If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm. ~Vince Lombardi
We all know that the economy is bad and things are tough! Many people are out of work and many more are afraid they will loose the job they have. Given this poor economic environment, it is crucial that you keep a positive attitude. The last thing you want to do now is get a negative attitude or become "paralyzed" by fear! Don't be like the woman, who although she was doing well on her job, became so preoccupied with the thought of being laid off that it started to affect her performance. She stopped performing at her best level. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy; her "fear paralysis" did indeed lead to her being laid off.
How do you stay positive and motivated? Simply thinking and saying "I'm going to be positive and have a great attitude" doesn't do it. Motivational quotes, posters, or notes on your computer or desk help, but they alone can't keep you motivated. You have to work at staying positive and motivated ... every day. It's not easy. You have to take deliberate action to have a positive attitude. You can't just think about being positive, you have to act!
10 Action Steps to Keep a Positive Attitude:
1. Don't fall into the "misery loves company" syndrome: If you find yourself participating in a "pity party" at work, politely excuse yourself. These parties are a fantastic drain on your time and energy, and they don't solve any problems.
2. Avoid "poison" people: You know who they are! They are the ones who are always complaining, being negative, or are quick to criticize your ideas. Since you may not want to totally eliminate them from your life, just arrange things so you only have to deal with them in small "doses."
3. Don't watch too much TV: When you're stressed or feeling down, a planned few minutes of watching TV can turn into hours.
4. Spend time with your kids, family, and friends: Instead of spending hours with the TV, rearrange your schedule and give some of that time to family and friends
5. Take a half-hour to an hour a day to motivate yourself: Read motivational books or listen to motivational tapes. I highly recommend the following:
a. What Makes the Great Great by Dennis Kimbro
b. Over the Top by Zig Ziglar
c. The Aladdin Factor by Jack Canfield & Mark V. Hansen
d. The Power of Focus by Canfield, Hansen, Hewitt
e. Live Your Dreams by Les Brown
f. If It's Going To Be, It's Up To Me by Robert Schuller
g. The Bible
6. Take an hour a day to become an expert: I got this idea from one Jack Canfield's tapes, where he talks about how you can take one hour a day to become an expert in your area or develop other marketable skills. You don't have to exhaust yourself trying to "cram" in new skills or expertise. An hour a day will get you where you want to be quicker than you think.
7. Try new things: Overcome the fear (i.e., fear of failure, rejection, or pain)! When you're learning or doing a new sport or hobby, you don't think about what's bothering you.
8. Exercise: We all know about the physical benefits of exercising, but to me that's just a side benefit. The real payoff of exercise is the mental stress relief. When you're "gasping for air," your thoughts are very simple. Most important, regardless of how badly you may feel when you start exercising, you will always feel better when you're done.
9. Pray: It doesn't matter what your religion is or beliefs are, you need to pray to ask for the help and guidance you need. I know it works!
10. Reward Yourself: Set small goals or steps, and reward yourself on each accomplishment. Don't constantly worry or "burn-out," take time to relax and "smell the roses."
The key is to get your mind off your problems, and give yourself time to re-energize. The single biggest discovery I've made about staying positive is that you have to take action at your worst moments. When you feel so miserable that all you want to do is crawl under a rock, stare at the TV, eat ice cream, or sleep, that is the precise moment you either read (or listen to) something motivational, exercise, or spend time with your kids, family, or friends. There have been times when I had to force myself to exercise or read, and no matter how badly I felt when I started, it helped. Did doing these things solve all my problems immediately? Of course not, but they helped me to maintain the positive attitude I needed to keep trying. Above all else, remember that "this, too, shall pass."
Friday, November 26, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Did you know about Tamper Red Anti-Theft tape???
You can help eliminate Pilfering and increase your client's satisfaction!!
Tamper Red Tape
TAMPER-RED
With TAMPER-RED, more cartons can be sealed in less time than any other method of closure. TAMPER-RED forms a strong bond to a corrugated box with a single rub of the hand on the tape. With quick "application" time, your customers save time and increase productivity.
TAMPER-RED provides protection and security against tampering and/or pilferage of your products. Corrugated cartons cannot be resealed without detection because the bottom sheet actually penetrates the carton's surface. is designed with a red colored bottom sheet to draw attention to tampering. It cannot be removed without detection. The oversized width (3.188"), prevents resealing with standard 3" tape. This "tamper resistant" feature helps protect products and increases profitability.
Tamper Red Tape
TAMPER-RED
With TAMPER-RED, more cartons can be sealed in less time than any other method of closure. TAMPER-RED forms a strong bond to a corrugated box with a single rub of the hand on the tape. With quick "application" time, your customers save time and increase productivity.
TAMPER-RED provides protection and security against tampering and/or pilferage of your products. Corrugated cartons cannot be resealed without detection because the bottom sheet actually penetrates the carton's surface. is designed with a red colored bottom sheet to draw attention to tampering. It cannot be removed without detection. The oversized width (3.188"), prevents resealing with standard 3" tape. This "tamper resistant" feature helps protect products and increases profitability.
