Packaging Phoenix

Applications for Shrink Wrap Packaging Materials

Pioneer Packaging — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:39:51 +0000

Shrink Film for Packaging

Shrink wrap is a common and effective packaging material that is made of polymer plastic film. Applying heat allows the material to shrink tightly over various items, helping to stabilize products and keep them clean, unitized and tamper resistant. Cartons, boxes and pallet loads that are packaged and shipped in large volumes are often shrink wrapped by automated shrink wrap machines, increasing efficiency and productivity.

Shrink wrap is a versatile packaging material that can be used for virtually any product. Here, we’ll explore common applications for shrink wrap packaging.

Printed materials: PVC films once dominated this market, but with the need for more sustainable packaging materials and the introduction of low shrink force polyolefins, the use of PVC shrink wrap films is dramatically decreasing. From small shop printers to large producers, many of these businesses perform shrink wrap packaging in-house.
Pharmaceuticals: In addition to tamper evidence for pharmaceuticals that increases safety, shrink wrap helps reduce costs by multi-packing pharmaceuticals.
Packaged food: Shrink wrap is typically used for such foods as ice cream, frozen pizza and other frozen foods to prevent freezer burn. Many foods are packaged as multi-packed products for consumers buying in bulk. Shrink wraps increase tamper evidence and enhance the food package’s visual appeal, in addition to prolonging shelf life for safe, quality food products.
Housewares: From small tools to large appliances, brooms and bowls to furniture and more, shrink wrap can tightly wrap a variety of housewares for more efficient, cost-effective and protective shipping and handling.

For more information about shrink wrap packaging materials from Pioneer, please contact us.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Packaging Solutions

Clamco Rollbag Systems

Pioneer Packaging — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:10:52 +0000

Clamco Magnum Vertical

Automated bagging systems help to speed the packaging process, increasing performance and productivity. Clamco Rollbag systems offer flexibility and a variety of options to best fit a product’s needs. With simple operation and low resistance designs, Clamco provides optimal solutions for packaging and bagging requirements. Explore Clamco rollbagger packaging equipment below.

Magnum Medical: Compact form/fill/seal system with tubing capabilities, utilizing pre-opened bags on-a-roll (Rollbags). The high-speed in-line converting design is easy to operate and maintain. Forming bags in-line before filling and sealing reduces packaging costs associated with labor and material. Built-in storage feature, color-touch screen and other options simplifies the bagging and packaging process.

Magnum Horizontal: For large bag packaging with horizontal loading configuration. This system provides flexibility when changing bags, especially for products that require special handling. The tube stock helps lower material costs, and the machine’s simplicity increases reliability, operation and maintenance.

Magnum Vertical: This system’s low maintenance design and simple operation helps lower packaging cost without sacrificing efficiency or speed. Features include self diagnostics for quick problem solving, ability to adjust from vertical to slanted configuration, and quick roll change feature for efficient changeovers.

Rollbag 1075: Compact and lightweight, this automatic tabletop bagging system utilizes a simple design for reliability and easy operation. With advanced technology, the 1075 has the fastest bag changing capability in the industry. Modes include manual packaging, semi-automatic or fully automatic.

Rollbag 2100: Flexibility, reliability and easy operation are among the many benefits of the Rollbag 2100. The large color touch-screen speeds the process and improves performance, while automated features help cut costs and increase productivity. Other features include self-diagnostics, Rollbags, and onboard memory that stores job data for later use.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Packaging Solutions

Sustainable Packaging Materials

Pioneer Packaging — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:27:33 +0000

Eco Friendly Packaging in Arizona

Sustainable packaging is a growing concern these days, not only because consumers are becoming more aware of their impact on the environment, but also because businesses are seeking out safe, effective ways to cut costs and reduce resources. Utilizing materials that are safe for the environment can help contribute to a greener future, while cutting costs and promoting products. Here, we examine different types of sustainable packaging materials.

Safer Plastics: Plastics are often known as an evil packaging material, but that is not always true. Certain types of plastic, such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride, or vinyl), do have a negative environmental impact. While PVC is strong and versatile, its durability also makes the material difficult to break down after disposal. Other types of plastic, such as polystyrene (best known for its use in Styrofoam) are notoriously difficult to recycle. Safer plastics include recycled PET (RPET), which is produced with recycled water bottles and soda bottles. Minimizing the amount of plastic used in packaging can also help reduce costs and waste.
Corrugated Cardboard: Best known for its simple yet effective design of wavy, fluted mediums between linerboards, corrugated cardboard is one of the most affordable and recycled materials developed. Made with recycled materials, cardboard is widely reused again and again in both offices and homes, mainly for storing and moving items. Its versatility allows the material to be customized for any shape or size, which reduces wasted material and helps cut costs associated with fuel for shipping.
Inks and Adhesives: For comprehensive sustainable packaging solutions, make sure to not overlook the details! Water- and soy-based inks are eco-friendly alternatives to the more traditional oil-based materials. Water-based adhesives eliminate the sticky contaminants and residue often left on packages by chemical-based glues, which can deem the package no longer recyclable.

