Author: Ron Crews

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6 Considerations When Buying V Blenders

Buying Used V Blenders

When manufacturers need to mass produce spice blends, dry food ingredients or other flavoring combinations, they generally turn to a cross flow blender. These sturdy machines are used in the food and agriculture industry, and save time by processing dry substances together for packaging.

The V blenders are power-driven v-shaped blending machines that are suspended in between stainless steel supports. Most machines include a starter box and one or two levels of power. The blender is rotated once, filled with ingredients to mix, and then leaves the blending machine through a singular outlet.

Considerations

Here are some considerations to keep in mind when you’re planning to purchase a V blender.

  1. Are you mixing powders or granules? These machines work well for dry goods and minimize the amount of dust or particulates that are thrown into the air in other blending processes.
  2. How much processing capacity do you need? V blenders come in a variety of different sizes to suit different industry needs, and you’ll need to estimate the amount of goods you’ll want to process per batch to determine the carrying capacity of the machine you need.
  3. Is it easily modified or disassembled for maintenance? V blenders that get backed up can cost your company time and money on the manufacturing floor. Make sure that the blender can easily be cleaned out if there is a backup to minimize the likelihood of needing to stop production for de-agglomeration.
  4. New or used? In most cases, a company can buy used processing machinery with no problem. In fact, companies like High Performance Packaging supports the quality of every used item we sell by offering extensive maintenance programs and ensuring our clients that equipment is up to standards before we sell.
  5. Do you need additional safety support? Some V blenders that are going to be placed in a heavily traveled workspace may need to be surrounded by safety railings. These may be attached after machine purchase or may be included with your equipment purchase.
  6. Do you need an intensifier bar? Some portable V blenders include an intensifier bar, which will speed up the processing time. Others may be fitted with the bar as a processing solution. Determine whether this feature is something that your company will need.

No matter how you plan to use your V blender, High Performance Packaging can help. Contact us today to learn more.

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Boosting Employee Productivity with Training

Keep Your Employees Motivated with These Training Tips
Providing employees with comprehensive training is more than a great way to boost your bottom line. It is true that you will likely enjoy increased productivity and higher profit margins by adequately training your employees, but it is also vital for safety. Workers who haven’t been trained on industrial machinery may make mistakes that could cost a company time and lead to legal action. An ounce of training is worth the expense when considering how much it can save in the end.

Tips for Training

Because of the expense of the product, it’s important to weigh your pros and cons. Here are some tips for packaging equipment training to make the most out of your packaging process.

  1. Onsite vs. classroom – Offering onsite training classes can often be far more beneficial than a classroom setting with documentation. Practical knowledge is what will drive competence and safety in the workplace. Ensure that all employees who will be working with a piece of equipment have a thorough understanding of its operation.

    Often, a combination classroom/onsite training class will be the best solution for your workers. The classroom will impart vital knowledge about equipment components, maintenance and safety procedures while an onsite demonstration will solidify that knowledge in trainee minds.
  1. Cross training – Making sure your manufacturing employees have a good understanding of several business processes protects the integrity of line times. If you can manipulate your line workers for different tasks, management won’t have to worry as much if someone has a sick day or is injured on the job. There will likely be someone available who can take over and continue.
  1. Metrics – When you begin any packaging equipment training program, make sure that you have some base numbers that you can compare after the training program. The only way to continually improve your process and become more efficient is to repeatedly analyze and change.
  1. Train your trainers – Your workers will only be as qualified as your trainers, so making sure that your trainers know your processes, equipment and training techniques will ensure that your workers receive the information needed for working.

High Performance Packaging offers a complete onsite training program to improve work processes and protect your bottom line.

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Choosing the Best Packaging Machinery for Your Food Products

When your company is selling and shipping food, packaging is one of the most important parts of your product. Shipping food when its packaging has been damaged can cause health problems for those who purchase it—and this can mean expensive legal trouble for your company.

The packaging machine that is used also makes a difference in the quality of the product and the integrity of the packaging. There are several different types of food packaging machines that are responsible for filling and sealing everything that you see on store shelves from cereal to flour and juice.

Here is an overview of the two basic types of machinery used in many food packaging designs.

VFFS (Vertical Form Fill Seal)

VFFS equipment allows for product to be fed into a packaging design to a certain predetermined level after which, it will seal the packaging. Regardless of your sealing needs, many brands of these machines have changeover parts or settings that allows for multiple settings to be managed by a manufacturing facility. If you’ve ever opened a bag of potato chips, chances are it was filled and sealed with VFFS equipment. The machinery is a staple in the food industry for dry goods, frozen foods, coffees, teas and more.

