Food packaging is a very precise business – one we take very seriously, with more than fifteen years of concentrated experience behind us. Food packaging products, food packaging equipment, and related support services have evolved rapidly over this time, and we’ve taken the time and effort to stay current.

Our Many Food Packaging Cost Management Services

• In House Packaging Design. Our experienced, talented designers work with CAD/CAM technology and the most advanced software to create appealing, eye catching packaging, while complying with all applicable U.S. or International regulations. We also provide all levels of package testing.
• Inventory Control. Large volume shippers take advantage of our RFID experience for labor free tracking and logistics control.
• Food Packaging Equipment. We provide consultation, automation audits, set up, installation, and ongoing service support for a wide range of food packaging machinery and integrated systems.
• Warehouse Resources. Long term purchasing and warehousing programs ensure that packaging materials will be in stock when you need them, regardless of swings in demand.
• Just in Time (JIT) Delivery Programs. Free up valuable floor space and manage inventory with precision through our JIT program. Dependable, rapid response deliveries are made by our own fleet of vehicles throughout Phoenix and outlying areas.

Please contact us for more information or to discuss how we can work together to add value to your food packaging processes.

Packing Papers Are a Cost Effective, Practical, and an Efficient Sustainable Packaging Material

The world of protective packaging has grown exceedingly complex. Options for void fill material, cushioning, and wrapping include inflatable air bags, foam in bag technologies, eco friendly loose fill (”packing peanuts”), recycled bubble and recycled polyethylene foam materials, die cut foams, and die cut corrugated.

One option, packing papers, has been around for a long time – and still makes sense. Paper continues to be widely used in the industrial and moving and storage markets for void fill, wrapping, cushioning, and surface protection. Perhaps the versatility of packing papers explains its continued popularity.

Packing papers are available in a wide variety of grades and strengths.

• Virgin Kraft Paper – A very strong and relatively expensive paper often used for wrapping products with sharp edges or surface protection of delicate surfaces.
• Recycled Kraft Paper – These packing papers contain various degrees of post consumer waste (PCW) and while not as strong as virgin kraft, can be used for a wide range of packaging applications.
• Bogus Paper – Bogus paper is made from a variety of recycled paper sources, including old corrugated containers (OCC) and chipboard. It generally contains 100% post-consumer waste content and is much softer than, though not as strong as, kraft papers. Bogus is a very effective, sustainable, user friendly, and inexpensive void fill material.
• Recycled Newsprint – Once a mainstay of the moving and storage industry for wrapping and cushioning, industrial newsprint has become less available in recent years due to the decline of the newspaper industry. Since industrial newsprint is produced from newspaper-grade newsprint scrap, there is simply less of it around. Newsprint is, however, an extremely versatile paper suitable for cushioning, surface protection, and void fill.

Packing papers are available in rolls and sheets and seldom require automation for dispensing. This is an important advantage for industrial operations where automation is not practical, or in the moving and storage industry, where automation is not feasible.

Please contact us to discuss how packing papers could fill a void in your packaging application!

Recently we wrote about Ripp n Take ®, an exciting new packaging product we are now offering in Phoenix and throughout Arizona. RippnTake is a bundling material that replaces corrugated shipping boxes – a very important sustainable packaging benefit. In the photo above, you can see how much packaging bulk is eliminated when a given number of boxes are replaced by the RippnTake equivalent. In addition to eliminating packaging waste, RippnTake has several other eco friendly packaging characteristics.

• Less energy is used to produce Ripp ‘n’ Take than corrugated shipping boxes.
• Fewer incoming trucks to schedule, handle, unload etc.
• Less diesel fuel required to deliver Ripp ‘n’ Take to your facility.
• 5 times fewer truck shipments required to deliver Ripp ‘n’ Take, yeilding a drastic reduction is carbon emissions.
• Fewer forklift movements needed to keep the production floor supplied, dramatically reducing battery charging, overall lift truck maintenance and production floor traffic.
• Trash trips and the fill rate of receptacles at end-users are greatly reduced.
• Landfill space consumed (if not recycled) is much less than bulky corrugated cartons.

Taken together, these sustainable benefits have a substantial positive impact on our environment. The environmental impact of packaging materials is important to us and our customers. RippnTake is a truly innovative packaging system (they don’t come along very often) that can help shippers dramatically improve sustainability – without sacrificing quality or spending more money. Please contact us for more information.