Need assistance developing an eco friendly packaging strategy? Contact us today!

Find more information on the Heritage Pioneer corporate site on sustainable packaging.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Packaging Solutions

Benefits of Corrugated Shipping Boxes

Pioneer Packaging — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:51:53 +0000

Shipping Boxes in Arizona

Shipping boxes are often made with corrugated fiberboard, more commonly known as cardboard, one of the most recycled materials on the planet. Because of the many benefits of corrugated cardboard, the material is widely used to ship a diverse range of products, no matter the size, shape or weight. As the cost of energy, fuel and production continue to rise, the need for affordable and sustainable packaging materials also increases. Below, read on to learn about the benefits of corrugated shipping boxes across any industry.

Protect the Goods

Corrugated cardboard’s two main components consist of a linerboard and a medium, each made with heavy paper called containerboard. The linerboard is flat and adheres to the medium, while the medium is a wavy, fluted paper placed between the linerboards. Corrugated cardboard is most often recognized by the fluted medium. This design can be customized and engineered to fit the needs of any product, made thicker for products that require more cushion and protection. The combination of rigidity and cushioning qualities keeps fragile products safe during the shipping process, and the material offers strong resistance to tears and impact.

Cut Costs

As one of the least expensive shipping containers ever developed, corrugated cardboard boxes are a cost-effective solution for packaging and shipping. The material’s lightweight design drives down shipping costs, and the raw materials are inexpensive. Suppliers should understand products’ shipping needs in order to choose the most cost-efficient corrugated shipping box.

Sustainable Packaging

Corrugated cardboard provides a sustainable approach to packaging and shipping. The material is made from natural renewable resources, often with high percentages of old corrugated containers, newspapers and straw. Corrugated cardboard is easily reused, as offices and homeowners often save used cardboard boxes to store and move items. As consumers and businesses become more aware of the impact that packaging materials have on the environment, using corrugated shipping boxes becomes a cost-effective solution for a healthier future.

Find more information on the Heritage Pioneer corporate site on shipping boxes for packaging.

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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Packaging Solutions

What Is a Virtual Warehouse?

Pioneer Packaging — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:40:53 +0000

Virtual Warehousing

One of the many challenges that niche retailers face in today’s economy is being able to meet their customers’ growing expectations while keeping costs low. Ideally, retailers would have a large warehouse that holds a wide inventory, allowing them to fulfill and ship every order in just days. Real estate costs are on the rise, however, and retailers must choose to stock higher-volume products over items that do not sell as often. With the rise and convenience of online shopping, virtual warehouses have become an affordable, beneficial option for retailers wishing to expand their markets without breaking the bank.

The basics: A virtual warehouse provides the opportunity for retailers to advertise a whole new line of items online that they would not otherwise have room for on their own shelves. Through the distributor’s virtual warehouse services, customers can order products from the retailer’s website. The order is sent to the distributor’s warehouse, where it is picked, packed and shipped directly to the customer.

The benefits: Customers appreciate a fully-stocked inventory, with multiple ordering options and fast shipments. Taking advantage of a virtual warehouse gives retailers the ability to expand their customer base with new products, while increasing customer loyalty through superior services. Because the distributors provide the inventory space, in addition to the picking, packing and shipping labor, retailers can cut costs significantly while improving profits. Distributors expand business while reducing inventories, and with the ability to continually update prices online, distributors no longer have to honor outdated prices that are often found in catalogs.

If you are interested in exploring virtual warehousing or other order fulfillment services with Pioneer, please contact us.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Packaging Solutions

ARPAC Horizontal Shrink Wrappers

Pioneer Packaging — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:12:11 +0000

Arpac Horizontal Shrink Wrappers

From small jobs to large-volume shipping needs, shrink wrapper systems are widely used for effective packaging solutions in any industry. ARPAC horizontal shrink wrappers are versatile systems that can operate at speeds up to 120 packages per minute. Here, we explore just a handful of ARPAC horizontal shrink wrappers and what each has to offer.

