or decrease, the largest number of people, 12, saw a 20% change, followed by nine people who saw a 10% change, and eight who saw a 30% change. “So it’s almost a mixed bag,” said Puvak. “I think the interesting point, though, is the number of folks who saw a change, and where the sweet spot was, between the 10% or 30% range.” When it came to COVID-19 in the plant, the good news was that only 27%, or 13 respondents, reported that there had been a positive case of the virus in their plant. Of those, only three experienced a partial or full shutdown of the plant as a result, two of which shut down for four to six days, and one of which was closed for one to three days. “Overall, we did pretty well by not having COVID arrive in the plants and cause us a problem,” said Puvak. “Those folks who did have a problem were able to mitigate it inside the plant. Due to separation systems and due to careful isolation, most people did not have to shut down their plants. I thought this was pretty positive data for those folks who actually had a COVID event— that they were able to mitigate that event a bit and continue to operate.” Puvak attributed this to another data point collected from the survey: 89% of respondents answered “yes” to the question, “Have you employed any special means to isolate and limit shutdowns through means such as temperature monitoring, expanded workspaces, in-plant contact tracing?” During the interactive portion of the webinar session, attendees broke into small groups to discuss the steps they’ve taken to address workforce issues. Strategies included: • “Office staff brought to the production line to make up for lack of plant staff who were out/unavailable.” • “Found employees were scared to go back to work. We had to figure out how to socially distance the workers. Went from 12 lines to six lines and people are more spread out—acrylic separators between people. Takes longer to get things out the door, but at least people feel comfortable coming in.” • “Heavy focus on HR, sign-up bonuses, employee referral bonuses.” • “One of our customers helped fund some of the bonuses.” • “Increased pay between 20% to 30% to employees.” • “Work-release labor employment used.” • “Eliminated marijuana screening.” CP N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 CONTR AC T PACK AGI N G

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Membership Directory

Advertisers in this issue are in bold face Associate members in this issue New members in this issue Ë

For in-depth searches on individual members’ capabilities, visit www.contractpackaging.org Aaron Kendell Packaging Equipment(AEK) www.aekpack.com KC Christensen (630) 238-2660 Aaron Thomas Company, Inc. www.packaging.com Aaron Bacon (714) 894-4468 ActionPak Inc. Ira J. Smith (215) 785-4548

ADCO Manufacturing

www.adcomfg.com Mike Alagna (888) 608-5946

Allegiance Staffing

www.allegiancestaffing.com Tom Landry (281) 355-9222

Amcor www.amcor.com/ Holland Neal (469) 584-4842 AmeriPac www.ameripacinc.com/ Greg Wren (866) 467-6033 APAK Packaging LLC www.apak-pkg.com Jorge Revelo (847) 566-9595

Arrowhead Systems, Inc www.arrowheadsystems.com Marsha Spakowicz (920) 235-5562 Asiapack Ltd www.asiapack.com Valentin Janson (852) 2735-1163 Assemblers Inc. www.assemblers.com Joel Rosenbacher (773) 378-3000 Assemblies Unlimited, Inc. www.assemblies.com Randy Shaw (877) 273-6259

Associated Packaging, Inc. Lynn Jacob (248) 855-0106

Camco Chemical Company www.camco-chem.com/ Adrian Hothem (859) 727-3200

Custom Chemical Corporation www.customchemicalcorp.com David Leamy (864) 595-8872

CCB Packaging www.ccbpackaging.com Brad Canfield (319) 378-0114

CWS Contract Packaging www.cwspackaging.com Justin Parker (607) 334-1497

Challenge Unlimited, Inc www.advancedoutsource solutions.com Steve Brenegan (618) 463-1236

DAMRON Packaging & Logistics Group www.damronplg.com/ Tony Cort (773) 826-6000

ËCHEVOO Inc. www.chevoo.com Gerald Tuck (707) 721-4337

Delkor Systems, Inc. www.delkorsystems.com Dan Altman (651) 348-6700

Clysar LLC www.clysar.com Joan Current (563) 259-3271

Do-It Corporation www.do-it.com John Deschaine (269) 637-1121

CMG Plastics www.cmgplastics.com Jens Duerr (908) 310-3735

Dominion Liquid Technologies www.dltdelivers.com Charlie Cain (513) 272-2824

Bolke-Miller Company www.bolkemiller.com Michael Miller (847) 693-7230

Coregistics www.coregistics.com Eric Wilhelm (678) 453-5900

ËESS LLC www.essbottling.com Denny Butcher (248) 796-1250

Bonded Pac LLC www.bondedpac.com Scott Carr (704) 716-3572

Crest Foods Co., Inc. www.crestfoods.com Gaven Meiners (815) 453-7411

EMCO Chemical Packaging www.emcochem.com Randy Schwab (847) 767-2201

BPI Packaging LLC www.bpipackaging.net John Dillon (901) 565-8260

CRI, Inc. www.crind.org Brandon Casto (715) 738-2571

ePac Flexible Packaging www.epacflexibles.com/ Noral Greenstein Biondi (844) 373-0136

