Fish company shipping testamonial!!

A package with a pulse

See how UPS helps Black Point Seafood move live Maine lobsters from dock to dinner plate in one to two days.

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October 2015

When Mark Murrell was contacted by a friend about the business of shipping live lobsters back in 2010, the Maine native was intrigued. Although his friend eventually opted out of the opportunity, Murrell's research led him to discover that the market was potentially fruitful. Fast-forward a few years and Black Point Seafood – a company that ships live lobsters from Scarborough, Maine, in one to two days – was born.

"The response from UPS was just amazing. I thought, 'All right, you earned 100 percent of our volume.'"
– Mark Murrell, owner, Black Point Seafood.

Of course, a business like Black Point (selling via Getmainemobster.com) comes with caveats. Sending fresh, pulsing packages thousands of miles across the continent requires a strong sense of accuracy and small margin of error. To help ensure Black Point's shipments were expedited to meet – or arrive before – expectations, the company relies on UPS to get the job done.
Two years ago, torrential winter weather kept 500 of his deliveries from reaching their destinations, and Murrell was forced to evaluate his two shipping companies: UPS and a competitor. "That cost our small business a lot of money," he recalls.
That delivery delay turned into a defining moment in Black Point's business relationship with UPS. "The response from UPS was just amazing. I thought, 'All right, you earned 100 percent of our volume," Murrell says.

Streamlined processes

In its early days, Black Point might ship 70 boxes on a busy day, manually entering the shipping information for each one. Now, a busy day can mean 1,400 or more shipments. But by integrating Black Point's internal systems with UPS, processes are better expedited and human error substantially reduced.
The company coordinates its 20,000 to 30,000 annual shipments with just seven to eight people. However, because its wholesalers do the shipping, different processes in place for each distributor meant that backlogs in data tracking and processing could sometimes creep in.
With the UPS technology integration, the company cut processing time by 10 hours a week and saved $5 per unit. In addition to the time and cost savings, the integrated system automates customer communication and verifies addresses.
"We don't have many [address] exceptions, and those we do, get fixed on the fly. If we see an issue, we email UPS and forget about it. They're on it," Murrell says.

The heat is on

Partnering with UPS helps Black Point manage summer weather issues as well. "Shipping perishable food is difficult in and of itself. When we get into the summer months and we're trying to deliver frozen lobster tails it can be difficult to do with two-day shipping," Murrell says.
UPS helped the company beat the summer heat in two major ways. The first, better packing guidelines, helps shipments stay cold longer. The second, good shipping rates, gives the company flexibility to upgrade shipments to next-day shipping during the hottest summer months.
Additionally, UPS helps the company run reports to analyze and evaluate data. "I need all the data at my fingertips to give the customer a great offer and deliver a great value. We can reverse engineer our offers to get the most value inside the box at the lowest cost possible," Murrell says.

Doing the right thing

Murrell also notes that the way UPS treats his business is reflective of the way his company treats its own customers. "We don't want negative experiences, but we're very good at turning them around. Whenever there's a problem the first thing we do is apologize, then we make it right. Philosophically UPS and Black Point are in alignment there."
Murrell chalks up his company's success to a top-notch customer experience. "We happen to sell lobster, but it's not so much what we sell, it's how we treat the customer, and UPS plays a role in that. We're trying to deliver to our customers and UPS delivers for us. It's a great partnership."
Visit Longitudes to read about Mark Murrell's approach to customer service and how it is the cornerstone of his business.

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Case Studies

MINI PAK'R Makes Packing Pottery a Pleasure, Packaging Problems a Thing of the Past for Minnesota Potter Jeff Oestreich

After a decade of dealing with the good, the bad and the ugly of working with traditional packaging materials such as bubble, crumpled paper and peanuts, potter Jeff Oestreich came to a simple conclusion: there had to be a better way to package his pottery. And he has found it in the desktop-size MINI PAK'R air cushion machine, from FP International.
The potter, known internationally for his wheel thrown functional ware has had his fair share of drama when it comes to dealing with loosefill peanuts, and other less than perfect packaging options. He literally stopped traffic on a Minnesota highway to chase packing materials blown out of the back of his truck during a trip back in St. Paul some 30 miles away. He was confronted with the cost of purchasing and shipping (which almost cost more than the product itself) multiple bundles/bags of brand name bubble or loosefill peanuts and then faced the issues of storing them. He also tried various packaging combinations to secure his ceramic art during shipping. After all of this, he knew the time was ripe for change.
That's when Oestreich started his search for a better solution for packaging his valuable pottery for shipping to art galleries and customers around the globe. What he found - the MINI PAK'R packaging system from FP International - has fundamentally changed the way he approaches his work.
"I am so pleased with the MINI PAK'R that I would grab my glaze book first, the MINI PAK'R second in the event of a fire."