ARPAC Arrow Intermittent Motion Side Seal Wrapper. With speeds up to 40 products per minute and easy-to-use digital controls, the Arrow offers flexibility, reliability and high quality packaging. This system can run a wide range of product sizes, from 2 inches to infinite length and up to 6 feet high. Unlike a continuous motion wrapper, the Arrow does not require precise spacing, simplifying the infeed process.

ARPAC HCF37-3 Bottom Overlap Horizontal Shrink Wrapper. This system is ideal for overwrapping large industrial products, including doors, windows, insulation and ceiling tiles. The HCF37-3 wraps up to 15 packages per minute, with intermittent motion wrapping and self-tracking conveyor belts. Laser cut components allow for maximum precision, and heavy-duty construction can withstand challenging operations all day, every day.

ARPAC TS33CF Side Seal Horizontal Shrink Wrapper. Featuring an adjustable height film former, level wind scrap removal system, lateral adjustable 10-foot flighted infeed, and speeds at up to 60 packages per minute, the TS33CF is truly a versatile machine. The system has a unique side sealer for close sealing proximity, which reduces distortion to package graphics. Film types include center folded Polyolefin, PVC or polyethylene.

ARPAC XLR8 Servo-Driven Side Seal Horizontal Shrink Wrapper. The XLR8 is capable of wrapping at speeds up to 100 packages per minute. A continuous motion film folding system, this system features an adjustable film former, eliminating the need for multiple forming heads. Features include digital counters and scales, 8-inch seal openings, low film alert and an operator interface with color touchscreen.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Packaging Solutions

Arpac Stretch Wrapper Equipment

Pioneer Packaging — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:59:21 +0000

Arpac Stretch PA Series Plus Stretch Wrapper

Arpac offers one of the most complete and durable lines of stretch wrappers available anywhere. Here is an update of current pallet wrappers available from Pioneer for customers in Phoenix and throughout Arizona.

ARPAC Stretch Orbital Wrappers – Ideal for long, heavy, or awkwardly shaped items. Designed for 24-hour, heavy duty use. Ring size up to 60″ diameter.

ARPAC STRETCH P-25/PAC-SERIES, Automatic Combo Palletizer and Stretch Wrapper – Compact footprint, quick change capability, durable construction for 24/7 use.

ARPAC STRETCH PA-Series Plus, 2-Station Platform Automatic Stretch Wrapper – Heavy duty construction, cycle pause control, user friendly controls, top overwrap feature.

ARPAC STRETCH PAC-Series, Platform Automatic Conveyorized Stretch Wrapper – Self diagnostics, three wrap pattern selection, semi automatic override controls.

ARPAC STRETCH PATRIOT, Semi-Automatic Platform Stretch Wrapper – Forklift portable, welded, heavy duty reinforced structural steel construction, UL approved components.

ARPAC STRETCH POWER SERIES, Fully Automatic Platform Pallet Stretch Wrapper – Top overwrap control, carriage pause, corner control, machine operational diagnostics.

ARPAC STRETCH PRO-SERIES, Semi-Automatic Stretch Wrapper – Two-minutes average cycle time, cycle pause control, variable carriage speed.

ARPAC STRETCH RT-Series, Semi-Automatic Rotary Tower Stretch Wrap – Machine operational diagnostics, three-wrap stretch pattern select, safety eye and break system for tower.

ARPAC STRETCH RTA-Series, Automatic Rotary Tower Pallet Stretch Wrapper – Designed for around the clock operation, Allen-Bradley® Micrologix PLC, user-friendly controls.

ARPAC STRETCH RTAC-Series, Rotary Tower Automatic Conveyorized Stretch Wrapper – Positive realignment at end of wrap cycle, variable speed tower drive, adjustable top and bottom wrap counters.

ARPAC STRETCH Sidewinder 4, Semi-Automatic Platform Stretch Wrapper – Top over wrap control, cycle pause control, corner compensation.

ARPAC STRETCH Sidewinder 6, Semi-Automatic Platform Stretch Wrapper – Photo electric eye load height sensing, corner compensation, dual LED wrap counters.

ARPAC STRETCH WRAP-N-WEIGH, Platform Stretch Wrapper – Equipped with four load cells, scale controls integrated into wrapper control panel.

Looking for a new stretch wrapper? Contact us today to review the Arpac line.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Packaging Solutions

Inventory Management for Arizona Packaging Users

Pioneer Packaging — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:00:39 +0000

Inventory Management Programs

One of the most significant costs associated with packaging is inventory. By nature, many packaging materials are bulky and consume a substantial amount of floor space. In order to maximize productivity and profitability, distribution centers and manufacturers generally prefer to dedicate as much warehouse space as possible to production and packaging operations.