Bumble Bee Seafoods/Snows www.snows.com Harry Hoffman (609) 884-0440

Crystal Packaging Inc. www.crystalpackaging.com Dillon Vincent (303) 865-7102

Everest Packaging www.everestpackaging.com Nancy Tzeng (626) 964-9384

Butler Automatic www.butlerautomatic.com Phil Johnson (774) 766-0628

CTI Packaging & Fulfillment www.ctipack.com Jerry Thompson (847) 968-4855

Exact Packaging Inc. www.exactpack.com Steve Dawkins (217) 214-6049

Cablevey Conveyors www.cablevey.com/ Karl Seidel (800) 247-3344

Cup Pac Packaging, Inc. www.cuppac.com Jodi James (815) 624-7060

FasPac Packaging, LP www.faspacllc.com Matt Davis (972) 831-8300

BCI Packaging www.bcipackaging.com Jaclyn Norono-Rodriguez (636) 875-5268 Bell-Carter Packaging www.bcpackaging.com Patrick McGovern (209) 549-5939

Berlin Packaging www.berlinpackaging.com Carole Branchetti (312) 876-9292 Birchwood Contract Manufacturing www.birchwoodcontract.com Shawn Nahan (952) 937-7959 Bluegrass Packaging Industries, Inc. www.bluegrasspackaging.com Ellen Waddle (502) 425-6442

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First Choice Packaging, Inc. www.firstchoicepackaging.com Steve Thomas (443) 617-7187

Industrial Packaging www.industrialpackaging.com Jarrod Dizazzo (508) 499-1600

Landaal Packaging Systems www.landaal.com/ Steve Landaal (800) 616-6619

MSI Express www.msiexpress.com Charles Weinberg (219) 764-1521

FoxconnTechnology Group www.foxconn.com Rolf Henn (804) 328-5267

Influence Manufacturing www.influancehaircare.com Robin Simpson (336) 348- 1565

Liquipak Corporation www.liquipak.com Robert Smith (989) 463-5510

MSW Packaging www.mswpackaging.com Chris Nutley (812) 537-2331

Frain Group www.frain.com Mary Woodrick (630) 629-9900

ËInland Packaging inlandpackaging.com Kimberly Young (608) 787- 5800

Mahani Enterprises LLC Peter Quercia (973) 665-8333

Multi-Pack Solutions www.multipacksolutions.com Keith Wyatt (864) 603-5159

Frazier & Son

Innovative Labeling

www.frazierandson.com Jillian Kniffen (936) 494-4040 GH Guenther Huettlin Manufacturing Inc. www.ghmanufacturing.com Kim Egan (613) 961-8860

Solutions www.ilslabels.com/ Kristen Waite (513) 869 0892

Intandem Solutions www.intandemsolutions.org Suzanne Bakiewicz (315) 835-5974

Glue Dots International

Integrated Re-Pack & Logistics www.integratedrepack.com Dennis Monday (540) 434-9102

Golden West Packaging Fulfillment Chuck Roberts (708)308-5170

Intertape Polymer Corp.

www.gluedots.com Kim Dunn (262)814-8500

Goodwill Industries of Southern Piedmont www.goodwillsp.org/ Brian Otto (704) 916-1642 GreenSeed Contract Packaging www.greenseedcp.com Molly Meloy (630) 761-8544 Herkimer Industries www.herkimerindustries.com Scott Riffle (315) 574-7631

ËHigley Industries www.higleyinc.com Lance Hummel (616) 902-2969 Hitachi America, Ltd. www.hitachi-america.us/ice/ marking-and-coding Tina Aida (704) 972-9864 IBR Packaging LLC www.ibrpackaging.com/ Dave Christensen (888) 829-6509

Manna Foods, LLC www.mannafoods.us Matt Hetrick (717) 675-2262 Maple Mountain Co-Packers www.mmcp.co/ Rob LeBaron (801) 960-3387

Massman Automation Designs, LLC www.massmanllc.com/ Mark Suchy (320) 554-3611

Namar Foods www.namar.com Renee Rivera (562) 531-2744

Nercon Eng. & Mfg., Inc. www.nerconconveyors.com Thomas Luft (844) 293-2814 ËNew Caney Beverage www.ncbeverage.com Jorge Ulloa (210) 216-3777

Matrix Packaging Machinery www.matrixpm.com/ Marc Wolf (262) 268-8300

NP Food Service Sales, LLC www.npfss.com NP Food Service Sales LLC (630) 443-1770

Matt Pak Inc. www.mattpak.com Jeff Graham (847) 451-4018

Nulogy Corporation www.nulogy.com Wendy Phua (416) 204-0427

Keller Logistics Group www.kellerlogistics.com Bryan Keller (419) 782-6583

Maverick Packaging, Inc. www.maverickpackaginginc. com/ DeAnn Devenney (574) 264-2891

Pac Contract Services Michael Treb (513) 292-3551

Kleen Concepts www.kleen-concepts.com Grant Russell (480) 515-5576

Mid-Continent Packaging, Inc. www.midcontinentpkg.com Steven Epstein (580) 234-5200

ËKliklok LLC cartoning-casepacking. syntegon.com/ Janet Darnely (404) 304-2815

Minimus Products LLC www.minimusproducts.biz Paul Shrater (805) 376-6352

www.itape.com James ApapBologna (877) 318-5752

Kala Packaging LLC

www.withkala.com Maui Chai (801) 235-9595

Komplete Packaging Service www.kpak.com M. Kamal (214) 252-8105 KO-Pack Inc. www.kopack.us Payton LaCivita (480) 702-1134

Lako Tool & Manufacturing, Inc. www.lakotool.com John Bialecki (302) 218-1499

Miracle CS Industries www.miraclecsindustries.com/ Marcus Clark-Scott (585) 300-5527

Morrison Container Handling Solutions www.morrison-chs.com Dustin Lee (708) 756-6660 Mother Trail, LLC David Smidt (505) 235-2443