It's All in the Details

A potter for 43 years, Jeff Oestreich is recognized in ceramic art circles around the world for his soda-fired pottery. Its surface is an offshoot of a traditional 17th century German technique, and the art-deco inspired designs are 100 percent his own. He is considered an important part of the history of the studio pottery movement in the U.S. and is renowned for his fine eye for form, glaze, pattern and surface texturing.
At the heart of his enormous talent is his attention to detail, which extends to the way he runs the business of his studio, including the preparation of his pottery for shipping to each and every customer.

Finding a New Way to Package

When the Taylors Falls, Minnesota-based artist realized he was losing valuable time on the packaging part of his business he began to search in earnest for a totally different answer. And as an artist, time is what it takes to produce beautiful work - and to make money.
Oestreich went online and did days of research on air cushion machines. He found some six companies that sold industrial-strength packaging systems. He contacted each to try to set up a leasing arrangement for a machine, to no avail. All of the companies required a higher volume of packaging materials than Oestreich used in his studio, or used by a consortium of area pottery studios, for the lease.
Then, he began talking to Larry Reimer of FP International. The FP International sales rep, after learning of Oestreich's unique needs, told him about the MINI PAK'R, which was still in the development phase but was slated for release in early 2007. Oestreich added the rep's number to his speed dial and checked back often on the status of the product release. When the first MINI PAK'R machines rolled off the assembly line in March of 2007, Oestrich was the first potter in the U.S, to purchase the MINI PAK'R, and the 41st customer overall.

Easy Start Up, Small Footprint, Lots of Options

20 minutes after opening the box, Oestreich was quickly off and running with his new packaging system. Having a dedicated area for shipping is not a problem for Oestreich, who has a relatively spacious 2,500 square-foot studio. Even so, the small footprint of the MINI PAK'R and the minimal space required for storage of the film is a real plus for the potter.
For Oestreich, the protection of his pottery comes first and foremost. His work, which sells for $50 to $1000 per piece and includes pitchers, tableware, drinking vessels and a variety of serving pieces, is one of a kind.
With each piece being one-of-a-kind, guaranteeing against breakage is of utmost importance. To Oestreich, breakage means money lost and possibly his reputation damaged. Often, a claim has to be paid to the gallery owner or customer, and even more critical is having to repair a damaged relationship. So, in Oestreich's mind, the best approach is to avoid damage from the outset.

A Perfect Record

Since the purchase of the MINI PAK'R in March of 2007, the Minnesota potter has shipped over 1000 pieces, with no breakage. The potter says the air cushions made by the MINI PAK'R are ideal for packaging ceramic art and other fragile items because the artwork does not shift when packed using the air cushions. Shifting pottery was a big issue when he packed his pottery in loosefill peanuts and bubble wrap.
Oestreich cites a recent experience with the Red Lodge Clay Center, a top-tier gallery located in Red Lodge, Montana as a perfect example of the power of the MINI PAK'R. For an exhibition of 100 of his carefully crafted tea bowls at the Montana gallery, Oestreich made air cushions with the MINI PAK'R and used them to package the one of a kind pieces for shipping. Even with 40 tea bowls in each box there was absolutely no damage.

