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The Flexible Packaging Blog

Reviews, trends, and tips covering all things flexible packaging to protect your products and your bottom line.

Blog Feature

The Business of Packaging | Supply Chain Services/ Contract Packaging | Plant Performance | Fulfillment | Warehousing

By: Nathan Dube
June 16th, 2022

Are you a large company (500+ employees, $100,000,000 in annual revenue), a publicly-traded business, or a fortune 500 looking for a contract packaging company? If so, WE are YOUR copacker! If you are a large company, you have a lot to think about. If I had to guess, your number one priority is your brand(s). You want to stay focused on new product development, building your customer base, engaging your audience, and staying one step ahead of your competitors. You are focused on generating massive revenue, cutting costs, and improving all of your product lines. While you may or may not be doing your packaging in-house, one thing is clear. You are looking to either find a new copacker or outsource your packaging for the first time. And, you want to make sure that you choose the best copacker in the country. So, we are absolutely honored to have your presence on our website today. But, you are probably wondering, why should you trust Industrial Packaging to be your copacker? Outsourcing your internationally known brand is a big deal. You don't want to partner with just anyone. You have incredibly high standards, and you only want the best. And more important than that, you want to choose the safest copacker in the industry—someone you can trust to keep your people, products, and brands safe throughout the supply chain. Furthermore, you want a copacker that is already helping their large company clients to navigate current and future global supply chain disruptions. Well, you have come to the right place. This article will explain why other large companies trust Industrial Packaging with their contract packaging needs. And, we will explain why you can trust us as well!

Blog Feature

Equipment | Investment | Warehousing

By: Nathan Dube
May 26th, 2022

When you first start thinking about packaging automation, the first question to answer is, can you automate your packaging? Many companies want to automate their packaging. And they assume that this can be done by purchasing the right equipment and implementing the proper processes. However, not all packaging can be automated. Automating your packaging may not be an option if your product packaging is very complicated with many steps. If your packaging is relatively simple, there is a good chance that your packaging can be automated. But, how can you identify if your packaging can be automated? What questions do you need to answer? How can you find out if packaging automation is in the cards for your business? Before you attempt to automate your packaging, you will have to answer the questions above. And to do that, you need to figure out a few things in advance. This article will help you to identify if your packaging can be automated or not.

Blog Feature

Equipment | Packaging Materials | Plant Performance | Investment | Packaging Design | Food Packaging | Warehousing

By: Nathan Dube
May 3rd, 2022

You are beyond excited as you take your last sip of coffee, gently placing the cup on your desk. You have packaging materials and machinery on your mind. And you are ready. Before you, a flat-screen LCD monitor glows, projecting that beautiful blue light upon your face. You can feel the caffeine coursing through your veins. You type away at the keyboard; the excitement rises with each click and clack of the keys beneath your fingers. You hit enter. Now, you stare at the home page of your chosen packaging materials and machinery vendor. You have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Today is the day, you think to yourself! You are finally ready to purchase packaging materials or machinery, and you are about to hit that buy button. You hear a gentle whisper as if a voice was calling to you from another realm. And suddenly, you freeze. Your finger hovers over the enter button. Wait, says the voice. Wait? You think to yourself. No, I want to do this; I am ready to buy, you exclaim to no one in particular! Again, you attempt to hit the buy button. And again, your finger stops as it just barely scratches the surface of the enter button on your keyboard. Wait, says the voice, now louder, as if from a person standing in the room with you. Whom could that be, you ask yourself silently? As you read these words here today, we answer you. It is us, Industrial Packaging! You are probably wondering why it seems as if we do not want you to buy packaging machinery and materials. We do. We genuinely do; however, you may not be ready yet. It would help if you answered several essential questions first, and we are here to go over those questions with you. Once you have taken care of the items in this article, you will be ready to make a packaging purchase.