HFFS (Horizontal Form Fill Seal)

These machines are used in a variety of industries, but in the food industry, they are particularly useful for packaging horizontally sealed products. These items could include cookies, hamburgers and other foods that need to be thermoformed (heating plastic to meet the needs of the packaging design). These machines are also useful in creating blister packs for spices and other dry goods packaged in single serving trays.

Benefits of Used Equipment

Depending on your needs, there is a VFFS or HFFS machine out there to fill them. Buy used packaging equipment to save money while increasing your bottom line quickly. Used equipment that has been refurbished will have passed rigorous inspections to ensure the quality is on the level of the best machinery in the industry. A few companies, like High Performance Packaging, will also offer a competitive maintenance program to ensure the quality of your purchase.

Whatever your package machinery needs, High Performance Packaging can help. Our experts can assist you picking the perfect equipment for your food product. Contact us today to learn more.

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Finding the Right Packaging Material for Your Product

Outsourcing your packaging material provider and used packaging equipment company may cause finger pointing if there is a problem on the line. To eliminate that problem and create a more streamlined experience for clients, High Performance Packaging provides packaging materials and used equipment for food and non-food packaging clients. We have a long history of finding the right kind of material to work well with many brands of machinery, and can help you find the right solution for your product.

Whether you need to package coffee, snacks, meat, pet food, soap, or another product, we offer support, products and used equipment to improve your return on investment with every order.

Packaging Materials

Think about these packaging material considerations the next time you have a product going to market:

  1. Review regulations. Depending on where your product will be marketed, you may need to check on the regulations of selling in different states and countries. You may need to package your product in a different way to account for different placement regions or have multiple packaging materials to cover regulation needs.
  1. Consider transportation. However you decide to package your product, it will need to withstand travel. Make sure your packaging material will protect your product from the environment, physical handling, and re-handling. Shrink wrapping pallets is a advisable option to reduce damage to goods in transit.
  1. Think about the product. Food may have refrigeration needs or need to be at room temperature and away from extreme heat to remain viable. Pharmaceuticals may also require special packaging. Think about all of the environmental factors that might affect the quality of your product. If it is sensitive to light, you may need a packaging material that is opaque rather than translucent.
  1. Consider the design. Having a design that is classic and evergreen will save you money in the long run. Reusable and recyclable packaging is even better, as it is a sustainable and environmentally friendly choice.
  1. Prevent diversion. Diversion is when a product ends up in an unauthorized store. Implementing bar codes and tracking devices into your packaging design can help your company keep track of your products as they reach the market.

Contact High Performance Packaging today for more information about the packaging materials we provide and our solutions for your used packaging equipment needs.

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Comparing Cartoning Equipment Brands

Cartoning machines are a vital part of packaging operations that fold cartons out of cardboard and other materials and fill them with a product before it is brought to market. Cartoners are used for dairy and milk-substitutes, cosmetics, medicine and more.

In general, they work by expanding a folded carton, filling it with a loose or prepackaged item and applying glue to seal flaps over a filled carton. High Performance Packaging technicians are familiar with operating a variety of brands:

ADCO

ADCO cartoners are available in a range of styles, from hand-loaded options to solutions that are automatically driven and feature touch screen controls and onboard diagnostics. The company started its first cartoner option in 1958 and now offers a wide range of horizontal and vertical end load cartoners. The company specializes in equipment for a range of industries, including food, personal care and cosmetics. They offer more horizontal end load cartoners than vertical.

PMI

PMI Cartoning was formed in 1993 by Branko Tisma, a lifelong worker in the packaging machine industry. They carry vertical and horizontal cartoning equipment and also work with food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Companies like Kraft and Hershey and smaller, family owned companies use PMI cartoning equipment in their day-to-day operations.

Clybourn

Clybourn Cartoner Co. equipment is built for industrial and consumer products. The company is focused on providing equipment that is reliable and durable. They also stock replacement parts for vintage equipment dating back to the 1960s. If you’ve got a Clybourn, it’s likely you’ll be able to find replacement parts and keep it working for many years regardless of its age.

Yeaman

Yeaman Machine Technologies has been working with packaging automation for more than 30 years and works primarily in cartoning for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. They offer horizontal and vertical cartoners that are modular to allow for future product changes.

Scandia

Scandia Packaging Equipment creates cartoners for the entertainment, pharmaceutical, food, beverage, and cosmetic industries. Its many models are created specifically for certain industry needs. For instance, its Compact Intermittent Motion Cartoner is used for smaller items associated with the tobacco, cosmetics, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries. Their cartoners are available in a range of options, from hand loading to automatic and high speed cartoners.