Money-saving Packaging at Its Easiest

Oestreich is so pleased with the MINI PAK'R that he says he would grab his glaze book first, the MINI PAK'R second in the event of a fire. Now that's a strong loyalty statement. Another key selling point for Oestreich is the convenience. Now he can make the packaging product when he needs it, and in whatever quantity is required. Storage is also easier.
Because UPS, Oestreich's shipper of choice requires double boxing for the shipment of fragile items such as pottery, Oestreich says that the NOVUS Double Cushion� film and the NOVUS Supertube� film works best for this application. The space filled by the air cushions is some two inches between the two boxes.
For the inner packaging - the pottery itself - Oestreich wraps each piece with corrugated paperboard and a length of Double Cushion air cushions.
Also, the fact that the mess is eliminated makes packaging a real pleasure for Oestreich now. No more multiple rolls of bubble wrap to deal with. Instead, he can focus on providing a better customer experience with his packaging. He starts with brand new boxes, confidently wraps each piece in the corrugated board and the MINI PAK'R air pillow then places a high-quality postcard of his work, an invoice and a decadent chocolate on top to finish the presentation. For Oestreich, the MINI PAK'R has turned a miserable experience into something pleasurable for him and for the person who is opening the package.

Creative Uses for the MINI PAK'R

Oestreich has found a number of creative ways to put his MINI PAK'R to good use. He brought his MINI PAK'R along when he moved his father (and his multitude of small items and pottery) into a new home. With this arrangement, he was able to make air cushions whenever and wherever he needed. Also, each spring Oestreich opens his studio for the St. Croix Valley Potter's tour, which draws over 1,000 pottery aficionados from across the country. Many of these visitors arrive by plane and need a way to securely wrap their new pottery pieces for the trip home. Voila! The MINI PAK'R has provided the perfect solution for on-site packaging.
Potter Jeff Oestreich is sold on the benefits of owning the MINI PAK'R. It has made his life as a world-class potter easier. It has provided a new way to present his work, and to package it for safe delivery. In fact, Oestreich believes that the MINI PAK'R is the packaging product of the future for the entire art world. And he is working to convert them, one potter at a time.

You can save big protecting with Chevron paper machines!!!

Chevron Protective Packaging Proves the Right Choice For American Wholesaler

“We have met all of our objectives. We were able to improve ergonomics and productivity, and the overall cost for the protective packaging has decreased. Instead of 18% that Storopack had guaranteed us, the cost has decreased by more than 40%.”Last updated on July 16th, 2015

Watch how Storopack takes Baker & Taylor ( a Wholesaler of Books, Videos and More ) through the process of identifying key areas for improvements such as; ergonomics, productivity, safety, material usage and COSTS!
Some comments from the packers:

 It’s nice not having to look down for a foot pedal.
The Chevron system always has paper packaging waiting for us.
Its really nice to only need 2 or 3 paper tubes for packing.  Unlike the old system where we had to stuff and stuff paper until it was full.

Problem

Baker & Taylor is an American wholesaler with a longstanding tradition of dealing in books, videos, and music supplies. In the fall of 2012, its Distribution Center in Indianapolis started using a new protective packaging solution created by Storopack. Since then, the total cost of packaging has decreased by 40%. This incredible reduction is the result of a comprehensive range of services that included an audit, a process cost analysis, and on-site testing.
Depending on the season, Baker & Taylor sends between 2,000 and 5,000 packages per day to libraries and stores. For many years, the company used single-layer paper as protective packaging. The respective machines were located inline directly adjacent to the roller conveyor.
An employee activated a foot switch in order to cut off the padding section at the desired length and then stuffed the paper into the package using both hands.
While the quality of the paper was satisfactory for transport protection, other factors, however, no longer met modern requirements. Employees had difficulties inserting the packaging material into the packages at the required speed. They were also negatively impacted by the constricted and inflexible structure of the work stations. During peak periods, this insufficient level of output became increasingly problematic, resulting in mistakes in the utilization of protective packaging. The paper was poorly distributed or was simply inadequate.

