THIS or THAT: Our Top Packaging Alternatives During Supply Chain Shortages and Beyond

The last couple of years the supply chain dilemma every industry has faced has had us thinking creatively and reminding our Sales Reps of that initial customer call where the drawing board is a little empty and ready for development. Our industry experience and longevity in the field has leant itself well as we navigate the future and recommend alternative packaging solutions. Fluctuations in pricing continues and lead times across industries shift at any given time, but these alternatives can help you think more creatively and broadly about your packaging…

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Warehouse Manager Lauro Moreno Comments on New WMS System

We’ve been making a lot of changes here at Colony in the last 12 months. We went full force last January implementing a new ERP system which set us up for a warehouse management system (WMS). In October we launched our first ever WMS system while simultaneously welcoming some new team members to our warehouse and transitioning roles of existing members. We sat down with Lauro Moreno, our Warehouse Manager, to talk about some of those changes. Lauro came to us in 2019 after fellow co-worker Randy mentioned it to…

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When the Olympics Give the World a Lesson on Corrugated

This weekend marks the start of the Olympics and like most things these last couple years the Olympic Village, or more specifically, the beds the athletes will be sleeping in look completely different than past games. If you haven’t heard throughout the media the athletes were supplied with corrugated bed frames in Tokyo’s mission to make these games the most eco-friendly yet. It’s no surprise athletes like volleyballer Kelsey Robinson have been putting those beds to the test in durability by jumping and body slamming themselves into the frames to…

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Blown vs Cast Stretch Film

Stretch film comes in varying gauges, lengths, chemical make-ups, colors and can be used in numerous applications. Not all stretch film works on all loads and for all applications. One interesting variable and starting point for stretch films is deciding between blown or cast manufacturing processes. But first, if you are unsure of the differences between shrink and stretch start with this blog post. Blown stretch film is created by blowing heated resin out vertically into a bubble. The bubble is then transformed into rolls while it is cooled by…

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Equipment Highlight: Orion Sentry LP Stretch Wrapper

Orion Packaging has a deep line of stretch wrappers. With the (still pending) 2020 PackExpo in Chicago coming up quickly it had us thinking about some of our finds in 2018. Orion debuted their newest Sentry iteration during the expo and it remains one of the best entry-level wrappers on the market for its low price, reliability, and onboard pre-stretch capabilities. Check out some of the key features for the LP and HP versions: 200% powered prestretch film carriage: Helps you save on film costs and give you a superior…

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Ranpak Introduces New FillPak Trident Void Fill Packaging System

It has been awhile since we saw an upgrade to Ranpak’s void fill and cushioning automation lines of equipment and for good reason. But, Ranpak recently saw a gap in its offerings and announced the new FillPak Trident void fill packaging system. From Ranpak’s website: Trident is a 100% paper-based protective packaging solution that potentially delivers a 15% or more reduction in paper usage compared to other paper-based machines and can eliminate the use of non-sustainable plastic based package fill products like air cushions. The in-line machine features a patented…

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Understanding Packaging Boxes and Corrugated Cartons

Understanding cartons can make or break your product – literally – by the time it gets to your customer’s door.  For instance, recycled corrugate is not created equally, and there are several ways to determine what kind of box you need besides the actual carton type.  Depending on the application companies can save money when it comes to changing the way their box is configured or even manufactured (for custom cartons).  Check out our top 4 points when looking into corrugated boxes. Strength The strength of a corrugated box starts…

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New Partnership: LEIBINGER Continuous Inkjet Systems

We are excited to announce our new partnership with LEIBINGER Coding and Marking Systems. LEIBINGER helps fill the gap in our marking and coding equipment with their state of the art CIJ printer and printhead. If you know anything about CIJ you may have rolled your eyes at the “state-of-the-art” bit in that last sentence. But, we’ve got to tell you, they are seriously changing the game when it comes to their patented printhead. LEIBINGER is within its third generation of family management and manufacturers all of its equipment from…

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5 Things to Consider When Buying Stretch Film

Understanding the difference between stretch film and shrink film is just the beginning to understanding stretch film’s capabilities in your production line.  Here are some points to discuss with your sales representative when determining the best film for your budget and application. 1. Determine the Load Size Type A Loads: Uniform in shape. The load size closely matches the pallet size. These are obviously the easiest loads to wrap. Few film puncture points exist. This type of load is often seen at manufacturing locations where the same product is prepared for…

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Bubble It!

Okay, we may not be starting the bubble wrap jacket craze (yet), but we are still crazy about bubble wrap. Bubble wrap has been getting a bad rep lately from companies talking big about environmentally-conscious packaging. But, we are here to tell you bubble wrap is here to stay for good reason. Made-on-demand options, curbside recyclable features, historical success in packaging valuable products – air filled packaging is a tried and true method of getting your products safely to your customer the first time. Plus, it is easily reusable! Made…

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