Contact High Performance Packaging for more information about the used packaging equipment brands we sell, maintain and buy.

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High Performance Packaging’s PEAK Program

“Capture the PEAK” is our saying for ensuring overall equipment effectiveness over time. We partner with every customer we have to ensure our equipment delivers high quality yields with fewer issues over time. Your OEE line improvement metrics of availability, performance, and quality will increase when you work through our PEAK program.

PEAK stands for Packaging Excellence Achievement Know-how to provide you with the up-to-date knowledge and skill set your company needs to get the most out of your packaging equipment training. Whether you’re a machine operator or maintenance personnel, this customized packaging equipment training program is worth its salt.

PEAK Program Steps

The program features three steps to increase ROI (return on investment) in a measurable way. We can accomplish this by working with you to develop strategies to reduce downtime due to equipment failures and malfunctions, cost overruns, and inefficiencies.

Step 1 – We work with you to evaluate the total packaging operation. We assess everything from your personnel, product, equipment and current processes. In this initial step, we take the time to recognize shortcomings and do some brainstorming to get to the root of your productivity problems.

Step 2 – We help you prepare for the implementation of new strategies for performance enhancement. Our job is to help you find solutions by improving packaging efficiency, product quality, and asset utilization, and teaching shop floor staff necessary skills.

Step 3 – At this point, we work with you to implement the changes discussed in the first two steps and measure the performance against baseline numbers. Any extra optimizations that need to be tweaked will be addressed before we leave.

The program may take a few weeks or a few months to complete, depending on your company’s size. We work alongside you every step of the way to ensure quality, skills, and standards are being met to improve your OEE metrics in a measurable way.

After the Program

Upon completion of the PEAK program, High Performance Packaging will continue to work with your company to provide the necessary ongoing training and preventative maintenance for your personnel and equipment. We will cycle through the PEAK process as needed in the future to provide continual optimization and help you buy used packaging machines in the future as your company grows.

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Maintaining Your Packaging Equipment to Reduce Downtime

Owning quality-packaging equipment is only the first step in keeping the performance of your line at industry standards. Maintenance of your equipment is the other part of the equation. Don’t wait until something breaks to fix it. Waiting may cost you time that could have been spent working and wastes money in paying wages for downtime and lost product packaging.

Partner with Your Equipment Provider

Maintaining equipment appropriately means you need someone knowledgeable about the technology on staff. Production personnel will be more focused on keeping the line running than keeping up with routine maintenance tasks. Instead of hiring dedicated maintenance personnel, consider partnering with your packaging equipment provider.

High Performance Packaging doesn’t only sell quality, refurbished machinery for your company; we help you maintain your equipment year round so you get the most out of your investment.

Use a Maintenance Plan

Our Proactive Service Level agreement features preventative, routine maintenance for all the used packaging equipment we sell. Doing so helps you maximize productivity and effectiveness in your day-to-day operations. When you sign up for our maintenance program, we will sit down with you and discuss a custom plan that focuses on your business goals and target efficiency key indicators.

We have more than 25 years of experience working in the refurbishment and maintenance of packaging machinery. We don’t sell anything we don’t know inside and out. You will receive quality assistance in packaging line installation and expertise for the brand and model of machinery you invest in.

Repair Rather than Replace

If you do encounter a problem with your High Performance Packaging equipment, we stock many replacement parts to prevent you from having to invest in new machinery when a system fails. Even with regular maintenance, you will encounter the breakdown of parts over time. Let us help you troubleshoot as soon as a problem arises so we can get you back up and running fast. It’s part of our commitment to quality to ensure that your productivity levels remain high and the packaging equipment maintenance we provide gives you top performance when the equipment leaves our shop.

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Use Flow Wrappers for Packaging Your Products

Flow Wrappers from High Performance Packaging

If you’re looking for the most efficient way to wrap up your products and prepare them for distribution, consider adding a flow wrapper machine to your packaging line. Unlike a horizontal form fill and seal machine, shrink bundler or vacuum sealer, these machines perform three tasks—forming a bag, filling it with product, and sealing the finished package—in one fluid motion, or “flow.” The flow of products into their respective packaging is quick and seamless, and helps your business prepare a lot of product in a short amount of time.

Ideal for Many Products

Flow wrappers are great for packaging a number of different products, though similar to horizontal form fill and seal machines, they work better with products that are singular/standalone rather than things like powders. Flow wrappers can utilize either clear or print registered film, perfect for both shipping to third party distributors to unpack for the shelves or to bulk shopping centers that sell, for instance, a case of juice bottles rather than one juice bottle at a time. Flow wrappers prepare bulk goods for shipment in a way that is secure and tightly wrapped, making them an ideal addition to your packaging line.

