Cost Management through Better Box Design

If you are using standard corrugated shipping boxes or have not reviewed your custom box design recently, you could be leaving money on the table. A well designed shipping box reduces cost in a number of ways.

Lower cost on corrugated boxes. A new box style or modification of the existing style can reduce the amount of material used to make the box – without sacrificing quality.

Lower cost on packaging materials. An efficient box design will reduce or eliminate the need for inner packaging materials such as polystyrene peanuts, bubble material, and dunnage paper. The savings can be dramatic, especially when converting from stock corrugated boxes that may be considerably over sized for the application.

Increased throughput. Reducing or eliminating inner packaging materials generally allows boxes to be packed more quickly. For large volume shippers, the increased efficiency can have a material bottom line impact. In many cases, packaging speed can be further accelerated by a simple design change allowing for faster closure and sealing.

Lower shipping costs. For full truckload and LTL shippers, even small changes in box dimensions can increase the number of boxes packed on a pallet and in a truck. For parcel shippers, changes in package size and weight can maximize shipping efficiency, often saving considerable expense.

Pioneer Packaging’s in-house design team can assist you in evaluating options for your corrugated shipping boxes. We also conduct testing on new designs and provide quick turnaround on samples, making it as easy as possible for you to find packaging solutions that reduce cost and improve performance.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Shipping Boxes

Shrink film is highly efficient method of packaging items when appearance and protection are both important. Shrink wrap packaging has been around for a long time, and as a result, users need to evaluate their systems on a regular basis. Here are five reasons why.

Changes in shrink film technology. Today’s films are stronger, more versatile, and – less expensive. We can assist you with film testing to ensure you are using the best shrink film for your application.

Changes in shrink wrap equipment technology. Shrink wrap machines have become faster, more energy efficient, and easier to maintain. If your machines have been in service for many years, new equipment might reduce per package costs significantly.

Complete packaging solutions. In many cases, shrink film and overall packaging costs can be significantly reduced by considering the packaging process as a whole. For example, instead of using a corrugated tray and a shrink film overwrap, consider a corrugated slip sheet, or eliminating corrugated material altogether in favor of a shrink bundling system. Our sales staff has seen a host of applications and can bring you ideas that have been implemented successfully in related industries.

New shrink wrap applications. Manufacturers and distributors of consumer packaged goods (CPGs) have found that bundling like products or related products is a highly effective marketing approach. There may be new sales opportunities within your existing product lines that can be tapped by utilizing a new shrink system or modifying an existing one. In addition, simply upgrading to a higher quality shrink film can make an existing product more attractive, giving the product more “shelf appeal”.

Equipment service. Regular maintenance is a must in order to keep shrink wrap systems operating at peak efficiency. We offer users in Phoenix and Arizona a wide variety of service and replacement part options.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Cost Management

Packaging Equipment for Hard to Stretch Wrap Products

The Lantech Lan-ringer® is a horizontal stretch wrapping machine designed for products that are too heavy and/or too large for conventional turntable or overhead stretch wrappers. Some of the many applications the Lan-ringer has been used for successfully include -

• Aluminum Channel
• Building Construction Materials
• Carpet
• Catalogs
• Clothing
• Doors
• Fabricated Metals
• Industrial Motors
• Windows

Stretch wrapping with a Lantech Lan-ringer offers dramatic benefits over strapping, wood, shrink films, and other palletization/load consolidation options.

• Reduced labor cost. In some applications, time to secure a load will be reduced from half an hour or more to a few minutes – or less.
• Reduced packaging materials cost. Stretch film is far less costly than steel banding, wood, shrink polyethylene films, etc.

If you are looking for ways to increase throughput and reduce cost in your palletization process, the Lantech Lan-ringer is a time tested packaging solution. Please contact us to discuss your application. As a leading Lantech distributor in Arizona, we’ve worked on the most demanding applications and can provide you with complete sales and service support.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Cost Management

The wine industry is alive and well in Arizona, a multi million dollar industries with roots going all the way back to the 17th century. Soon, Arizona wine growers will be coming together for the first time, for a festival of wine tasting, exhibits, and competitions.

The Arizona Wine Growers Festival Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 on the grassy, 12-acre lawns of the historic Farm at South Mountain pecan grove.

Packaging has always been an important part of bringing wine to the consumer. Wine packaging must serve two important purposes -

• Protect the product from damage during shipping, handling, and storage
• Attract customers with eye catching design

Creative Wine Packaging from Pioneer

Browse through some of our recent retail packaging projects and you will see two examples of our creative approach to wine packaging – a collection of six bottles in an oversized cigar box, and a sliding cabinet design for elegant single bottle packaging.

We work with the full spectrum of wine packaging materials -

• Eco friendly molded fiber shippers and case pack trays
• Foam shippers and trays
• Totes – plain and custom
• Wooden boxes – plain and custom
• Gift packaging

One thing we’ve learned from our years in the wine packaging business – the wine industry is always evolving. For that reason, we stay hard at work developing more versatile packaging materials and creative design approaches to meet the ever changing demands and tastes of the consumer. If it’s been awhile since you evaluated your packaging, the time might be ripe for us to conduct an informal evaluation.