Packaging Unlimited www.packagingunlimited.com Patrick Broderick (513) 236-5807 PacknFresh, LLC www.packnfresh.com Tariq Usmani (888) 703-7374 PacMoore Products, Inc. www.pacmoore.com Taylor Moore (513) 400-6022 Paket Corporation www.paketcorp.com Mark O’Malley (773) 221-7300 Pak Technologies, Inc. www.paktech.com/ David Greif (414) 406-4733

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Membership Directory Peckham, Inc. www.peckham.org/SocialEnterprises/ManufacturingServices.aspx David Allen (517) 316-4285 Peoria Production Shop www.peoriapros.com Dan Laturno (309) 683-0700

ËPerformance Packaging

www.performpag.com Morty Chambers (832) 939-8640

Performance Packaging, Inc. www.perfpack.com Scott Ruetz (419) 478-8805 Performance Packaging of Nevada, LLC www.pplv.co Robert Reinders (702) 240-3457

Plastic Packaging

Technologies, LLC www.plaspack.com Melissa Rishkofski (704) 506-7938

Plex Systems www.plex.com JoAnna Carroll (248) 391-8001 PMI Cartoning, Inc. www.pmicartoning.com Branko Vukotic (847) 437-1427 Polypack, Inc.

Protech Nutra, Inc. www.protechnutra.com/ Manuel Nunez (312) 246-1838

Select Brands, LLC. www.select-brands.net/ Tuffer Weidner (417) 863-0404

Provident Marketing www.providentmktg.com Michael Reed (215) 364-0211

Sigma Services Corporation www.sigmasvs.com Liz Nesbit (847) 388-3040

Quality Co-Pak www.qualityco-pak.com David Dixon (480) 751-9715

SourceAmerica www.sourceamerica.org David Brent (571) 421-8716

Quality Packaging / Pro Pac www.qualpac.com Dawna Whitner (972) 988-3888

South Atlantic Packaging www.southatlanticpackaging. com Pat Grantham (336) 774-3122

Quality Packaging Specialists International www.qpsiusa.com Nick Johnson (717) 903-8116

Spartech www.spartechcom Scot MacGillivray (800) 667-4338

Ralph Moyle, Inc. www.ralphmoyle.com Aaron Talaga (269) 657-2591

Spec Enterprise www.specenterprise.com Dale Jenks (480) 828-2976

REO Processing Inc Gregg Frazier (304) 464-5444

Sterling Contract Packaging, Inc. www.sterlingcpi.com Michael Collins (864) 587-5511

RGA Enterprises, Inc. www.rgaenterprises.com Tom Zenge (980) 495-2075

Roberts PolyPro Inc. www.robertspolypro.com/ Roy Tetreault (704) 588-1794

www.polypack.com Brian McCann (727) 578-5000

Ronchi America, LLC Tim Wilson (404) 990-1997

ËPRC, Inc. www.prccopack.com Patrick Champan (801) 793-7737

RPI Graphic Data Solutions www.rpigraphic.com Karen Rellar (513) 471-4040

Premier Packaging www.premierpkg.com Candice Olson (562) 802-2765

RRP Packaging www.rrp-mfg.com Jeff Freiburger (419) 666-6119

Printpack www.printpack.com Scott Mitchell (678) 758-6364

Ruspak Corporation www.ruspak.com Paul Mierzwa (315) 946-9777

Priority Plastics, Inc. Steve Eglostein (336) 549-1563

Scholle IPN www.scholle.com Peter Messacar (708) 836-3640

ProAmpac

www.ampaconline.com Millie Nuńo (630) 439-3124

SternMaid America LLC www.sternMaid-America.com Rainer Schindler (630) 270-1100 Steuart Custom Manufacturing www.minn-pack.com Ben Steuart (507) 272-8715

The Lion Brewery www.lionbrewery.com/ contractbrewing Andrew Van Blargan (814) 935-1355 The Platinum Packaging Group www.platinumpkggroup.com Nick Lowe (562) 630-6700 The Raymond Hadley Corp. www.raymondhadley.com/ Elliot Dutra (607) 725-4567

TNA North America Inc. www.tnasolutions.com Shayne De La Force (972) 462-6500 Triangle Package Machinery Co. www.trianglepackage.com Kim Magon-Haller (773) 889-0220 TricorBraun www.tricorbraun.com Suzanne Fenton (314) 983-2010 Tripack LLC www.tripak.net Matt Linz (513) 255-1958 Trividia Manufacturing Solutions www.trividiams.com Jen Cusick (603) 616-8636 Troystar Food Packaging Justin Spiegelhoff (262) 763-9434

Stik-Pak Solutions, Inc. www.stikpaksolutions.com/ Cameron Leonard (540) 482-0405

U.S. Packaging LLC www.uspackagingllc.com Rick Geiger (262) 510-8676

Sunflex Packagers, Inc. www.sunflexpackagers.com Sandy Patel (908) 709-1500

UBIX Processing www.ubixprocessing.com Bruce Bernstein (719) 593-7214

Tadbik www.tadbik.com Karen Frisch (908) 377-0913

ËUltra- Look Corporation www.carcandy.com Ashley Nye (863) 607-6700

Taipak Enterprises Ltd. www.taipakconverting.com Joey Lin (604) 522-1218

Universal Pure, LLC www.universalpure.com/ Tom Woodward (678) 840-1500

The Happy Orchard www.thehappyorchard.com/ Collette Mahmood (201) 559-5635

Universal Robots www.universal-robots.com Nathan Koontz (844) 462-6268

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Zacros America, Inc. www.zacrosamerica.com Zacros Customer Service (800) 890-1183