Blog Feature

Supply Chain Services/ Contract Packaging | Fulfillment | Warehousing

By: Nathan Dube
May 18th, 2021

Are you tired of managing shipping and receiving for your company? Do you wish that you did not have to deal with product returns to unhappy customers? What would you be willing to do if you never had to package another product in your life? Does the thought of inventory control and labor force management keep you up at night? If this sounds like you, then chances are, you might benefit from a third-party logistics partner. But, what exactly is third-party logistics? Industrial Packaging has spent decades working in 3PL. Third-party logistics is like a second home for us. We know 3PL like the back of our hands, and we have provided these services to many businesses just like yours. In this article, we will introduce you to third-party logistics and define this term. We will also discuss other elements associated with 3PL in the context of contract packaging. With the information in this article, you will be able to decide if using a 3PL partner is a good idea for your business.

Blog Feature

Packaging Design | Shipping Protection | Warehousing

By: Nathan Dube
August 18th, 2020

Shipping protection is perhaps one of the most essential variables to consider when fulfilling orders for your customers. Just think how you feel when you order something, and the packaging is damaged. As the internet has made our world a digitally connected global village, you can now have customers anywhere on earth (and pretty soon, perhaps Mars as well). Packages that travel long distances often have journeys that are fraught with problems. Anything from mishandling at warehouses, being dropped on accident by delivery drivers, or moving through geographical areas with extreme heat. The list of potential items that can cause damage to your package can seem nearly endless. So, when it comes to ensuring an excellent unboxing experience for your clients, you need to make sure that their packages arrive in as close to mint condition as possible as it is imperative to building brand loyalty and repeat business. To achieve the proper protections against shipping damages, you need to make sure your packaging process aligns with the best standards. First, getting on board with Amazon's guidelines for SIOC and user-friendly packaging is a good start. Next, use protective packaging materials such as air pillows, cardboard, packaging peanuts, and a whole galaxy of other potential protective packaging material options. Now you are probably thinking, "man, this is more complicated than I was hoping". That may be true, but it's critical to the success of your business. While the global village is making packaging protection during shipping more complicated, Industrial Packaging has decades of experience in this sector. We are here to help you navigate these issues. In this article, you'll gain a better understanding of all of the elements that go into preparing your packages with the appropriate protective packaging materials and protocols. This will help your customers be happy with the condition of their packages, which leads to repeat business.

Blog Feature

Equipment | Plant Performance | Warehousing

By: Nathan Dube
July 21st, 2020

The United States, and the world at large, continue the complicated battle against the invisible enemy that is COVID-19. One thing has become glaringly obvious. This is not a war that will be fought with traditional machinery and weapons. Doctors are rushing to develop a vaccine while political parties attempt to figure out the complicated puzzle of helping the public adapt to a very uncomfortable "new normal.” Meanwhile, businesses and the corporate world are fighting their own battles against this virus. Today many companies are working together to figure out ways to make working conditions for their employees as close to "normal" as possible. Companies are implementing stringent protocols that are focused on the health, safety, and well-being of their employees. When it comes to large warehouses with packaging lines, this can be extremely complicated. Usually, at these facilities, there are hundreds of people working on large packaging lines working shoulder to shoulder. Our team at Industrial Packaging has gone to great lengths to create a unique approach to combating COVID while prioritizing the safety and health of our people and customers. With a strict set of protocols based on cutting edge information from the CDC, the WHO, and other experts, we have made it a point to focus on safety first. But many companies are struggling with their approach to this continuing pandemic. Some are struggling to find ways to prevent their employees from contracting the virus or stopping the spread. There is however a secret a weapon in the war against the virus, and it is one that was developed before COVID began rearing its ugly head. And when it comes to your warehouse and your packaging lines, that weapon is automation. Fully automated packaging lines have recently been implemented more frequently due to several benefits. These reasons have historically revolved around cost savings, key performance indicators, and the streamlining and optimization of production. However, today the biggest motivation for automating your packaging line is something else entirely. Putting a bold and extreme focus on protecting the health and safety of your people.