Audit Process

Baker & Taylor decided to consult Storopack as specialists for protective packaging solutions. The project started with an audit in the distribution center. Storopack used a questionnaire that it had developed specifically for protective packaging solutions, and which captured the physical audit information. The additional management audit was based on the jointly noted information provided about the customer’s objectives and the relative importance of the objectives.
The audit confirmed the initial observations that the packaging process was cumbersome. On average, an employee required eleven touches for the protective packaging.
The Storopack team observed difficulties with the activation of the foot switch. The required movements disturbed the packaging workflow. Furthermore, employees were unable to precisely allot the amount of paper. For Baker & Taylor, this process was not a viable situation.
The analysis of the audit documented how inconsistent the individual protective packaging process was. For instance, the amount of paper used in packages with comparable contents differed greatly. The time required for creating the individual protective packaging, which should be predictable and standard, varied.
The protective packaging and the protective packaging process could not be standardized with their system. Moreover, the lack of standards gave subjective decisions more weight and increased the error rate. Baker & Taylor also did not have a system to calculate the actual cost of materials and labor for the protective packaging of each packaging unit.
The three management objectives with the highest priority were therefore:

• Improve ergonomics
• Increase productivity
• Lower the cost of materials and cost per packaging unit while maintaining the same quality for the protective packaging

Protective Packaging Solution

Due to the audit, the Storopack team had powerful data for developing an improved solution. The project team fine-tuned the idea of an integration on the basis of PAPERplus® Chevron during several meetings with the specialists from the central design center in Cincinnati.
In August, the solution was put to the test. For this test, Storopack set up a packing workstation in the distribution center. A device from the PAPERplus® Chevron2 series was set up as inline machine system.
After the test, Baker & Taylor implemented the design plan of the test installation and the overall layout of the workstation. In automatic mode, individual paper padding was put in the packer’s reach via a short metal slide. The packer therefore could use both hands to take some paper padding and insert it into the box. The machine automatically made additional padding.
The PAPERplus® Chevron paper padding creates a high degree of volume that quickly fills up empty spaces, allowing the packer to use less material than when using flat sheets of paper as had previously been used for protective packaging.
In the initial tests, the individual paper padding had a length of 24 inches. The plan called for four pieces of padding per package. It turned out however that five shorter pieces of padding filled the empty space faster.
The resulting comparison between the test system and the former process used by Baker & Taylor was clear. Without the time-consuming effort to add extra packing material, employees used fewer touches. Now, they could insert individual pieces of padding with two hands instead of pressing a pad into the empty space with both hands. They no longer have to worry about the timing of the machine, because paper padding is always available. As a result, employees were approximately 25% faster.
PAPERplus® Chevron attains the required padding performance and volume filling with less paper. This, in turn, leads to reduced handling. Above all, however, it means a significant weight reduction. The packages are more than 30% lighter. Less paper also means less resource consumption.
Tyler Baumgardner, Operations Manager at Baker & Taylor, reported that the figures make sense and the feedback from his team is positive. “All of us were able to experience how easy, functional, and flexible the solution is. After we had hired Storopack to implement the system, we could hardly wait use it. Anyone who had seen the new workstation wanted to have theirs upgraded as quickly as possible.”
The employees are excited that they no longer need to use the foot switch. Due to the layout of the premises, this switch frequently led to a strained posture. Employees now have more freedom in organizing their workstations. Since the PAPERplus® Chervon2 system does not require much space, there is now more room to rearrange the monitor, the labeling machine, and the printer if necessary.
Today, all eight packaging workstations feature a PAPERplus® Chevron paper machine.

Heat up your savings with Cold Temp Freezer packaging tape!!

Cold Temp-Freezer Tape. An industrial grade polypro carton sealing tape, this product has been formulated to be used in applications at freezing temperatures or at room temps then stored in low temps or freezer environments. Here is another great attribute of this product; the adhesive instantly adheres to recycled board!!!! We’ve all had to deal with the pitfalls of tape not sticking to recycled corrugated so this product will work on this surface and a number of other hard-to-stick-to surfaces.

Our Cold Temp-Freezer Tape is actually a hot-melt rubber adhesive, 1.93mil polypro and is available printed and plain, in clear and white only.

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You save big with round trip plastic boxes!!

Round Trip
Ideal for order picking and distribution.

• Interlocking tops are attached with steel hinges.
• Textured non-slip bottom.

Stock Number	L x W x H (Inside Dimensions)	Color	Price	UOM	Add to Cart
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BINR112	25 3/4" x 16" x 12 1/2"
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Home > Gloves > Nitrile Gloves > Kimberly Clark® Kleenguard®

Kimberly Clark® Kleenguard®
Provides powder-free and latex-free protection against chemicals and abrasives.

• Offers excellent dexterity.
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Your pizza facts!!!

