The Showcase of Packaging Innovations at PACK EXPO to Feature Award-Winning Packaging Designs

ACK EXPO International (Nov. 6–9, 2016; McCormick Place, Chicago), according to PACK EXPO producer, PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. The showcase will display the latest innovations and award-winning designs in packaging.

“Packaging has evolved over the years into vessels that not only protect the products inside but enhance them,” says Chuck Yuska, president and CEO, PMMI, “The Showcase of Packaging Innovations at PACK EXPO International spotlights the innovations and inspires future breakthroughs in design and technology.”

The packages featured in the showcase are winning entries from competitions all around the world.

“We are proud to have been involved with the Showcase of Packaging Innovations since its inception at PACK EXPO 13 years ago,” says Karen S. Carter, commercial vice president for Dow’s North America Packaging and Specialty Plastics business. “The cutting-edge packaging designs presented in the Showcase over the years have made a major contribution to moving the industry forward, and we are eager to continue that legacy at the show.”

National Safety Council Says Forklift-Related Safety Hazards Are Among The Most Common Workplace Safety Hazards

The importance of safety at work is always on our minds here at Stamar Packaging. But, with June being National Safety Month, it’s a good time to reinforce safety practices and to ensure that all of our employees understand the hazards of operating and working around forklifts, since forklifts are in operation in our warehouses every day. For us, and for everyone, every month of the year is always a good time to review safety practices in order to avoid workplace injuries.

The National Safety Council’s Safety+Health magazine says forklift-related safety hazards are among the most common workplace safety hazards, and that the leading cause of forklift-related hazards in the workplace is “when workers feel compelled to work quickly.” The recent Safety+Health article quotes a workplace safety consultant as saying, “What dictates their [employees] activity is production. They’re all under pressure, and when you’re under pressure, they start taking shortcuts.” These shortcuts often result in injury. The report adds, “Shortcuts include driving with too large of a load or driving distracted. The end result may be hitting a rack, damaging a wall or product or even injuring a co-worker.”

Adding to the safety issues related to forklifts is a “lack of maintenance and daily checks of trucks, and failing to segregate vehicles from pedestrians.” The safety consultants recommend that wherever and whenever forklifts are in operation, operators should be properly training and the trucks should be regularly inspected to ensure they’re in proper working order. Employers also should create designated walkways for pedestrians.

A warehouse environment also creates other safety hazards. Employees need to stay alert and avoid distractions, especially when they’re around or operating machinery. Machines with moving parts represent another common workplace hazard. Warning labels on machinery need to be read, and directions should be followed. And, of course, employees operating machinery must be properly trained. Material handling issues also pop up in warehouses when safety practices are overlooked. A common material handling practice is stacking objects on high platforms and shelves. They can’t be stacked too high, and heavy loads must be stacked neatly to avoid a shifting load or cylindrical objects from rolling off the shelves.

At Stamar Packaging, we are committed to following safety practices every day of the year, protecting our employees the best way we can. A safe warehouse is an efficient warehouse, and as we provide packaging, shipping and industrial supplies to our customers, our employees’ safety is always top-of-mind – as it should be!

Sustainability in the Packaging Industry Continues to Play a Vital Role in Business and Manufacturing in 2016

Sustainable practices are essential in business today, and especially in the packaging industry, where packaging manufacturers are required to be innovative in all areas of packaging manufacturing: design, the selection of packaging materials, and in all phases of the packaging production process. By focusing on sustainability, manufacturers are under pressure to reduce their “environmental footprint”.  The dictionary defines as the effect a company “has on the environment, for example, the amount of natural resources that they use and the amount of harmful gases that they produce.” But that definition is taking a big-picture look at sustainability. Let’s take a closer, more specific, look at how sustainability in the packaging industry continues to play a vital role in business and manufacturing in 2016.

Specifically, in the packaging industry, the history of sustainable practices is traced back to the 1970s, according to Packaging Digest. The publication reports, “The basis for sustainable packaging started the environmental movement in the 1970s…” Fast-forward four decades, and Packaging Digest shares the definition of “sustainable packaging” offered by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC):

Sustainable Packaging ...