Cost Management in Packaging Is More than Just Price

Containing packaging costs is essential for virtually all manufacturing and distribution companies. But packaging cost management is important not only because packaging represents a significant expenditure, but because of its impact on other operational costs -

• Packaging materials consume storage space. Storage costs can be significant, since corrugated boxes and many void fill and cushioning materials are extremely bulky.
• Packaging equipment and systems affect productivity. Automated packaging solutions can add great value to the bottom line when they increase throughput.
• Packaging materials and systems affect quality. Today’s b2b and b2c end users have high standards. Damaged products not only generate costly returns and replacements, they jeopardize customer relationships. Effective packaging is a front line component of product quality in any operation.
• Packaging materials and equipment impact plant safety and ergonomics. Packaging materials and machinery vary widely in their safety and ergonomic characteristics. With insurance costs rising and the always important need for a healthy workforce, issues arising from inappropriate packaging are simply unacceptable.
• Packaging materials affect shipping cost and delivery efficiency. Intelligent packaging design maximizes protection while minimizing shipping unit size and weight. Today’s extraordinarily high fuel and transportation costs necessitate ongoing packaging review and redesign.
• Packaging materials affect product sales. POP displays (point of purchase), shrink film quality, primary container design and graphics, can all influence customers to buy – or ignore – consumer packaged goods. Even something as simple as printing a web address on one panel of a corrugated shipping box can generate new sales opportunities.
• Packaging materials and systems impact sustainability. While many of the areas noted above are frequently overlooked, eco friendly packaging is now a top of mind issue, and for good reason. The recycled and recyclable attributes of packaging materials, along with other factors such as carbon footprint and the energy consumption of packaging machinery, have an enormous cumulative effect on our quality of life.

Pioneer Offers Complete Cost Management Services

Like you, we recognize the importance of packaging solutions that improve all areas of operational cost, not only material cost. We work with customers to identify the best opportunities for improvement and develop options that make your packaging a contributor to profits rather than a drag on the bottom line. In upcoming posts we will talk more about these different areas of packaging cost management and how we can approach them.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Shipping Boxes

Lantech stretch wrappers are known for unsurpassed reliability, safety, performance, and value. With more than 30,000 installations across the globe, the Lantech Q300 is perhaps the world’s most popular stretch wrap machine. As a leading Lantech authorized distributor in Phoenix and throughout Arizona, we often recommend the Q300 for operations stepping up from hand stretch wrap or in need of an affordable but durable automatic stretch wrapping machine.

Lantech Q300 Stretch Wrapper

The Lantech Q300 stretch wrap machine will comfortably handle 25 to 35 loads per hour and wrap loads up to 80″ in height and 4000 lbs. in weight. It runs standard 20″ wide stretch film and employs the Power Roller-Stretch® Plus film delivery system, which delivers a consistent 200% pre-stretch. The Q300 carries an outstanding 3-year warranty with unlimited cycles.

Like all Lantech stretch wrappers, the Q300 is engineered with many important safety features. The enclosed design keeps moving parts clear of operators, and the ergonomic side mounted stretch film carriage makes roll replacement safe and easy. The standard machine handles a wide range of applications, and several options are available, including -

• Loading Ramp
• Forktruck Bumper
• Scale Package
• Pit Mount
• Gravity Conveyor Top
• Extended Wrap Height
• 5000 lb Turntable
• Pallet-Grip®
• Oversized Turntable
• Special Voltage
• NEMA 12 Enclosure
• Washdown
• Cold Package
• Freezer Package
• Corrosive Duty Package
• Netting Roll Carriage
• Power Roller-Stretch® Plus
• Auto Film Cut-off™
• 30″ Roll Carriage
• Dual Turntables
• 1-15 RPM
• Roll Carriage Mounted Roper

Automating your stretch wrap process – or upgrading your current equipment – reduces film usage and cost, and improves load integrity. Ensuring that stretch wrapped loads arrive undamaged to customers is of paramount importance. The Lantech Q300 will help you accomplish that, while saving money at the same time – we call that a superior packaging solution. Please contact us for more information on the Q300, to see a video, or arrange for a demonstration.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, New Packaging Solutions

When it comes to quality and reliability, no manufacturer of stretch wrap machines can match Lantech. As a leading authorized Lantech distributor, we offer their complete line of equipment and parts to companies in Phoenix and throughout Arizona. One of our most popular stretch wrappers is the Q300XT, an all purpose machine designed to handle a wide range of pallet sizes and weights.