Just hearing the word "pizza" brings a smile to the face of just about every American. Whatever style or variety -- from thick, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza stuffed with gobs of cheese, sausage, and pepperoni to a thin-as-a-cracker crust topped with veggies -- pizza invariably makes it to the top of "favorite food" lists.

Here, we've compiled a list of fun and interesting facts about this American food icon. See how many you knew!

1. Since 1987, October has been officially designated National Pizza Month in the United States.

2. Approximately three billion pizzas are sold in the United States every year, plus an additional one billion frozen pizzas.

3. Pizza is a $30 billion industry in the United States.

4. Pizzerias represent 17 percent of all U.S. restaurants.

5. Ninety-three percent of Americans eat pizza at least once a month.

6. Women are twice as likely as men to order vegetarian toppings on their pizza.

7. About 36 percent of all pizzas contain pepperoni, making it the most popular topping in the United States.

8. The first known pizzeria, Antica Pizzeria, opened in Naples, Italy, in 1738.

9. More pizza is consumed during the week of the Super Bowl than any other time of the year.

10. On average, each person in the United States eats around 23 pounds of pizza every year.

11. The first pizzeria in the United States was opened by Gennaro Lombardi in 1895 in New York City.

12. The record for the world's largest pizza depends on how you slice it. According to Guinness World Records, the record for the world's largest circular pizza was set at Norwood Hypermarket in South Africa in 1990. The gigantic pie measured 122 feet 8 inches across, weighed 26,883 pounds, and contained 9,920 pounds of flour, 3,968 pounds of cheese, and 1,984 pounds of sauce. In 2005, the record for the world's largest rectangular pizza was set in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Pizza restaurant owner Bill Bahr and a team of 200 helpers created the 129 X 98.6-foot pizza from 4,000 pounds of cheese, 700 pounds of sauce, and 9,500 sections of crust. The enormous pie was enough to feed the town's 5,200 residents ten slices of pizza each.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Helen Davies, Marjorie Dorfman, Mary Fons, Deborah Hawkins, Martin Hintz, Linnea Lundgren, David Priess, Julia Clark Robinson, Paul Seaburn, Heidi Stevens, and Steve Theunissen

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You save on your UPS costs with this super strapper!!!

Please contact Paul now to learn how this can help you!!
ppileggi@wrapnpack.com

A low cost solution to your strapping needs.... The PSM1412-IC3A designed for general purpose semi-automatic strapping. Although it is our lowest priced strapping machine, the low cost does not come at the expense of quality. Consistency or reliability. Each PSM1412-IC3A comes with the exclusive PAC machine warranty, including online support for the life of the machine. We carry an extensive parts inventory and maintain over 99% parts availability within 24 hours. The PSM1412-IC3A has a convenient operators panel and externally controlled tension. In addition, all electronics are controlled with an integrated circuit control board to minimize down time and maintenance. Pricing on this units is designed to expand the market to even the occasional user.

Identify your loads in 2016!!

Goodwrappers® Identi-Wrap

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Goodwrappers® Identi-Wrap boldly displays your special handling instructions
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Two dispensers are included in each case.

GOODID5DNBL - 5" x 80 Gauge x 500' "DO NOT BREAK LOAD"

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Goodwrappers® Identi-Wrap boldly displays your special handling instructions
by simply wrapping film around unitized product eliminating the need for labels.
Two dispensers are included in each case.

GOODID5DNDS - 5" x 80 Gauge x 500' "DO NOT DOUBLE STACK"

5" x 80 Gauge x 500' "FRAGILE"

Goodwrappers® Identi-Wrap boldly displays your special handling instructions
by simply wrapping film around unitized product eliminating the need for labels.
Two dispensers are included in each case.

GOODID5FRAG - 5" x 80 Gauge x 500' "FRAGILE"

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Goodwrappers® Identi-Wrap boldly displays your special handling instructions
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Two dispensers are included in each case.

GOODID5RHR - 5" x 80 Gauge x 500' "RED HOT RUSH"

5" x 80 Gauge x 500' "DO NOT TOP LOAD"

Goodwrappers® Identi-Wrap boldly displays your special handling instructions
by simply wrapping film around unitized product eliminating the need for labels.
Two dispensers are included in each case.