• Is beneficial, safe & healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle
• Meets market criteria for performance and cost
• Is sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy
• Optimizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials
• Is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices
• Is made from materials healthy throughout the life cycle
• Is physically designed to optimize materials and energy
• Is effectively recovered and utilized in biological and/or industrial closed loop cycles.

According to the SPC’s website, the Coalition is a “working group dedicated to a more robust environmental vision for packaging,” and the organization promotes and supports sustainable packaging practices as an essential part of doing business.

At Stamar Packaging, we’ve been following sustainability trends in business, and how these trends affect the packaging industry, for many years – since we first started our business in 1981. Throughout the past 35 years, we’ve helped many of our customers – all types of businesses and manufacturers – be more sustainable and to reduce their environmental footprint by using some of the many different types of sustainable packaging materials and supplies we distribute. We’d welcome the opportunity to discuss the many sustainable packaging supply options available today. For more information about the packaging solutions and shipping supplies Stamar provides, including those designed with sustainability in mind, visit our website. Or give us a call at 630-282-5400. 

Follow these Product Labeling Tips and Tactics to Appeal to More Customers

Product labeling is an important part of any business: Having the right information and displaying appealing graphics on your product labeling can help capture the attention of more customers – and ultimately boost product sales. However, lack of information, misleading claims, and inadequate product labeling design can get your business into some trouble. Obviously, you’ll want to avoid this! In most types of businesses and industries, and in larger companies, the responsibilities related to product labeling are usually in the hands of packaging designers and marketing or product/brand managers. In small businesses, product labeling responsibilities are often managed by the business owner or manager, who has a long list of other responsibilities in addition to product labeling.

At first, the product labeling process can seem to be overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be. Product labeling can easily be managed if you follow some simple strategies and guidelines. Here are some product labeling tips and tactics to consider to simplify the process, and to help you appeal to more customers to boost your business’ bottom line:

• Be sure to include the necessary information customers expect to find on product labeling: What information do your targeted consumers expect to find on your type of product’s label? Of course, this information will depend on your industry and the types of products you’re marketing. For instance, product labeling for office supplies will have less and different information than product labeling for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that will be ingested by consumers. It may seem obvious that food and beverage product labeling will contain more information than the label on a roll of bubble wrap, but be sure to know the type of basic information that’s required for products in your specific industry. This brings us to the next guideline…

• Know and abide by the regulations and product labeling requirements for your specific industry. Lately, in the U.S., it seems that product labeling regulations and requirements are in the news just about every day, and regulations frequently change. Different types of products manufactured and distributed in the U.S. are regulated by various organizations. Consult government and industry-specific organizational resources to make sure you’re on top of the latest product labeling requirements and information for your industry. Here are some links you might find helpful: 

v  FDA product labeling requirements: The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) regulates food products, drugs, cosmetics and medical equipment, and there are many product labeling requirements that are specific to each of these industries. The FDA website offers specific information about food labeling requirements and cosmetics labeling requirements.

v  FTC product labeling requirements: Generally, you can assume that products that are not regulated by the FDA are covered/regulated by the FTC (Federal Trade Commission). The FTC’s mission is to “prevent business practices that are anticompetitive or deceptive or unfair to consumers…” and product labeling is one of the business practices the FTC monitors. You can search the FTC website for information about all different types of products, whether they’re regulated by the FTC or not, and find helpful information related to product labeling.

v  CPSC product labeling requirements: As its name implies, the main mission of the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) is to protect consumers. The CPSC regulates a wide range of products and manages compliance to several safety acts that cover different groups of products, including the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA), the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA). Find more information about requirements related to consumer safety that may affect your product’s labeling on the CPSC website.

v  State requirements can also affect product labeling: Be sure to consult your state’s business bureau to find out if there are state regulations that might affect your product’s labeling.

• Hire a designer with experience in packaging design and labeling, if you can. Packaging designers are trained to use their artistic ability and their business sense to grab the attention of customers. Working with a packaging designer is worth the investment, as professional, vibrant designs easily grab consumers’ attention.

Overall, when it comes to product packaging and labeling, remember that your ultimate goal is to attract the attention of more customers, while also meeting the specific product labeling requirements for your industry. At Stamar Packaging, we’d be happy to discuss your packaging and product labeling needs in more detail. Give us a call at 630-282-5400, or contact us through our website.