US Natural Group www.usnaturalgroup.com/ Hakan Johanson (727) 424-6677

ZoRoCo Packaging Inc. www.ZoRoCoPackaging.com Jeff Floyd (208) 475-1864

Valley Food Systems www.valleyfoods.com Jeff Valley (800) 228-4053

ËVARC, Inc. www.varcinc.com Eric Filter (608) 637-3994 Viking Masek Global Packaging Technologies www.vikingmasek.com/ Danielle Ohl (920) 564-5051 Visstun www.visstuncups.com Paula Piano (800) 401-2910 Wannemacher Tool Logistics www.wanntl.com/ Andy Wannemacher (419) 225-9060 WePackItAll www.wepackitall.com Vanessa Jimenez (626) 301-9214 We Pack Logistics, LP www.wepack.com Brandon Hoog (888) 993-7225 Western Innovations, Inc. Jerry Jernigan (303) 307-4500 White Mountain Imaging www.wmi-t2.com Rick MacDonald (603) 228-5222 World Contract Packaging www.worldcontractpack.com Barb Tillery (815) 624-6501

ËXela Pack. www.Xela Pack.com Anthony Gentile (734) 944-1300 Xpress 360 Inc. www.xpress-360.com Larry Simpson (317) 291-2100

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Servo Filling Systems

11/20/20 7:39 PM

New Products

E-Comm Paper Padded Mailer The curbside-recyclable paper padded mailer is a sustainable alternative to non-recyclable, dual-material packaging Comprises a non-PS expansive material between layers of kraft paper Developed by Henkel’s Packaging and Consumer Goods Division and Amazon Carries a “Widely Recyclable” label from How2Recycle Georgia-Pacific, www.gp.com/

Expanded Flex-Pack Printing Capabilities Label and flexible packaging printer adds new digital press, the HP 6900 with Mosaic technology, which can generate thousands of unique graphics from one label design New UV rotary silk-screen print unit allows for enhanced shrink-sleeve and specialty finish capabilities Overnight Labels, www.overnightlabels.com

Multipurpose Labeler Top-Only Case Sealer HMT-Mini top-only case sealer allows specific features to be changed out, allowing users to replace modules rather than investing in a new sealer Top seals cases with either glue or tape at speeds to 1,500 cases/hr; advanced option seals at rates to 3,000/hr Accommodates cases up to 18 in. L, 16 in. W, and 16 in. H Massman, https://massmanllc.com/

Contract Packager Series labeling technology is enhanced with a touchscreen control package that includes both stepper- and servo-driven technologies, along with AC drive motor Offers new multi-level menu system and synchronous electronic controls Features Delrin chain conveyor, two stepper-driven label applicators, variable label dispense speeds to 3,000 in./ min, and web widths up to 6.25 in. standard with optional widths to 10.125 in. Universal Labeling Systems, www.universal1.com

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Co-Packed Hand Sanitizers  New Personal Protection collection includes hand sanitizers in three formats: gel, wipes, and spray  Spray is housed in an aluminum bag-on-valve component made with PCR content in 2.7-and 5.5-oz sizes  Pre-moistened wipes are available in 10 × 8-cm or 20 × 15-cm sheets in packs of 30 or 100  Gel, available in two formulas, is offered in 2- and 8-oz flip-top bottles, an 8-oz and 1-L dip-tube pump, and a 1-gal screw-cap jug WWP LLC, www.wwpinc.com

Ink-jet Coder  The 9330 ink-jet coder is designed for small to mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) with low-to-medium duty operation up to 14.4 ft/sec  Features IP55-rated stainless steel cabinet, an automatic printhead cleaning system for quick, simple start-up, and Intelli’Jet technology, which automatically adjusts ink pressure  Can print on plastics, cardboard, metal, foil, paper, and glass, and can print more than 8,000 hr before needing maintenance Markem-Imaje, www.markem-imaje.com/

Compact In-Line Capper  Designed for smaller filling operations, the WC150 inline capper can apply 27-110 mm regular and press-on/ twist-off (PT) caps on glass food jars at rates from 100 to 150/min  Accommodates jar heights of 50-285 mm and jar diameters of 40-140 mm  Compact footprint measures 60.6 in. L x 63 in. H x 39 in. W Silgan Equipment, www.silgancls.com

PET E-Comm Bottles  OmniPack™ PET bottle range includes 8-, 10-, and 12-oz size with 38-mm finish that accepts CT or beverage-style closures  Same diameter and same finish for each allows filling lines to be changed over quickly, without guiderail adjustment  Meets Amazon requirements for Prep-Free Packaging and passes ISTA 6 requirements Amcor, www.amcor.com

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RECONFIGURE with

New Products

modular Conveyor

Combination Inspection System

• Expansion Flexibility: Minimize disruption of production time with easily reconfigured conveyor • Product Flexibility: Quickly introduce new products into production • Process Flexibility: Modular conveyor systems with short lead times • Cost Flexibility: Quote solutions with options for every project blueprint

Compact CV3770 combines Mettler Toledo’s C3000 checkweigher platform with the company’s machine vision technology to measure product weight and perform multiple label inspections for product ID, expiration number, and lot number Can handle large package sizes, big inspection areas, and multiple product inspections Features CI-Vision’s CIVCore® 11 software for precision analysis of highresolution images at up to 250 products/min Mettler Toledo, www.mt.com/

Range of PET Bottle Shapes, Sizes Rigid plastic packaging supplier installs new ISBM (Injection Stretch Blow Molding) machine, allowing it to offer larger PET packages and custom container shapes and sizes Single-stage machine allows for new PET drums up to 25 gal that weigh 30% to 50% less than HDPE and metal; bigger necks, rectangles, and wider neck openings; stackable bottles; and custom coloration Can produce “handle-ware,” or containers with integrated handles, with same functionality as HDPE bottles used for milk, juices, oils, car care, and more Priority Plastics, www.priorityplastics.com

Complete Conveyor Systems

modularconveyor.com 844.293.2816

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RESOURCE GUIDE 2020-2021

Our Mission

Arrowhead Systems, Inc.