Why Purchase Used Machinery?

If you’re concerned about the quality of used machinery, it may be because used equipment often is not held to a high enough standard of use before being resold. For example, think of the prototypical used car—if you purchase a used car from a private seller, your only real insight on how the car was taken care of comes from what the seller tells you. Sure, you can look up a CarFax report, but that won’t tell you how often the seller got the oil changed or brought it in for a tune-up. Thankfully, at High Performance Packaging, we do things differently. All of our machines are thoroughly inspected before being put up for sale, which means that you can trust you’ll get a high quality machine that you can trust to work for years to come in your packaging line. We also offer training programs, which help ensure that you and your staff know how to use the machines you buy so that when you install them, there won’t be any downtime while everyone learns how to operate the machine.

For an efficient and valuable addition to your packaging line, consider a flow wrapper from High Performance Packaging. If you have any questions about these or any of our other machines, contact us anytime—we’re happy to give you more information about any of the equipment we sell.

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Choosing an HFFS or VFFS Machine

VFFS Machine from High Performance Packaging

If you’re in a business that requires products to be packaged at a consistent rate, with consistent fill levels, using form fill and seal machinery is a common occurrence. When deciding what’s right for your business, you’ll likely have the choice between a horizontal form fill and seal machine (HFFS) or a vertical form fill and seal machine (VFFS). If you’re not sure which would be the better choice for your particular product, read on to find out which you should choose.

HFFS Machine Features

Horizontal form fill and seal machines are best for products that are solid and singular—things like frozen pizzas or car parts, to give both a food and non-food example. These machines allow for the placement of a product between two sheets of film, and then a sealer part closes and seals the ends of the packages as they roll by on the conveyer belt. HFFS machines are best for industries and businesses that have a high demand for productivity—in other words, companies that need a lot of product packaged in a short amount of time.

What about a VFFS Machine?

On the other hand, vertical form fill and seal machines are ideal for loose product that needs to be packaged into bags or pouches. For example, products like cereal or flour. These machines feed the product into vertical filler stations, which weigh a specific amount of product to be fed into each bag before sealing the edges. Vertical machines are better suited for products that are small pieces and can benefit from gravity feeding them into the bags.

Benefits of Purchasing Used

Depending on what product you’re packaging, one of these machines will probably be the clear choice. If you’re still unsure of which one is right for your business, feel free to contact us at High Performance Packaging—we’re happy to explain the differences between the equipment we offer and help you make the best choice for your needs. Additionally, because we offer used equipment, you’ll be able to save some money in the process. We believe that every one of our clients should have the opportunity to use high quality machinery, and that’s why we offer used machines from some of the top rated brands in the industry, including Hayssen, Matrix, Ishida, and many more.

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How Can You Increase Your Line Speeds?

Packaging Equipment from High Performance Packaging

In your line of work, time equals money. The more product you can package in a certain time frame, the better. Increasing your line speeds, for that reason alone, is a great thing. But how do you do it? There are a few different ways, and once you know these helpful tips, you’ll be surprised you didn’t look into it earlier.

First Things First: Training

The first thing you can do to increase your line speeds is to ensure that all of your employees are adequately trained on the machinery you’re using. If they have any hesitancy when it comes to doing their work, this can snowball and waste a lot of time over the course of a day, a week, or a month. Another thing to consider is to train employees on more than just the machine they primarily use—that way, if someone is out sick, another employee can easily take their place, resulting in no downtime.

Identify Slow Spots – Monitor the Line

Next, you’ll want to monitor your line closely to identify any slow spots. This can be done either manually or with cameras to reveal places where the line slows down. This could be a scale that isn’t accurate enough to move packages along quickly, a capping machine that has trouble fitting the caps to the container, or any number of other sections that don’t work as efficiently as they could. Once you identify the problem areas, you’ll know what you need to do next.

Automate Time-Costing Sections

Once you’ve located problem areas, you’ll be able to make decisions regarding what to do to remedy the issue. For instance, if it’s an issue of a part being worn down, you can replace the part. If the entire machine is working improperly, you can talk to a technician about repairs or replacement, if that’s necessary. If you’re noticing a bigger problem—for instance, your team has to manually add caps to containers instead of letting a machine do it, you can decide to automate that part of the line.

Boost Employee Morale

Finally, another step you can take to help speed up the work process in your plant is to boost employee morale. This is a bit more involved, but happy employees who feel like their job is important and necessary will feel more inclined to do their work better and more quickly. Look into ways to improve your staff’s attitude and morale, and you might be pleasantly surprised at how much productivity can increase.

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