Getting An Early Start On The Holiday Season

Here at Stamar we understand how important it is to take the time to enjoy a celebration of a holiday party. As the holiday season rolls around, it's not uncommon for us to get wrapped up in the chaos of shopping, cooking, and hosting guests that sometimes having a work holiday party gets put on the back burner. That’s why we take a slightly different approach. We start the season with the holiday party, instead of ending the season with one! This year we chose Nov. 12 to hold the 2015 Stamar Packaging Holiday Party.

We thoroughly enjoy celebrating the season with our employees and kicking off the season with the party is about more than just having a good time. It's one way we like to show appreciation to all employees because they play an essential role in Stamar Packaging's success.  It also gives way for team bonding among departments and employees, and it reinforces our company’s mission of valuing the people who work together to build all of our successes.

Every employee is vital to the work we do each day, without them we couldn’t provide the high-quality products and services that our customers have come to expect from us.  We give thanks to the entire staff for their daily performance, the customers we serve, and the opportunities to come in the new year. We wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season and thank you for keeping up with all things Stamar.

Products Pop With The Right POP Displays

There is a great deal of competition to draw attention to products. Point of Purchase (POP) displays are an ideal way to attract a customer to a product. A POP display can entice the customer to buy it.

Unfortunately, not all POP displays are effective. It takes experience, design skill, ingenuity, and quality materials to make an eye-pleasing and effective display. When choosing Stamar for POP design and assembly, you get all of the above abilities in one place!

As experts in packaging, we offer outstanding capabilities for creating a successful design and then build the display to highlight the product. The process begins with the design and then through our contract packaging services we gather the right materials and assemble a kit. This kit is then sent out to the clients or distribution centers for delivery to retail outlets.

Since this is a custom service, we can design and build displays of any shape or size. The one thing all displays have in common is Stamar Packaging’s quality design for an easy setup and eye-catching display.

As an example of our POP assembly services, we were contracted to design and build displays for a new line of hot cocoa mixes from Land O’Lakes.

The cocoa mixes are packaged in single-cup packets and sold individually. We created the design, built the packaging, and then assembled it all into a display kit. The final kits were sent to the distribution centers and then to supermarkets.  Next time you are in the market for a hot cocoa treat look for our display!

Stamar Packaging is responsible for many POP displays and offers a versatile contract packaging service that can handle all kinds of products. Contact us for more information or visit our website for a complete overview of our products and services.

One Way Pallet Wrap Can Grow Your Sales

Do you use pallet wrap? There may be an opportunity if you do to get your brand out to a wider audience.  

Stamar Packaging has been a packaging company for over 30 years. Over those 30 years, we have become a trusted name not only custom packaging but also, just in time warehousing, pallet wrap and branding merchandising for companies.  We're always looking for more opportunities to better serve our customers.   We have developed a keen skill in realizing a solution to a customer’s problem before they realize they have the problem.

Take our Just-In-Time warehousing, for instance, we had an instinct that our customers lacked storage space because they were ordering items consistently to refile their stockpile in their allotted space. When we introduced JIT storage, we were praised for helping them save time, money and most of all stress.

Now we have found an opportunity to further advertise for our customers on a product they already use. Introducing Printed pallet wrap with logo advertisement space.

There are several benefits to advertising your company on pallet wraps.  

First it will reach more eyes making them aware of you brand all through an item you already purchase.  It can include the logo, website, contact info and more.  

Furthermore, the pallet printed wrap can now give clear instructions to its handlers including messages like "Do Not Double Stack" "Fragile Handle with Care" or "USDA Organic". These warnings better help inform the handler and also ensures the safety of your products arriving at its final destination without damage.

Another threat it avoids is the tampering of products during storage or transit.  This security effort helps damaged shipments become readily identifiable as it can be easily detected if the skin has been broken or tampered with.

Lastly, the new skin printed wrapped pallet helps reduce misplaced, or shipment loss as all contact info is directly on it.

As you can see using advertisements or messages on your printed pallet wrap may be a great addition to your brand and overall shipment.

To get more information about Stamar's Printed pallet wrap check out our website or call us at 630.282.5400.  

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