TAMPER-RED Stock Imprint (Printed in Red Ink) |
| 96% of the total adhesion of reinforced tape to corrugated occurs within 3 seconds of application. This "fast tack" assures closure on even the toughest carton-sealing application - (over-stressed, under-filled or recycled cartons), because TAMPER-RED adhesive becomes part of the carton. This "fast tack" saves time and improves productivity labels. |
| TAMPER-RED can be applied either manually or with semi/fully automatic sealing equipment - eliminates the need to purchase different types of tape for each of your taping applications. With the capacity of multiple sealing techniques, your customers will save time and money. |
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Did you know that you can have cold chain packaging that will stay cold for 5 days??
Yes...thats right....we can help you test a cold chain solution that keeps your products at 2-8 degrees celsius for 5-6 days so you don't need to ship overnight!!!!
Please ask me for a FREE 3M Safety Audit on your entire operation!!!
Did you know that 3M has a vast array of products that will keep your people safe and help you comply with strict OSHA requirements????????
Just ask me...
Just ask me...
Go Green with Sustainable Paper Packaging!!
You Can Help the Planet with Biodegradable Packaging...
Efficient. Safe. Dependable.
Safe: The unique compression technique means added volume - Paperplus cushions boast up to 30% more cushioning volume and higher compressive strength than other paper systems.
Easy: Reliable easy-to-operate equipment with efficiencies like programmable keypads and hands-free foot pedal control.
Versatile: Multiple machine configurations, flexible features and add-on components allow you to fit the equipment to your packaging process and engineer the most efficient production methods for your packing requirements.
Dependable: Skilled responsive representatives and service technicians to ensure your packaging systems are operating at peak efficiency.PAPERplus® from Storopack offers a variety of systems that transform paper rolls into packaging material for any application from speedy light-weight filler to strong cushioning pads. Whether you’re packing small, medium-sized, large, or heavy industrial items, there is a PAPERplus® product that is an efficient and economical solution for your packaging needs.
PAPERplus® in-the-box packaging materials are made from recycled and virgin paper. It´s durable enough to be used many times and recyclable - making it economical and environmentally friendly.
Efficient. Safe. Dependable.
Safe: The unique compression technique means added volume - Paperplus cushions boast up to 30% more cushioning volume and higher compressive strength than other paper systems.
Easy: Reliable easy-to-operate equipment with efficiencies like programmable keypads and hands-free foot pedal control.
Versatile: Multiple machine configurations, flexible features and add-on components allow you to fit the equipment to your packaging process and engineer the most efficient production methods for your packing requirements.
Dependable: Skilled responsive representatives and service technicians to ensure your packaging systems are operating at peak efficiency.PAPERplus® from Storopack offers a variety of systems that transform paper rolls into packaging material for any application from speedy light-weight filler to strong cushioning pads. Whether you’re packing small, medium-sized, large, or heavy industrial items, there is a PAPERplus® product that is an efficient and economical solution for your packaging needs.
PAPERplus® in-the-box packaging materials are made from recycled and virgin paper. It´s durable enough to be used many times and recyclable - making it economical and environmentally friendly.
Go Green with Corrugated Packaging that Suspends Your Products in Mid-Air!!!
Discover if this innovative packaging is for you!
Korrvu® Packaging
Korrvu® packaging is a dynamic packaging product that uses a strong, highly-resilient low-slip film to surround your products, protecting them from shock and vibration.
Innovative - Engineered solutions to specific packaging requirements with unique features.
Unparalleled Product Protection - A complete packaging solution that holds your product securely in place protecting it from damage due to shock, vibration and impact.
Showcases Your Product's Appearance - Korrvu® packaging's transparent film enables your package to serve as both a protective shipper and an effective display merchandiser.
Versatile and Flexible
Easy to Store
Environmentally Sound - Contains at least 30% recycled content and is readily recyclable in corrugated hydrapulping operations. Korrvu® packaging is reusable for return shipments minimizing waste at both ends of the distribution cycle. RESY approved for recycling in Germany.
Standard Designs - Appropriate for a wide array of products without the custom design process - Korrvu® packaging stores flat, reducing storage and warehouse space requirements. No special equipment or capital investment is required. - The resilient film will conform to a variety of shapes. Each design can be used for a variety of similar shapes reducing your packaging inventory.
Korrvu® Packaging
Korrvu® packaging is a dynamic packaging product that uses a strong, highly-resilient low-slip film to surround your products, protecting them from shock and vibration.
Unparalleled Product Protection - A complete packaging solution that holds your product securely in place protecting it from damage due to shock, vibration and impact.
Showcases Your Product's Appearance - Korrvu® packaging's transparent film enables your package to serve as both a protective shipper and an effective display merchandiser.
Versatile and Flexible
Easy to Store
Environmentally Sound - Contains at least 30% recycled content and is readily recyclable in corrugated hydrapulping operations. Korrvu® packaging is reusable for return shipments minimizing waste at both ends of the distribution cycle. RESY approved for recycling in Germany.
Standard Designs - Appropriate for a wide array of products without the custom design process - Korrvu® packaging stores flat, reducing storage and warehouse space requirements. No special equipment or capital investment is required. - The resilient film will conform to a variety of shapes. Each design can be used for a variety of similar shapes reducing your packaging inventory.
A Client like you Recently Saved over $60,000 per year over Die Cut Foam!
You can have Protection and Flexibility All In One!!
ask me more....
Instapak Series Foam-in-Place Packaging Systems
Sealed Air Corporation
Fast, easy and versatile, the Instapak foam packaging process allows on-line, on-site production of packaging that provides protection against shock and vibration during shipping and handling.