More information on Arizona Wineries

• See a geographical list of Arizona wineries, with detailed descriptions
• The Arizona Wine Growers Association
• Touring the Arizona wine country

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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Cost Management

Companies that have never outsourced their shipping or individuals who have never had the need to buy boxes or specialty packing might not have the knowledge required to make a good selection when hiring a Phoenix packaging service. There are certain things that would-be customers can look for to help themselves pick a quality company to handle jobs both large and small.

Customers in Arizona will find there are a number of different packing businesses out there. They range from small operations that supply nothing more than boxes and supplies to larger companies that cover every shipping-related service imaginable. To find the best in Phoenix packaging look for:

Longevity in the field – This can be a very telling trait among custom packaging companies. Those businesses that perform beyond expectation tend to survive and do very well for themselves over time. To find the best, look for Phoenix packaging firms that have been in business for a while. Some of the finest do have decades under their belts.

Reputation – The highest quality Phoenix packaging companies will have stellar reputations in the field for serving both large and small clients. Look for those that other people recommend to find companies that perform at or beyond expectations.

Variety of services – The very best Phoenix packaging companies have the ability to help their clients in a number of ways. The scope of services will include everything from basic packing to filling custom orders and even handling shipping.

When there is a need to hire a Phoenix packaging company, it doesn’t make sense to settle for less than the best. To get the most out of a company’s service, look for companies that have reputations they can be proud of.

Getting assistance with packaging merchandise for shipping isn’t as difficult as many Arizona business owners might think. The fact is it is not always necessary to put an entire shipping department in place. When a good custom packaging firm is hired for the job, business will get done and costs will be reasonable.

So, how can business owners in Arizona make certain they are hiring the right custom packaging firm for a job? A lot depends on needs. To find the best company to match personal needs, business owners should ask themselves:

What do I need in regard to packing materials? This is an important question even if a business owner cannot answer it with a complete degree of certainty. The best Phoenix packaging firms will be able to assist clients in selecting the right materials to handle their shipping needs. If the answer is unknown, look for custom packaging firms with lots of experience in helping clients get their products out to points across the globe.

Do I require specialized packaging? If a company wants to have special boxes created, unique cartons or even point of purchase displays, the best custom packaging firm should be able to deliver on all fronts. Buying boxes from a regular retailer is not likely to provide the distinction that custom boxes can.

Do I need extra assistance? Some Arizona companies might require a custom packaging service to double as their shipping departments. The best can also deliver on this end by providing warehousing, packing and shipping of materials for their clients. Custom packaging firms should be able to meet a variety of different business needs. When the best is selected, the options available will be quite extensive.

Whether you have a need to hire a Phoenix packaging service to help you select a single box or assist your company in shipping out thousands of dollars in merchandise, it does pay to hire the best. Arizona residents will discover there are certain things they can look for in packaging companies to assist them in selecting the best company for any job big or small.

Some of the traits to look for in the finest Phoenix packaging services include:

Flexibility – A good Phoenix packaging service will take every job – big and small – quite seriously. They will have the in-house flexibility to handle an order for hundreds of custom boxes as readily as they can assist a walk-in customer that needs a few cartons for shipping.

Custom creations – The best Phoenix packaging companies do not settle with only passing along stock materials to their clients. The fact is sometimes custom packaging is also needed. To this end, good Phoenix packaging firms will be able to design and create special boxes, cartons and even point of purchase displays for their clients.

Reputation – This is vital for selecting a good Phoenix packaging firm. Look for companies that have been in the field for quite a long time. Success over the years is a very strong indicator of a reputable company that provides excellent services. Hiring a Phoenix packaging company for any sized job should be handled with care. When the best firm is selected for a job, clients will discover that the worries of packing, storing and shipping go away almost entirely.

Not every Arizona company can afford to hire a Madison Avenue agency to create branding campaigns that work. This doesn’t mean, however, that branding can’t take place and look professional in the process. When custom packaging firms are considered for hire, many business owners discover all the creativity they need on the local level and at more affordable prices.

Custom packaging firms that specialize in creating unique packing materials for their clients also can lend assistance in the branding process. They can do this on a number of fronts including:

Handling graphics – While not all custom packaging firms will be willing or equipped to do the printing design work in-house, the best can handle printing branding campaign graphics onto boxes, cartons, point of purchase displays and more.

Customized box and carton creations – Sometimes branding campaigns extend not only to the printed materials, but also the shapes of the boxes products come in. When this is desired, the best custom packaging firms can make it happen without having to go outside of Arizona to see results. Phoenix packaging companies can also assist with the creation of customized shipping boxes, as well.

Assisting with shipping services – Beyond creating unique boxes and designs, the best custom packaging firms can also help their clients by providing shipping assistance. This might include warehousing, packing and actual shipping of client goods.

Arizona companies don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy creativity in their packaging. When distinct looks are desired, custom packaging firms can bring them to life.