ARROWHEAD SYSTEMS, INC.

TIM KRUEGER

he companies of Arrowhead Systems (Busse/SJI Corporation, Arrowhead Conveyor Corporation and A&B Engineering Services) are leaders in providing equipment and service solutions to the packaging industry. Customers trust our over 70-year history of providing quality and innovation to the food, beverage, personal care, household products, and pharmaceutical markets. Busse/SJI, the inventor of the original bulk palletizer and depalletizer, continues to lead the industry in robotic automation and material handling equipment. In addition to the Busse/SJI machines, they manufacture Priority One equipment-simple, yet sophisticated low-level depalletizers, high and lowlevel case palletizers, and multi-line case palletizing systems. Arrowhead Conveyor provides a broad and diversified line of table top, mat top, sanitary, air, case and case tuning conveyors, including the NeXtconveyor wash down and sanitary product line. Our high-quality dependable equipment can be customized to fit your exact needs. A&B Engineering Services sends experienced field service engineers around the world to assist customers with Arrowhead Systems equipment, as well as other major brands. Services include new equipment start-ups, legacy equipment upgrades, programming and line controls integration, technical support, and parts.

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

At Arrowhead Systems, Inc., our fundamental goal is to exceed the expectations of our customers. From our sales professionals, to engineering, manufacturing and project management, we strive to not only meet the criteria for success, but to rise above them. We are dedicated to improving our products, our services and the execution of projects to make our customers recognize the value of partner, not just a supplier.

ARROWHEAD SYSTEMS, INC. 3255 Medalist Drive Oshkosh, WI 54902 P: 920-235-5562 | F: 866-580-3212 www.ArrowheadSystems.com inquiry@arrowheadsystems.com

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DO-IT CORPORATION

RESOURCE GUIDE 2020-2021

Do-It Corporation

DO-IT CORPORATION

P.O. Box 592 1201 Bluestar Memorial Highway South Haven, Michigan 49090 P: 269-637-1121 / F: 269-637-7223 www.do-it.com sales@do-it.com

ince 1973 Do-It Corporation has been designing and making hang tabs for the packaging and merchandising display industries. Do-It also manufacturers merchandising impulse strips, printed hang tabs, carry handles, on-product instantly redeemable coupons (IRCs), shelf wobblers, and promotional bottle neck hang tabs. All Do-It products are designed to get your products noticed in the retail environment and increase sales. Do-It Hang Tabs are self-adhesive plastic hangers that allow products the option of display on peg hooks or merchandising impulse strips. These display areas in retail stores are generally in the “eyezone”, which is the “buy-zone” – creating impulse sales. Do-It Hang Tabs can be provided in clear plastic or printed with a brand and/ or promotional message. When incorporated into your packaging design hang tabs can hang and sell products professionally and reduce or eliminate bulky packaging. Reducing packaging reduces waste and starts an environmental chain reaction throughout the product package development process. Smaller packages need smaller master cartons, smaller inventory space, and less energy to transport. Less packaging also allows you to display more product in the same amount of space. Like our hang tabs, Do-It Display Strips allow products to be crossmerchandised, displayed, and promoted in the retail areas where the product will sell best. All Do-It Corporation products, including carry handles, printed shelf wobblers, on product instant redeemable coupons (IRCs), and promotional bottle neck tabs are all designed to attract the shopper’s attention, All products are produced in several plastic and adhesive choices, depending on the performance requirement and customer preference. They are safe and FDA approved for nonfood contact.

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RESOURCE GUIDE 2020-2021

HEAT AND CONTROL

Our Mission

TONY CARIDIS President

Heat and Control’s past with my father paving the way, prepared an outlook for an exciting future. Our focus has always been on improving flow and efficiencies, and you can see that reflected in how food production lines operate today. We have incredible people in our organization, customers believe in our abilities, and there is respectful collaboration with our global partners.

Heat and Control

elebrating our 70th anniversary, Heat and Control®, a world-leading equipment manufacturer , offers the latest technology and the highest quality equipment for processing, coating and seasoning, conveying, weighing, packaging, inspection, and control/information systems. With seven decades of modernizing equipment solutions, the company continues to advance the food, pharmaceutical, pet, cannabis, and multiple additional industries. Heat and Control takes pride in the machinery they manufacture and the customers they serve. Strategic partnerships have offered customers ultimate choice, efficiency and performance and provided a resource that can be relied upon for many years. Heat and Control is a privately-owned company with a global team that has built an extensive knowledge bank and developed a wealth of experience and expertise. Access to production and technical support from a network of engineers, food technicians, field service technicians, skilled tradespeople, and support teams provide food manufacturers with confidence to achieve production goals. Our ambition is to continue to grow and be trusted committed partners with our customers and the industry. R&D is always key, and product innovations in the pipeline address demands for improving line performance and increasing energy efficiency. • 1600+ employees worldwide in more than 30 offices • Eleven manufacturing facilities, 12 test centers, more than 30 offices globally • Testing, design, engineering, manufacturing, installation commissioning, user training, spare parts, and provision of after sales service.