Over thirty years ago, Sealed Air Corporation pioneered semi-rigid polyurethane foam technology and was the first to identify and apply its unique benefits to protective packaging. The result, the Instapak foam-in-place packaging process. Fast, easy and versatile, the Instapak foam packaging process allows on-line, on-site production of packaging that provides protection against shock and vibration during shipping and handling.
One of the most economical packaging materials available, Instapak foam packaging cuts your packaging material costs without compromising product protection.
• Fast – Instapak foam expands in seconds to form protective cushions significantly improving productivity.
• Makes Packaging Your Products Easy - Economically and efficiently protects products of any size, shape and weight.
• Versatile - Whether your packaging requirement is precision cushioning, high-speed void fill or heavy-duty blocking and bracing, there is an Instapak system to meet your needs.
• Engineered Protection - Instapak foam has unique cushioning properties that protect your products during shipping, warehousing and handling.
• Space Saving- Instapak foam expands up to 200 times its liquid volume, when, where and as you need it, significantly reducing the costs of storage and handling. Two 55-gallon drums of liquid components when combined can create a trailer-truck load of packaging material.
The Instapak 900 Series Systems:
The UL approved Instapak 900 series hand-held foam dispensing systems, featuring all-electric, microprocessor-controlled operation, consistently produce top quality Instapak foam packaging. The Instapak 900 system is suited for small to medium packaging operations, while the Instapak 901 system is ideal for larger packaging environments.
Instapak Foam-in-Place Packaging:
A simple cushioning or blocking and bracing process for a variety of items in varying shapes and sizes.
Instapak Foam-in-Place Molding:
A process that produces specifically designed cushions for ultimate protection and efficiency.
ask me more....
Instapak Series Foam-in-Place Packaging Systems
Sealed Air Corporation
Fast, easy and versatile, the Instapak foam packaging process allows on-line, on-site production of packaging that provides protection against shock and vibration during shipping and handling.
Over thirty years ago, Sealed Air Corporation pioneered semi-rigid polyurethane foam technology and was the first to identify and apply its unique benefits to protective packaging. The result, the Instapak foam-in-place packaging process. Fast, easy and versatile, the Instapak foam packaging process allows on-line, on-site production of packaging that provides protection against shock and vibration during shipping and handling.
One of the most economical packaging materials available, Instapak foam packaging cuts your packaging material costs without compromising product protection.
• Fast – Instapak foam expands in seconds to form protective cushions significantly improving productivity.
• Makes Packaging Your Products Easy - Economically and efficiently protects products of any size, shape and weight.
• Versatile - Whether your packaging requirement is precision cushioning, high-speed void fill or heavy-duty blocking and bracing, there is an Instapak system to meet your needs.
• Engineered Protection - Instapak foam has unique cushioning properties that protect your products during shipping, warehousing and handling.
• Space Saving- Instapak foam expands up to 200 times its liquid volume, when, where and as you need it, significantly reducing the costs of storage and handling. Two 55-gallon drums of liquid components when combined can create a trailer-truck load of packaging material.
The Instapak 900 Series Systems:
The UL approved Instapak 900 series hand-held foam dispensing systems, featuring all-electric, microprocessor-controlled operation, consistently produce top quality Instapak foam packaging. The Instapak 900 system is suited for small to medium packaging operations, while the Instapak 901 system is ideal for larger packaging environments.
Instapak Foam-in-Place Packaging:
A simple cushioning or blocking and bracing process for a variety of items in varying shapes and sizes.
Instapak Foam-in-Place Molding:
A process that produces specifically designed cushions for ultimate protection and efficiency.
Did You Know the Exciting History of the Corrugated Carton???
The Corrugated Box Was Invented in 1856!!!
In the mid-19th century, an ingenious concept enabled flimsy sheets of paper to be transformed into a rigid, stackable and cushioning form of packaging for delicate goods in transit.. Corrugated (also called pleated) paper was patented in England in 1856, and used as a liner for tall hats, but corrugated boxboard was not patented and used as a shipping material until December 20, 1871. The patent was issued to Albert Jones of New York City for single-sided (single-face) corrugated board.. Jones used the corrugated board for wrapping bottles and glass lantern chimneys. The first machine for producing large quantities of corrugated board was built in 1874 by G. Smyth, and in the same year Oliver Long improved upon Jones' design by inventing corrugated board with liner sheets on both sides. This was corrugated board as we know it today.
The Scottish-born Robert Gair invented the pre-cut paperboard box in 1890 – flat pieces manufactured in bulk that folded into boxes. Gair's invention came about as a result of an accident: he was a Brooklyn printer and paper-bag maker during the 1870s, and one day, while he was printing an order of seed bags, a metal ruler normally used to crease bags shifted in position and cut them. Gair discovered that by cutting and creasing in one operation he could make prefabricated paperboard boxes. Applying this idea to corrugated boxboard was a straightforward development when the material became available in the early twentieth century.
The corrugated box was initially used for packaging glass and pottery containers. Later, the case enabled fruit and produce to be brought from the farm to the retailer without bruising, improving the return to the producers and opening up export markets.
Manufacture of corrugated board
Corrugated board is manufactured on large high-precision machinery lines called corrugators, usually running at 500 lineal feet per minute or faster. These machines over time have become very complex with the objective of avoiding some common problems in corrugated board production, such as warp and washboarding.
The manufacturing process begins with pulping, the separation of wood (hardwood and sapwood) into individual fibers, as accomplished by mechanical methods or chemical treatment.