However, since the purchase price for most packaging materials – corrugated shipping boxes most notably – declines as purchase volume go up, users have a strong incentive to “stock up”, sometimes leaving themselves in the position of warehousing anywhere from a two to six month supply of packaging materials.

Besides consuming excess space, committing to a large inventory of packaging carries the risk of obsolescence. If packaging requirements change due to the elimination of a SKU or a packaging redesign, the user may be left with unusable materials that have little or no value on the secondary market.

To help distribution centers and manufacturers in Arizona avoid these difficulties, Pioneer offers a variety of inventory management programs to help packaging users reduce cost, reduce risk, and put more focus on making, packaging, and shipping their products.

One of the most popular approaches to inventory management is setting up a Just in Time (JIT) program where we deliver small quantities in high frequency on a predetermined schedule. This allows customers a high degree of flexibility and normally results in a substantial gain in floor space.

We also offer a variety of vendor managed inventory programs to take some or all of the procurement and inventory management duties off the shoulders of our customers. These programs require a great deal of collaboration and lead to efficiencies that combine to reduce overhead and acquisition costs, as well as increase inventory turns. If you are interested in exploring inventory management partnership with Pioneer, please contact us.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Packaging Solutions

Folding Cartons Are Sustainable Packaging Powerhouses

Pioneer Packaging — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:56:43 +0000

Eco Friendly Folding Cartons

Although folding cartons are generally small in size and contain lightweight contents, they pack a sustainable packaging punch. For that reason – along with economy – folding cartons have grown in popularity as an alternative to plastic boxes and clamshells in retail and industrial applications.

Folding cartons (also referred to as chipboard boxes) are particularly well suited to high speed, high volume packaging operations for products including pharmaceuticals and consumer packaged goods. Although folding cartons lack the transparency of plastic containers, they present an excellent printing surface. The high impact graphics produced on folding cartons give items the shelf appeal necessary for retail shelves, racks, and POP (point of purchase) displays.

Utilizing renewable materials rather than plastics for packaging materials has strong appeal for consumers. More and more, the quality of packaging enters into the decision making process of whether to buy one product or another. Even within the folding carton family of products, substrates formerly perceived as “cheap” – those with high post consumer recycled content – are today seen by consumers as highly desirable.

As a result, the marketing strategy for packaging materials has become somewhat counterintuitive. For many retail items, taking folding carton substrates down a notch can take the product up a notch in the mind of the consumer. Lower quality printing is interpreted as a higher commitment to the environment. Using lower cost packaging is interpreted as environmentally sensible economizing. These perceptions hold true not only for low end and mid range items, but for luxury items as well.

Need assistance developing an eco friendly packaging strategy? Contact us today!

Find more information on the Heritage Pioneer corporate site on folding cartons for packaging.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Packaging Solutions

New IntelliPack Foam in Place System – The Best of Both Worlds

Pioneer Packaging — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:05:33 +0000

SmartShot Foam in Place Packaging from Pioneer

The IntelliPack Smartshot™ Hybrid, an amazingly versatile foam in place (FIP) packaging system introduced by Pregis Corp. in May, is a true breakthrough in protective packaging: it is the first and only commercially available system that combines hand-held and bag options in one machine.

SmartShot gives users maximum flexibility for all of their packaging applications, and in addition allows them to save space, reduce cost, and improve productivity. The wall mounted system is typically used in hand-held mold for low volume packaging of large products that require heavy duty protection. For higher speed packaging, the unit converts to bagging mode.

Distribution centers that packaging parts of varying size and weight will appreciate the enormous flexibility of the SmartShot system. The unit has attracted great interest in several sectors, including automotive, military, furniture, aircraft, appliances, industrial equipment and solar equipment.

Foam in place packaging, originally developed by Sealed Air, first became popular in the 1980s. Initially, its use was limited due to the bulkiness of the equipment and its limited speed. Over time, technological improvements in delivery systems and the development of automated foam in bag systems made them cost effective for a wide variety of packaging applications.

IntelliPack foam in place systems, available to users throughout Arizona from Heritage Pioneer, are renowned for innovative engineering, reliability, and sophisticated controls and diagnostics. Telemetry diagnostics, available on all IntelliPack units, runs daily testing to ensure systems are performing to specifications. In the event of an issue, service technicians are automatically notified.

Foam in place packaging is an economical and highly reliable method of cushioning, blocking and bracing, and void fill packaging. Interested in learning more? Please contact us for a review of your application.
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Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Packaging Solutions