We are process and product technologists using science, imagination, and unmatched commitment to help our customers bring their best products to market. This is achieved daily throughout our different teams around the globe and we always take a hands-on approach to get things done. From equipment enhancements to patented processes to sustainability, or simply keeping things running to help our customers, we move things forward. From the machinery we manufacture to our process breakthroughs, we are always rising to the next challenge. We believe in bold ideas and finding new approaches that deliver results. The creativity of the Heat and Control team and partners continues to propel us along with our customers into the future.

HEAT AND CONTROL P: 510-259-0500 21121 Cabot Boulevard Hayward, CA 94545

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The McKernan Experience

MCKERNAN PACKAGING

Whether you are buying or selling packaging, when you call McKernan Packaging Clearing House, you will speak with a real person. Call 1-800-787-7587 and the friendly staff at the front desk will connect you with a knowledgeable sales representative or surplus specialist for further assistance.

RESOURCE GUIDE 2020-2021

McKernan Packaging Clearing House

or over 60 years, McKernan Packaging Clearing House has offered

the industry’s highest quality packaging and the lowest minimums, all at a discounted rate. McKernan began by buying and selling surplus packaging, growing their Best Value line. Eventually, McKernan added a complete line of Wholesale Packaging, including over 1,200 line items with over 100 million packaging units in the warehouse…all ready to ship! McKernan’s global presence is stronger than ever with customers worldwide looking to McKernan for their packaging needs. McKernan helps small businesses, start-ups and larger corporations find quality packaging components at a fraction of the cost. Since most of our stock is stored in our warehouse, McKernan is able to ship most orders in less than 48 hours. Whether you are looking for sophisticated and polished, bold and fun, or even simple designs, McKernan has something for almost everyone with unlimited opportunities to produce unique package designs. McKernan continues to grow its diverse inventory, and with millions of components in stock and ready to ship, you have unlimited opportunities to create your perfect package. Get started today! Search our extensive online inventory at McKernan.com where you can order a sample, and most samples are free of charge. For details, call 1-800-787-7587 or 775-356-6111.

Best Value

MCKERNAN PACKAGING CLEARING HOUSE

P.O. Box 7281 Reno, NV 89510 P: 775-356-6111 | 800-787-7587 F: 775-356-2181 www.McKernan.com Sales@McKernan.com Surplus@McKernan.com

McKernan’s Best Value line contains top quality, unbranded packaging components that are offered at a discounted price. The majority of products in this line offer significantly reduced prices as they are unaffected by the recent increased tariffs. The Best Value line has shipments arriving each day so there is always something new to find. This packaging is in stock and generally ships within 48 hours. However, you may need to move fast as these deals sell out quickly.

Surplus Specialists “We Buy Surplus!” McKernan also helps businesses repurpose their excess/surplus inventory by purchasing unused and unbranded components, such as bottles, jars, closures and more. McKernan coined the phrase “pre-cycling” because the program allows companies to recapture some of their initial investment and keeps excess inventory out of the landfills. McKernan is an environmentally responsible and smart solution to scrapping or traditional recycling. When you need to clear inventory in a short amount of time, call McKernan. For more information on this program, visit WeBuyPackaging.com or email Surplus@McKernan.com.

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RESOURCE GUIDE 2020-2021

NERCON

Our Mission

MIKE WEICKERT PRESIDENT

What differentiates Nercon from other conveyor companies? Value and Innovation! Nercon sells conveyor systems, not just conveyors. One of our core values is entitled: “Win-Win”. What this means to Nercon is that we only take on a project if we believe it will be successful for you, the customer. Over the years we have declined projects, even if we were not held responsible for its success. We could have sold more equipment, but Nercon’s long-term profitability is driven by ensuring our customers’ successes today.

Nercon

s the leading manufacturer of conveyor systems, Nercon keeps consumer packaged goods moving in ways that are faster, more reliable and more efficient. We have a strong commitment to continuous development and invest in manufacturing technology and our people in order to sustain innovation and differentiation. Since 1976, Nercon has been building customer trust with an unmatched combination of conveyor system manufacturing expertise and product handling knowledge. That combination has led to a family of conveying systems, which are engineered with a purpose of maximizing your packaging line performance, reducing changeover times and getting your product from point A to point B as efficiently as possible. We believe quality starts here, at Nercon, and place great importance on having the necessary manufacturing capabilities to control the quality of each conveyor system that leaves Nercon. Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, in Wisconsin, allows us to retain full control of the conveyor system from engineering through final testing, and every step in between. These commitments, along with the experience from thousands of conveying systems manufactured over the years, allow us to maintain the superior quality our customers have come to expect. With little dependency on sub-contractors, we are able to produce conveyor equipment and components faster and better.

We are continually innovating in one form or another. Sometimes it’s new equipment, like our Wash-Down Spiral, or sanitary conveyors. Other times, it’s smaller improvements, like adjustable length conveyor sections, and noser ends that allow fine tuning of transfers at installation. Or, there may be upgrades, such as safety guarding, or field modifiable drive ends which allow users to switch the drive from one side to another – without extra parts. We strive to see a project from our customer’s perspective “putting ourselves in their shoes”. We want our conveyor to work for them, and also be easy for them to work with.

NERCON

600 S Commercial St. Neenah WI 54956 P: 844.293.2814 www.nerconconveyors.com mweickert@nercon.com

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Our Mission

PEORIA PRODUCTION SHOP

RESOURCE GUIDE 2020-2021

Peoria Production Shop

eoria production shop (PPS) was founded by Dr. Maxim Pollak with a $500 loan. His plan was to create a self-sustaining work environment for recovering Tuberculosis patients until they could return to fulltime work. In 1951, PPS was incorporated as a not-for-profit sheltered workshop and soon began to employ individuals with disabilities. PPS has always been a selfsupporting organization and we do not receive any funding from federal/state grants or charitable donations. DAN LATURNO President/CEO

To be the premier employer for individuals with disabilities.