In the classical corrugator, the paper is softened with high-pressure steam. After the board is formed it is dried in the so-called dry-end. Here the newly formed corrugated board is heated from the bottom by hot plates. On the top, various pressures are applied by a load system on the belt.
The corrugated medium is often 26 lb/1000 sq.ft basis weight in the U.S.; in the UK, a 90-gram per square metre fluting paper is common. At the single-facer, it is heated, moistened, and formed into a fluted pattern on geared wheels. This is joined to a flat linerboard with a starch based adhesive to form single face board. At the double-backer, a second flat linerboard is adhered to the other side of the fluted medium to form single wall corrugated board. Linerboards are test liners (recycled paper) or kraft paperboard (of various grades). The liner may be bleached white, mottled white, colored, or preprinted.
Common flute sizes are "A", "B", "C", "E" and "F" or microflute. The letter designation relates to the order that the flutes were invented, not the relative sizes. Flute size refers to the number of flutes per lineal foot, although the actual flute dimensions for different corrugator manufacuturers may vary slightly. Measuring the number of flutes per lineal foot is a more reliable method of identifying flute size than measuring board thickness, which can vary due to manufacturing conditions. The most common flute size in corrugated boxes is "C" flute.
Standard US Corrugated Flutes
Corrugated fiberboard can be specified by the construction (single face, singlewall, doublewall, etc), flute size, burst strength, edge crush strength, flat crush, basis weights of components (pounds per thousand square feet, grams per square meter, etc), surface treatments and coatings, etc. TAPPI and ASTM test methods for these are standardized.
The choice of corrugated medium, flute size, combining adhesive, and linerboards can be varied to engineer a corrugated board with specific properties to match a wide variety of potential uses. Double and triple-wall corrugated board is also produced for high stacking strength and puncture resistance.
Box manufacture processBox designMain article: Corrugated box design
Packaging engineers design corrugated boxes to meet the particular needs of the product being shipped, the hazards of the shipping environment, (shock, vibration, compression, moisture, etc), and the needs of retailers and consumers.
The most common box style is the Regular Slotted Container (RSC). All flaps are the same length from the score to the edge. Typically, the major flaps meet in the middle and the minor flaps do not.
The manufacturer's joint is most often joined with adhesive but may also be taped or stitched. The box is shipped flat (knocked down) to the packager who sets up the box, fills it, and closes it for shipment. Box closure may be by tape, adhesive, staples, strapping, etc.
The size of a box can be measured for either internal (for product fit) or external (for handling machinery or palletizng) dimensions. Boxes are usually specified and ordered by the internal dimensions.
Box styles in Europe are typically defined by a 4-digit code specified by FEFCO: for example, a regular slotted container (RSC) is coded 0201. FEFCO styles are normally the basis for more complicated special designs that incorporate, for instance, locking tabs or internal fittings.
ManufacturingBoxes can be formed in the same plant as the corrugator. Part of the scoring and cutting takes place in-line on the corrugator. Alternatively, sheets of corrugated board may be sent to a different manufacturing facility for box fabrication; these are sometimes called "sheet plants".
The corrugated board is creased or scored to provide controlled bending of the board. Most often, slots are cut to provide flaps on the box. Scoring and slotting can also be accomplished by die-cutting.
The "Flexo Folder Gluer" is a machine that in one single pass prints, cuts, folds, and glues flat sheets of board to convert them to boxes for any application, from storing old family pictures to shipping the biggest of plasma TV sets to the global market. The most advanced of FFG's can run at speeds of up to 26,000 boxes per hour (about 433 per minute).
Single-face laminateA limitation of common corrugated material has been the difficulty in applying fine graphic print for informative and marketing purposes. The reasons for this stem from the fact that prefabricated corrugated sheets are relatively thick and spongy, compared to the thin and incompressible nature of solid fibre paper such as paperboard. Due to these characteristics of corrugated, it has been mainly printed using a flexographic process, which is by nature a coarse application with loose registration properties.
A more recent development popular in usage is a hybrid product featuring the structural benefits of corrugated combined with the high-graphics print of lithography previously relegated to paperboard folding cartons. This application, generally referred to as 'Single-Face Laminate', begins its process as a traditional fluted medium adhered to a single linerboard (single-face), but in place of a second long-fibered liner, a pre-printed sheet of paperboard such as SBS (solid bleached sulfate) is laminated to the outer facing. The sheet can then be converted with the same processes used for other corrugated manufacturing into any desired form.
Specialized equipment is necessary for the material construction of SFL, so users may expect to pay a premium for these products. However, this cost is often offset by the savings over a separate paperboard sleeve and the labor necessary to assemble the completed package.
Recycling
Old corrugated containers are an excellent source of fibre for recycling. They can be compressed and baled for cost effective transport. The baled boxes are put in a hydropulper, which is a large vat of warm water for cleaning and processing. The pulp slurry is then used to make new paper and fiber products.
Mill and corrugator scrap, or broke, is the cleanest source for recycling. The high rates of post-consumer recycling reflect the efficiency of recycling mills to clean and process the incoming materials. Several technologies are available to sort, screen, filter, and chemically treat the recycled paper.
Many extraneous materials are readily removed. Twine, strapping, etc are removed from the hydropulper by a "ragger". Metal straps and staples can be screened out or removed by a magnet. Film-backed pressure sensitive tape stays intact: the PSA adhesive and the backing are both removed together.