Lantech Q300XT Stretch Wrapper

The Lantech Q300XT can wrap up to 40 loads per hour and features a remote start lanyard switch. This simple feature results in a big productivity gain – forklift operators can begin the stretch wrapping cycle without getting off the forklift truck, enabling him or her to continue working while the load is being wrapped. The Q300XT is ideal for operations wrapping between 30 and 100 loads per day.

The Q300XT can stretch wrap loads up to 80″ in height and 4000 lbs. in weight. It runs standard 20″ wide stretch film and employs the Power Roller-Stretch® Plus film delivery system, which delivers a consistent 200% pre-stretch.

Like all Lantech stretch wrappers, the Q300XT is built with safety in mind. The unit has an enclosed design and features a side mounted stretch film carriage. Popular options include -

• Loading ramp
• Scale package
• Extended wrap height
• 30″ roll carriage

Cold package options can be added to make the Q300XT efficient in packaging environments with temperatures from 31 to 20 degrees F, and the machine is available with a 5000 lb and/or oversized turntable (standard turntable is 4000 lbs/65″ diameter).

Lantech machines are easy to use, long lasting, and easy to maintain. Above all, Lantech stretch wrappers perform, minimizing stretch film use and maximizing stretch film performance. If you are using hand stretch wrappers or need to replace existing stretch wrap machines, the Q300XT is an excellent option in terms of versatility, reliability, and cost. Please contact us for more information, to see a video, or arrange for a demonstration.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, New Packaging Solutions

New, Flexible,Polyethylene Packaging Material Bundles Products for Bulk Shipment

Ripp ‘n’ Take® polyethylene is a tamper evident, puncture resistant, recyclable and durable material used to contain products for shipment on pallets or slip sheets. This new packaging solution is now available to customers in Phoenix and throughout Arizona through Pioneer Packaging.

Ripp ‘n’ Take offers many advantages over corrugated shipping boxes.

• No set up or assembly time is required
• No tape is needed
• Ripp ‘n’ Take is Food Contact Approved
• Allows for more products per pallets
• Prevents contamination during shipment and in storage

Ripp ‘n’ Take material provides excellent stability when palletized, and is 100% recyclable. It can be used to contain a wide variety of materials, and provides many efficiencies and savings throughout the packaging process, making Ripp n Take a complete cost management packaging solution.

Many companies consider corrugated shipping containers a necessary evil – but suitable replacements have never been easy to come by. Shrink wrap bundling is sometimes feasible, but is complicated by equipment integration issues, shrink film cost, and in some cases, speed. Ripp n Take, however, requires no equipment, is competitively priced, and in many applications can speed the packaging and palletizing processes.

Please contact us for product literature, video, or to set up a trial order. With Ripp n Take, you cannot only think outside the box, you can think without the box!
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, New Packaging Solutions

Point of Purchase Displays Can Make or Break Sales

Corrugated POP displays are widely used at trade shows and in retail stores to convey branding messages, influence customers, and sell products and services. An eye catching POP display attracts attention as well as conserves space. In many applications, point of purchase displays need to be durable, modular, easily movable, and multi functional – not an easy list of design demands.

In a down market such as we are experiencing now, trade show exhibitors and retail merchandisers are caught in a difficult bind – how is it possible to increase sales with dwindling budgets for marketing and sales support? Redesigning POP displays in these conditions may seem like a low priority, but a display that “pops” makes the difference between mediocre sales and strong sales.

If a trade show display looks as though it were designed in 1980, potential customers will keep walking. Even if you offer the best quality in your industry, you visually convey the message that your company is old fashioned, with out of date products and out of step with the market. In today’s business environment, where innovation is so highly valued, such a branding message is not only ineffective, but potentially destructive.

For retail displays, creative design is more important still. It is no easy task to capture the attention of shoppers in a grocery store, hardware store, electronics store – you name it. POP display and graphic designs – as well as the products themselves – have become more sophisticated and innovative. A bland design runs the risk of being virtually invisible in today’s retail store.

Our corrugated packaging designers use state of the art CAD/CAM equipment and a wealth of practical experience to help you create POP and floor displays that attract attention – and sales. We will work with you to understand your sales challenges, your product, display, and logistical requirements, and then provide quick turnaround on prototypes. Our design team has learned how to balance creative design with cost effectiveness – we believe effective POP displays must be affordable and practical as well as pleasing to the eye.

If it’s been a while since you reevaluated your display designs, consider giving us an opportunity to take a look. A small investment in time could lead to a significant improvement in bottom line results.

POP Displays, Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Cost Management