Our People PPS employs roughly 180 individuals, where 65% are high functioning individuals with some sort of disability. These range from mental or physical impairments to being on the Autism scale. We focus on abilities not disabilities, so when a new employee comes aboard, they start in the most basic area, packaging but are cross-trained and exposed to more difficult, challenging tasks. Providing growth, self-esteem and higher earning opportunities are typically met with happiness and excitement.

Our Quality PPS has maintained ISO-9000 certification since 2004 and is a Gold-level supplier under Caterpillar’s SQEP quality assurance program. Our employees do an amazing job!

What PPS Does?

PEORIA PRODUCTION SHOP P: 888-449-2358 2039 West Townline Road Peoria, IL 61615

• Kitting of 1st aid kits and tool kits • Auto-bagging packaged components • Packaging of industrial parts (Bolts, nuts and washers) • Sewing of gait belts and textiles

• Assembly services for consumer Goods (Gas caps, game boards and subscription services) • Auto-labeling round bottles • Pouch bag-filling services

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RESOURCE GUIDE 2020-2021

PROSYS SERVO FILLING SYSTEMS

Our Mission

Building Quality, Integrity & Value In Our Team, With Our Customers, and in The Equipment We Design, Build & Deliver.

ProSys Servo Filling Systems

roSys is a premier manufacturer of manual, semiautomatic and fully automatic equipment for filling Cartridges, Squeeze Tubes, Syringes and Rigid Containers. A global supplier of filling equipment since 1985 with U.S. sales, manufacturing and customer service facilities located in Southwest Missouri.

Global Installs • • • • • • •

Cosmetic Pharmaceutical Chemical Adhesive Sealant Grease Food

Flexible Combination Filling Systems • Plastic & Metal Tube Filling Systems • Tube & Airless Pump Filling Systems • Tube & Cartridge Filling Systems • 10, 14 & 30 oz. Cartridge Filling Systems

Squeeze Tube Filling Machinesspeeds from 15 to 300 per minute. Syringe Filling Machines-speeds from 20 to 300 per minute.

• Tool-free Release System for Simple Changeovers • “Digital Readout Indicators” for Fast & Accurate Adjustments • On-line Service & Support • Recipe Storage & Recall • Creams, Lotions & Viscous Pastes to 3 Million Centipoise • Designed & Built in the U.S.A.

Airless Pump Filling Machinesspeeds from 15 to 300 per minute. Cartridge Filling Machines-speeds from 10 to 250 per minute. Custom Filling Systems

Features & Benefits • • • • • • •

Turnkey & Custom Designs Air-Free Filling Vertical Bottom Up Filling Color Mix Solutions Drum & Pail Presses SERVO Solutions Explosion Proof Controls (Class 1 Division 1&2, ATEX 0&1)

PROSYS SERVO FILLING SYSTEMS

422 E. Fountain Rd. Webb City, MO 64870 P: 417-673-5551 | F: 417-673-7971 ProSysFill.com info@prosysfill.com

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SIMPLEX FILLER COMPANY

RESOURCE GUIDE 2020-2021

Simplex Filler Company

Our Mission

S SASHA MURRAY KAETHER, PRESIDENT JEREL PEDERSON, CONTROLLER JONATHAN FULLER, PRODUCTION DENNIS BERTOLUCCI, ENGINEERING

Sasha Murray Kaether, daughter of Edna and Don Murray, continues to lead Simplex Filler with her parent’s mission: Provide our customers with high quality production liquid filling machines and accessories which handle a wide range of liquid products and provide them with years of reliable service.

implex Filler Company has been family-owned and operated since 1966 and is now in its second generation of management in Napa, CA. Over 50 years ago, the Murray family purchased the F.L. Burt Company, and one of their most successful fillers was the Simplex Model A. The Model A is the prototype for today’s Simplex AS-1. This innovative and durable machine has taken many an entrepreneur from filling their products by hand, in kitchens and garages, to larger automated production. The Model A machine, built from 1947 until 1971, has proven to be so dependable that there are still over 100 of them in service today. Just as the Model A (and later the AS-1) helped literally thousands of businesses expand their potential over the last three decades, this simple yet sophisticated machine has been the foundation of our own success. Building on the tenets of simplicity, quality and durability, Simplex Filler Company has become one of the packaging industry’s leading manufacturers of liquid lling technology. We now offer a wide range of liquid piston fillers from semi automatic tabletops to fully automated liquid filling lines to businesses that range from startups to industry leaders ... all designed and built to the same rigorous standards embodied by the original and reliable Simplex Model A.

The company standard is: “QUALITY HAS A MEMORY” and evolved from the determination that old world craftsmanship and modern proven technology can be merged to create the finest machine possible for our customers.

Filling Simply Simplex Machines are ideal for filling a wide variety of liquids... COSMETICS Lotions • Masks • Scrubs • Shampoo • Toners • Body Oils FOOD Butters • Mayonnaise • Salsas • Dips • Oils • Sauces CHEMICALS Stains • Sealant • Detergent • Glues • Silicone • Paint

Simplex Model MT-1200

SIMPLEX FILLER

640-A Airpark Road Napa, CA 94558 P: 707-265-6801 | F: 707-265-6868 www.SimplexFiller.com simplex@simplexfiller.com

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S P

A — C p c c e

s w o h s i m

RESOURCE GUIDE 2020-2021

STERLING CONTRACT PACKAGING, INC.