Materials which are more difficult to remove include wax coatings on corrugated boxes and "stickies", soft rubbery particles which can clog the paper maker and contaminate the recycled paper. Stickies can originate from book bindings, hot melt adhesives, PSA adhesives from paper labels, laminating adhesives of reinforced gummed tapes, etc.
Corrugated fiberboard shredders are now available which convert post-consumer corrugated board into packing/cushioning materials by means of a specialized shredding process.
Recycling corrugated fiberboard helps countries without sustainable wood resources build a paper and packaging industry locally.
Box blank showing score lines, slots, and manufacturer's joint A corrugated fiberboard shredder. Main flutes for corrugated fiberboard
In the mid-19th century, an ingenious concept enabled flimsy sheets of paper to be transformed into a rigid, stackable and cushioning form of packaging for delicate goods in transit.. Corrugated (also called pleated) paper was patented in England in 1856, and used as a liner for tall hats, but corrugated boxboard was not patented and used as a shipping material until December 20, 1871. The patent was issued to Albert Jones of New York City for single-sided (single-face) corrugated board.. Jones used the corrugated board for wrapping bottles and glass lantern chimneys. The first machine for producing large quantities of corrugated board was built in 1874 by G. Smyth, and in the same year Oliver Long improved upon Jones' design by inventing corrugated board with liner sheets on both sides. This was corrugated board as we know it today.
The Scottish-born Robert Gair invented the pre-cut paperboard box in 1890 – flat pieces manufactured in bulk that folded into boxes. Gair's invention came about as a result of an accident: he was a Brooklyn printer and paper-bag maker during the 1870s, and one day, while he was printing an order of seed bags, a metal ruler normally used to crease bags shifted in position and cut them. Gair discovered that by cutting and creasing in one operation he could make prefabricated paperboard boxes. Applying this idea to corrugated boxboard was a straightforward development when the material became available in the early twentieth century.
The corrugated box was initially used for packaging glass and pottery containers. Later, the case enabled fruit and produce to be brought from the farm to the retailer without bruising, improving the return to the producers and opening up export markets.
Manufacture of corrugated board
Corrugated board is manufactured on large high-precision machinery lines called corrugators, usually running at 500 lineal feet per minute or faster. These machines over time have become very complex with the objective of avoiding some common problems in corrugated board production, such as warp and washboarding.
The manufacturing process begins with pulping, the separation of wood (hardwood and sapwood) into individual fibers, as accomplished by mechanical methods or chemical treatment.
In the classical corrugator, the paper is softened with high-pressure steam. After the board is formed it is dried in the so-called dry-end. Here the newly formed corrugated board is heated from the bottom by hot plates. On the top, various pressures are applied by a load system on the belt.
The corrugated medium is often 26 lb/1000 sq.ft basis weight in the U.S.; in the UK, a 90-gram per square metre fluting paper is common. At the single-facer, it is heated, moistened, and formed into a fluted pattern on geared wheels. This is joined to a flat linerboard with a starch based adhesive to form single face board. At the double-backer, a second flat linerboard is adhered to the other side of the fluted medium to form single wall corrugated board. Linerboards are test liners (recycled paper) or kraft paperboard (of various grades). The liner may be bleached white, mottled white, colored, or preprinted.
Common flute sizes are "A", "B", "C", "E" and "F" or microflute. The letter designation relates to the order that the flutes were invented, not the relative sizes. Flute size refers to the number of flutes per lineal foot, although the actual flute dimensions for different corrugator manufacuturers may vary slightly. Measuring the number of flutes per lineal foot is a more reliable method of identifying flute size than measuring board thickness, which can vary due to manufacturing conditions. The most common flute size in corrugated boxes is "C" flute.
Standard US Corrugated Flutes
Flute Designation | Flutes per lineal foot | Flute thickness (in) | Flutes per lineal metre | Flute thickness (mm) |
| A flute | 33 +/- 3 | 3/16 | 108 +/- 10 | 4.8 |
| B flute | 47 +/- 3 | 1/8 | 154 +/- 10 | 3.2 |
| C flute | 39 +/- 3 | 5/32 | 128 +/- 10 | 4.0 |
| E flute | 90 +/- 4 | 1/16 | 295 +/- 13 | 1.6 |
| F flute | 128 +/- 4 | 1/32 | 420 +/- 13 | 0.8 |
Corrugated fiberboard can be specified by the construction (single face, singlewall, doublewall, etc), flute size, burst strength, edge crush strength, flat crush, basis weights of components (pounds per thousand square feet, grams per square meter, etc), surface treatments and coatings, etc. TAPPI and ASTM test methods for these are standardized.
The choice of corrugated medium, flute size, combining adhesive, and linerboards can be varied to engineer a corrugated board with specific properties to match a wide variety of potential uses. Double and triple-wall corrugated board is also produced for high stacking strength and puncture resistance.
Box manufacture processBox designMain article: Corrugated box design
Packaging engineers design corrugated boxes to meet the particular needs of the product being shipped, the hazards of the shipping environment, (shock, vibration, compression, moisture, etc), and the needs of retailers and consumers.
The most common box style is the Regular Slotted Container (RSC). All flaps are the same length from the score to the edge. Typically, the major flaps meet in the middle and the minor flaps do not.