Our Mission

Sterling Contract Packaging, Inc.

roviding turnkey packaging solutions for 20 years! Sterling Contract Packaging is one of the largest contract packaging facilities in the Southeast, specializing in high speed packaging. As a leader in sustainability initiatives, we recycle 98% of all waste â&#x20AC;&#x201D; more than 1 million pounds each year.Founded in 1996, Sterling Contract Packaging maintains a diverse offering of automated packaging capabilities with extensive management experience in cconsumer sales and retail distribution. Uniquely capable of providing complete project management, Sterling is involved from package engineering to final package distribution. In addition to our world-class retail packaging and distribution services, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve added a new ProSys RT60! highspeed tube filler, which means we now feature the ability to handle plastic, laminate, or aluminum squeeze tubes from 1/5 ounce to 14 fluid ounces! Our high-speed operations and project management are tailored to suit your needs. If you need us to, we manage the entire process, including global sourcing, procurement, transportation and warehouse management. You can depend on our reputation for reliability!

STERLING CONTRACT PACKAGING, INC.

1875 Moore-Duncan Highway Moore, SC 29369 P: 864-587-5511 www.sterlingcpi.com Michael Collins mcollins@sterlingcpi.com

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11/18/20 10:30 AM

With the Dot Shot Pro® Glue Dots® applicator

STICK HAPPENS

Ad Index COMPANY/WEBSITE PAGE

COMPANY/WEBSITE PAGE

PMMI, THE ASSOCIATION FOR 9, 32 PACKAGING AND PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES www.pmmi.org

ARROWHEAD SYSTEMS INC. www.arrowheadsystems.com

2, 24

DO-IT CORPORATION www.do-it.com GLUE DOTS INTERNATIONAL www.gluedots.com

IBC

HEAT AND CONTROL www.heatandcontrol.com

13, 25

MCKERNAN PACKAGING www.mckernan.com

NERCON www.nerconconveyors.com PEORIA PRODUCTION SHOP www.peoriapros.com

22, 27 28, OBC

PROSYS INNOVATIVE PACKAGING EQUIP. www.prosysfill.com R.A JONES & CO. www.rajones.com SIMPLEX FILLER COMPANY www.simplexfiller.com STERLING CONTRACT PACKAGING www.sterlingcpi.com

19, 29 IFC 30, 32 31, IBC

Contract Packaging is a supplement to Packaging World® (ISSN # 1073-7367, a registered trademark of PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. Packaging World® is published monthly by PMMI with its publishing office, PMMI Media Group, located at 401 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60611; 312.222.1010; Fax: 312.222.1310. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL, and additional mailing offices. Copyright 2018 by PMMI. All rights reserved. Materials in this publication must not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. Applications for a free subscription may be made online at www.packworld.com/ subscribe. Paid subscription rates per year are $200 in the U.S., $285 Canada and Mexico by surface mail; $475 Europe, $715 Far East and Australia by air mail. Single copy price in U.S. is $20. To subscribe or manage your subscription to Packaging World, visit Packworld.com/subscribe. Free digital edition available to qualified individuals outside the United States. POSTMASTER; Send address changes to Packaging World®, 401 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60611-3789. PRINTED IN USA by Quad Graphics. The opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of PMMI. Comments, questions and letters to the editor are welcome and can be sent to: editors@packworld.com. Mailing List: We make a portion of our mailing list available to reputable firms. If you would prefer that we don’t include your name, please write us at the Chicago, IL address.

for contract packaging facilities and fulfillment houses that assemble POP displays, sample kits and promotional packaging.

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STERLING CONTRACT PACKAGING NEW! High-speed tube ﬁller added to our state-of-the-art facility! I e p k g g b ev e , e h ep , m e, m m q eeze 14 ﬂuid ounces with the new ProSys RT60! O h gh pee If y ee p eme ,

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Our capabilities also include • I e & me g • Turnkey retail packaging solutions • Supply chain management • C m e e f e • Package design and engineering • ISO Compliant

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HIRE PERFORMANCE. HIGHER STANDARDS.

About Us History, Mission, and Growth Peoria Production Shop has been employing individuals with all types of disabilities for nearly 80 years. As a not-for-profit, our motivation is jobs, not profits, which allows us to be responsive and competitive on many different levels. Peoria Production Shop is 100% self-supporting. Our team at Peoria Production Shop (PPS) have listened to requests and based on feedback, we are expanding our business drastically to meet client’s needs. We invested in equipment, top talent, and most exciting and importantly, additional space to accommodate all of our growth. During this time of uncertainty, our clients have found that although they had never considered outsourcing their projects in the past, due to the lack of talent and/or the high demands of unforgiving deadlines, Peoria Production Shop (PPS) has been able to support so many of our customers through these times and still keeping

PPS HAS BEEN PROVIDING SOLUTIONS TO THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: • Inadequate packaging, wrapping, or bagging • Substandard mechanical assembly • Ineffective Just in Time (JIT) “break bulk” sorting • Urgent deadlines • Poor or inconsistent sewing or fabrication • Overflow or lack of storage • Lack of talent to support these needs Contact: Lisa Timmerman 309-693-2000 ltimmerman@peoriapros.com

up with the extensive metrics required.

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Contract Packaging November/December 2020

Articles inside

Industry News

Resource Guide

CPA News

Ad Index

Brand Owner Insight

CPA President’s Letter

Forefront