The manufacturer's joint is most often joined with adhesive but may also be taped or stitched. The box is shipped flat (knocked down) to the packager who sets up the box, fills it, and closes it for shipment. Box closure may be by tape, adhesive, staples, strapping, etc.
The size of a box can be measured for either internal (for product fit) or external (for handling machinery or palletizng) dimensions. Boxes are usually specified and ordered by the internal dimensions.
Box styles in Europe are typically defined by a 4-digit code specified by FEFCO: for example, a regular slotted container (RSC) is coded 0201. FEFCO styles are normally the basis for more complicated special designs that incorporate, for instance, locking tabs or internal fittings.
ManufacturingBoxes can be formed in the same plant as the corrugator. Part of the scoring and cutting takes place in-line on the corrugator. Alternatively, sheets of corrugated board may be sent to a different manufacturing facility for box fabrication; these are sometimes called "sheet plants".
The corrugated board is creased or scored to provide controlled bending of the board. Most often, slots are cut to provide flaps on the box. Scoring and slotting can also be accomplished by die-cutting.
The "Flexo Folder Gluer" is a machine that in one single pass prints, cuts, folds, and glues flat sheets of board to convert them to boxes for any application, from storing old family pictures to shipping the biggest of plasma TV sets to the global market. The most advanced of FFG's can run at speeds of up to 26,000 boxes per hour (about 433 per minute).
Single-face laminateA limitation of common corrugated material has been the difficulty in applying fine graphic print for informative and marketing purposes. The reasons for this stem from the fact that prefabricated corrugated sheets are relatively thick and spongy, compared to the thin and incompressible nature of solid fibre paper such as paperboard. Due to these characteristics of corrugated, it has been mainly printed using a flexographic process, which is by nature a coarse application with loose registration properties.
A more recent development popular in usage is a hybrid product featuring the structural benefits of corrugated combined with the high-graphics print of lithography previously relegated to paperboard folding cartons. This application, generally referred to as 'Single-Face Laminate', begins its process as a traditional fluted medium adhered to a single linerboard (single-face), but in place of a second long-fibered liner, a pre-printed sheet of paperboard such as SBS (solid bleached sulfate) is laminated to the outer facing. The sheet can then be converted with the same processes used for other corrugated manufacturing into any desired form.
Specialized equipment is necessary for the material construction of SFL, so users may expect to pay a premium for these products. However, this cost is often offset by the savings over a separate paperboard sleeve and the labor necessary to assemble the completed package.
Recycling
Old corrugated containers are an excellent source of fibre for recycling. They can be compressed and baled for cost effective transport. The baled boxes are put in a hydropulper, which is a large vat of warm water for cleaning and processing. The pulp slurry is then used to make new paper and fiber products.
Mill and corrugator scrap, or broke, is the cleanest source for recycling. The high rates of post-consumer recycling reflect the efficiency of recycling mills to clean and process the incoming materials. Several technologies are available to sort, screen, filter, and chemically treat the recycled paper.
Many extraneous materials are readily removed. Twine, strapping, etc are removed from the hydropulper by a "ragger". Metal straps and staples can be screened out or removed by a magnet. Film-backed pressure sensitive tape stays intact: the PSA adhesive and the backing are both removed together.
Materials which are more difficult to remove include wax coatings on corrugated boxes and "stickies", soft rubbery particles which can clog the paper maker and contaminate the recycled paper. Stickies can originate from book bindings, hot melt adhesives, PSA adhesives from paper labels, laminating adhesives of reinforced gummed tapes, etc.
Corrugated fiberboard shredders are now available which convert post-consumer corrugated board into packing/cushioning materials by means of a specialized shredding process.
Recycling corrugated fiberboard helps countries without sustainable wood resources build a paper and packaging industry locally.
Box blank showing score lines, slots, and manufacturer's joint A corrugated fiberboard shredder. Main flutes for corrugated fiberboard
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Your Return on Investment on a New Stretch Wrapper!!!
How a Stretch Wrapping Machine Can Save You Money!
If you’re shipping out products on pallets and stretch wrapping them by hand there is a chance you could save money by using a Stretch Wrapper to automate your operation. Although there is no set number of skids you would need to wrap per day to have a machine show a return on investment, typically you will start to see a ROI when you are wrapping around 50 or more skids by hand per day.
The money a Stretch Wrapper will save you comes from:
Stretching film tighter thus using less stretch film
Having your team members spend less time wrapping skids by hand (time is money)
“Ok, I want one, but how do I show purchasing it’s worth it?”
This is a question I get asked a lot and it’s actually one that’s very easy to answer. Machines can be set to always wrap the same way so there are formulas to show how much money a machine would save you. This cost analysis can be easily done by a packaging specialist and may make investing in a machine a no brainer. I had a company I was working with who wanted a machine but didn’t think they could afford it. When we did the cost analysis they saw leasing to own a machine would save them hundreds of dollars per month as soon the machine hit their floor. This eased any concerns they had of investing in a machine.
My Favorite Stretch Wrapping Machines
Arpac Lo Pro Series Wrapper
With the heavy-duty steel construction and the best warranty in the industry this machine will still be the best investment you have made a decade from now. It’s also amazingly easy to install and use. Set up just requires you to plug it in, put the film in the machine and press a few buttons. From then on out all you have to do to wrap a pallet is set the pallet on the base, and press the green button. If you want a fully automatic machine you will have to invest more up front, but you can have a machine that only requires you to set skids on a conveyor belt. The machine will move them onto the platform, wrap them, cut the film, and send them down the next conveyor belt without a human doing a thing. It’s so easy that a caveman can do it!!!
If you’re shipping out products on pallets and stretch wrapping them by hand there is a chance you could save money by using a Stretch Wrapper to automate your operation. Although there is no set number of skids you would need to wrap per day to have a machine show a return on investment, typically you will start to see a ROI when you are wrapping around 50 or more skids by hand per day.
The money a Stretch Wrapper will save you comes from:
Having your team members spend less time wrapping skids by hand (time is money)
“Ok, I want one, but how do I show purchasing it’s worth it?”
This is a question I get asked a lot and it’s actually one that’s very easy to answer. Machines can be set to always wrap the same way so there are formulas to show how much money a machine would save you. This cost analysis can be easily done by a packaging specialist and may make investing in a machine a no brainer. I had a company I was working with who wanted a machine but didn’t think they could afford it. When we did the cost analysis they saw leasing to own a machine would save them hundreds of dollars per month as soon the machine hit their floor. This eased any concerns they had of investing in a machine.
My Favorite Stretch Wrapping Machines
Arpac Lo Pro Series Wrapper
With the heavy-duty steel construction and the best warranty in the industry this machine will still be the best investment you have made a decade from now. It’s also amazingly easy to install and use. Set up just requires you to plug it in, put the film in the machine and press a few buttons. From then on out all you have to do to wrap a pallet is set the pallet on the base, and press the green button. If you want a fully automatic machine you will have to invest more up front, but you can have a machine that only requires you to set skids on a conveyor belt. The machine will move them onto the platform, wrap them, cut the film, and send them down the next conveyor belt without a human doing a thing. It’s so easy that a caveman can do it!!!
Sustainable Packaging Initiative from Sealed Air!!!
Sealed Air Introduces SmartLife™ Sustainability Platform
ELMWOOD PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE: SEE) today announced a new SmartLife™ initiative -- which is an integrated, Company-wide approach designed to educate and demonstrate how packaging can enhance sustainability and outline how we are advancing our sustainability mission through our business strategy and across our broad range of solutions.
“Without taking a holistic view of a product’s life cycle, there is a risk of minimizing the environmental impact at one stage of the life cycle that results in compromising performance in other areas,” said Ron Cotterman, Executive Director of Sustainability. “As an example, a change in the way a package is designed may result in less weight or the use of fewer natural resources, but that change could result in downstream waste, such as product damage or food spoilage - ultimately leading to a greater environmental impact.”
To further demonstrate our commitment to the SmartLife approach, we have also created a second website – www.smartlifeinsights.com – designed to provide educational materials on packaging and the environment and to help dispel some of the myths and misconceptions that exist in the marketplace.
“This new website supports our sustainability commitment to help our customers – and their customers – make Smart choices by clearly identifying the features, attributes and benefits associated with packaging decisions as well as advancing industry standard sustainability metrics for the packaging industry and beyond,” said Cotterman.
Initial content on the new site includes thought leadership pieces on the impact of product and food waste on the environment and how collaboration can improve end of life scenarios for packaging.
About Sealed Air
For fifty years, Sealed Air has been a leading global innovator and manufacturer of a wide range of packaging and performance-based materials and equipment systems that now serve an array of food, industrial, medical, and consumer applications. Operating in 51 countries, Sealed Air’s international reach generated revenue of $4.2 billion in 2009. With widely recognized brands such as Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning, Jiffy® protective mailers, Instapak® foam-in-place systems and Cryovac® packaging technology, Sealed Air continues to identify new trends, foster new markets, and deliver innovative solutions to its customers.
You can save big with an automatic random case sealer!!!
3M Case Sealers Run Faster Than Ever for More Boxes a Minute
Upgraded machines capable of offering up to a 30% increase in efficiency
3M introduces new adjustable and random case sealers fitted with the new 3M™ AccuGlide™ 3 Taping Head, capable of offering up to a 30% jump in throughput and efficiency.
Now, the family of
3M's adjustable case sealers offer productivity and versatility in a rugged compact unit. Traction-grip drive belts center and stabilize boxes for consistent, accurate sealing. The units' laced belt construction with traction grip provides reliable feeding and easy replacement. And now with 3M's new case sealers, users can benefit from a dramatic increase in throughput for better-than-ever results.
3M's family of random case sealers are designed for automatic sizing and sealing. The sealers feature a pneumatic packing station that holds empty cases for filling, and automatically centers them for accurate sealing. These features coupled with the new, faster 3M AccuGlide 3 taping head provide customers both the speed and performance they need.
Poly Foam Packaging!!
Different ways you can utilize poly foam!!
Poly Foam Rolls
Polyethylene foam, otherwise known as poly foam or PE, is resilient foam that can resist shocks and is also light, flexible, as well as cost-effective. It is also completely resistant to corrosion like rot, mold, and mildew, and is a very environmentally sound product that doesn’t give chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that hurt the ozone layer.
Over sixty million tons of polyethylene is produced every year, and it has many uses. Since it is naturally buoyant, and it comes in handy for many aquatic products. A great percentage of polyethylene is used for poly foam cushion filling. For example, polyethylene foam rolls can be used to cushion products in their delivery boxes, and poly foam can be used as foam pouches to protect against damage while shipping.
Poly foam can also be helpful for companies who are worried about ESD (Electro-Static Discharge), which can ruin microprocessors in circuit boards. Shipping electronic products in poly foam pouches might be just the material needed to keep products safe.
Because of its environmentally safe nature and soft texture, poly foam will be used for packing for years to come.
Winter Packaging!!
Did you know some how to protect your winter sports gear with packaging products??
Shipping skis, snowboards, and other winter sporting gear can be a hassle, and quite costly. Here are some tips to help you along, whether you’re going on a winter vacation, or shipping gifts to your favorite sports enthusiast for the holidays.
For skis, wrap the tips and bindings with bubble wrap or other cushioning.
A canvas or nylon bag is recommended to put the skis or snowboard in.
Secure the zipper of the bag with a cable to prevent it from coming open.
Use the Snowsports Industries America (SIA) Ship Your Gear program, which can give you a discount of up to 16% on shipping costs if you ship with FedEx.
Shipping skis, snowboards, and other winter sporting gear can be a hassle, and quite costly. Here are some tips to help you along, whether you’re going on a winter vacation, or shipping gifts to your favorite sports enthusiast for the holidays.
A canvas or nylon bag is recommended to put the skis or snowboard in.
Secure the zipper of the bag with a cable to prevent it from coming open.
Use the Snowsports Industries America (SIA) Ship Your Gear program, which can give you a discount of up to 16% on shipping costs if you ship with FedEx.
The benefits when purchasing strategizes with their friends in accounting!!
I trust all things are well with you!!
I came across this article that I thought you may enjoy!!
Did you know that good things happen when your purchasing department has a strategic alliance with the accounting department??Agreeing on Cost Savings Reporting Standards. When procurement departments use the term "cost savings," they are often referring to price reductions. When CFO's hear the term "cost savings," they often expect to see a reduction of expenses from the previous year's income statement to the current year's. Not every price reduction is reflected on the income statement like that and, as a result, some CFO's doubt Procurement's cost savings claims. By agreeing with Finance on standards and using the income statement to "keep score," Procurement's cost savings reporting will be more believable. Considering The Downsides of Certain Cash Flow Strategies. As credit became harder to get in recent years, organizations sought ways to hold onto cash longer. One way was for CFO's to insist on extending supplier payment terms to 90 or more days. That improves cash flow, but Procurement sees consequences that Finance may not: supplier relationships being strained, suppliers raising prices to compensate for slower cash receipt, or even having fewer suppliers willing to do business with the organization. By collaborating, Procurement and Finance can construct a more balanced cash strategy. Determining a Balanced Inventory Approach. One line on a balance sheet that CFO's watch to evaluate performance is inventory. CFO's generally don't like high inventory. They feel that using cash to procure items that sit idly on the shelf is wasting the opportunity to invest that cash in activities that will provide a return on investment. However, Procurement knows the operational realities of inventory: many organizations need it to make sales and continue operating through unexpected events like a spike in demand or an interruption in supply. Again, Procurement-Finance collaboration can help by identifying the inventory needed to balance operational continuity and working capital strategies. Considering Supply Market Forces When Setting Financial Goals. Finance sets expense goals. If these expenses involve commodity purchases, Finance may not have the same awareness that Procurement does with regard to how commodity prices fluctuate. By Procurement and Finance collaborating, the organization can avoid setting unrealistic financial goals that will harm them later.
I hope this helps give you some creative ideas you can add value to your company by working with your friends in accounting!!
Paul
I came across this article that I thought you may enjoy!!
Did you know that good things happen when your purchasing department has a strategic alliance with the accounting department??Agreeing on Cost Savings Reporting Standards. When procurement departments use the term "cost savings," they are often referring to price reductions. When CFO's hear the term "cost savings," they often expect to see a reduction of expenses from the previous year's income statement to the current year's. Not every price reduction is reflected on the income statement like that and, as a result, some CFO's doubt Procurement's cost savings claims. By agreeing with Finance on standards and using the income statement to "keep score," Procurement's cost savings reporting will be more believable. Considering The Downsides of Certain Cash Flow Strategies. As credit became harder to get in recent years, organizations sought ways to hold onto cash longer. One way was for CFO's to insist on extending supplier payment terms to 90 or more days. That improves cash flow, but Procurement sees consequences that Finance may not: supplier relationships being strained, suppliers raising prices to compensate for slower cash receipt, or even having fewer suppliers willing to do business with the organization. By collaborating, Procurement and Finance can construct a more balanced cash strategy. Determining a Balanced Inventory Approach. One line on a balance sheet that CFO's watch to evaluate performance is inventory. CFO's generally don't like high inventory. They feel that using cash to procure items that sit idly on the shelf is wasting the opportunity to invest that cash in activities that will provide a return on investment. However, Procurement knows the operational realities of inventory: many organizations need it to make sales and continue operating through unexpected events like a spike in demand or an interruption in supply. Again, Procurement-Finance collaboration can help by identifying the inventory needed to balance operational continuity and working capital strategies. Considering Supply Market Forces When Setting Financial Goals. Finance sets expense goals. If these expenses involve commodity purchases, Finance may not have the same awareness that Procurement does with regard to how commodity prices fluctuate. By Procurement and Finance collaborating, the organization can avoid setting unrealistic financial goals that will harm them later.
I hope this helps give you some creative ideas you can add value to your company by working with your friends in accounting!!
Paul
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