Removing integration headaches while reducing human error could feel impossible – especially if you have personally ever seen a project like this through from start to finish. Colony Packaging & Machine works with your purchasing, operations, project lead and engineering departments to present a solution to marking and coding which exceeds expectations without the mandatory prepaid service agreements. Here are 8 ways Matthews Marking has eliminated those obvious and sometimes less-obvious obstacles to success with the MPERIA controller.
A single user interface and common API across all Matthews Marking Systems technologies with the ability to control 3rd party equipment.
No middleware required for seamless database integration (ERP, MES, and other systems) with netFolder.
Reduced capital investment with print validation integration – measuring, sensing, motion control, camera setup.
Error reduction with automated message control from a single location.
Full scalability with ability to add additional marking equipment as well as open source scripting and plugins for 3rd party control
Pain-free networking with multiple APIs (XML, Ethernet IP, and more) tailored to your application needs
Effortless support with remote control troubleshooting via VNC or secure cloud connectivity.
Benchmark security and data integrity with complete control of data access through netFolder.
Matthews has proven its ability to connect production lines across an entire warehouse with ease. As a key distributor across Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland Colony brings you expert packaging knowledge and certified Service Technicians to create the best experience possible from discovery to implementation and beyond. Contact our industrial packaging supplies company to learn more!
Damages in packaging can sometimes feel never-ending. It usually costs companies twice as much as they realize because for every touch point of the return it takes away time processing and churning out new orders. As one of the top packaging suppliers, we break down some of the areas you can familiarize yourself with to better prepare your team to tackle those damage areas:
Shipping Boxes
One of the most important places to start looking for damage is with the shipping box. It is the easiest thing for a buyer to shop around for but not all boxes are created equally. Knowing the differences and creating a standard for your company will be imperative to low to zero damage rates.
Strength
Cartons are measured in strength in two ways: Edge Crush Test (ECT) or BS (Burst Strength). Both can also coincide with wall thickness like singlewall, doublewall, or triplewall. ECT is going to tell you the overall stacking strength of boxes. If you are palletizing or oftentimes stacking a lot of product on top of one another and the box corners are collapsing you might need a higher ECT box. The BS measurement is how much internal or external pressure it takes to damage the side walls of a carton. ECT and Burst Strength are not interchangeable although many places only offer one or the other and will substitute with them. But, keep an eye on this factor especially if damage has creeped up seemingly out of nowhere.
Box Type
Box types are going to offer different reinforced angles. The standard RSC is universally great, but right-sizing your box and looking at how an item is packed could get you in a better fitting box.
Recycled Content
More and more often we are finding higher rates of recycled content in boxes. Almost all boxes have at least a small amount of recycled content but when you have boxes with higher percentages the fibers are shorter and the overall box is going to suffer in strength.
Tape/Sealing
How you seal your box could impact the overall integrity of the box. Choices can range from glue, acrylic, hot melt or water activated tape. Each has different strengths (and weaknesses) depending on your production line, atmosphere, and long-term storage. We look at the weight of your product, the temperature you seal and store your products (short or long-term), and the type of box you are sealing when making a tape recommendation. Not all tapes fit every application, and your box impacts the type of tape you can use more than you might think.
Void Fill & Cushioning
Void fill and cushioning are generally both used within a shipment but aren’t always different items. The UPS/FEDEX rule of thumb is to allow 2″ of cushioning between the item and the box wall. That cushioning can be the same material you wrap your product with or it can be void fill to eliminate that extra space for the product to shift into during
This box shows items inside the box secured with void fill at the top of the box to prevent shifting during shipment.
shipment. Void fill can be foam, crumbled paper, or airbags whereas cushioning is oftentimes bubble wrap, foam molds, or paper pad wrapping. We see customers use a combination of both with great success.
Package Weights
After everything you have learned so far about fighting packaging damage the package weight will help direct you to what kind of carton, tape, and void fill/cushioning you will ultimately need to be successful. It is important to also look to see how the weight is distributed in the box to prevent hard shifts during shipments or excessive pressure on the bottom or top of the box as easy breaking points.
Protective Packaging
If the damage is occurring on the item itself it may just be you need a simple poly bag or protective film to help protect the surface from those friction marks. This extra barrier between your product and the packaging can make a big difference in damage reports by end-users.
Shipping Methods
How you ship your product might tell you how much protective packaging you may need. For instance you might be delivering products on your trucks and not need to think about hard shifts from tumbling down a conveyor belt in a distribution hub. But, if your product has any chance of going on a common carrier it is best to pack for those instances. Customers may not tell you they re-shipped your product, but they could still claim damages if shipped along to their own end-user.
Pallet Configuration
This last area for damage may not apply to you, but if you are palletizing your products to ship out it is important to look at how the items are getting stacked and secured. You could have an A, B or C load and all of them have different considerations. For instance if you are using stretch film on an A load with light-weight items you will need a stretch film that doesn’t crush the corners. Or, if you are shipping a C load you might need a film that has high puncture resistance for sharp, out of place corners to connect between layers. Recognizing these vulnerable shipments will help you budget appropriately for successful shipments everytime.
Damage can occur anywhere in the packing and hipping process. Now that you know some of the highest areas of damage in packaging you can make more predictable, long-term cost saving decisions for your company.
Addressing material handling is one of the easiest ways to decrease worker comp claims on your floor while at the same time increasing productivity and morale. Liberty Mutual’s 2022 statistics ranks “Overexertion involving outside sources” first among the leading cause of disabling injury. This category includes injuries related to lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, and carrying objects and costs businesses nearly $13 BILLION in direct costs, and accounts for 22% of the overall national burden.
Key ergonomic problems include lifting, stacking, bending, reaching, and turning while handling industrial packaging equipment. We work with Southworth Products on material handling equipment which helps with these key motions (plus more). Colony Packaging & Machine lists our top five picks for increasing ergonomics and decreasing injury risk.
Southworth PalletPal 360
If your company is manually palletizing products on pallets this is a great addition.
The PalletPal 360 Spring Pallet Positioner / Level Loader is the original, automatic, self-leveling, spring pallet leveler that makes loading and unloading pallets faster, safer, and easier. The PalletPal 360 is a simple, automatic load leveler which uses a system of springs and shock absorbers to lower and raise loads as boxes are added or removed from pallets. A turntable top allows nearside loading and unloading. No power or air supply is required. Pallet loads up to 4,500lbs can be easily handled by the PalletPal 360 Spring pallet leveler.
Features include:
Self-leveling action no operator adjustments required
Rugged tubular steel frame for loads up to 4,500lbs
Heavy-duty springs calibrated to bring pallet to most convenient height
Proven linkage design maintains level under uneven loading
Dampener providers smooth, gradual raising and lowering, without overshoot or bounce
Low-friction bearing supported turntable for near-side loading and unloading
Phenolic frame cover (optional)
Fork pockets for relocation by fork truck also extend base for free standing stability
Leveling feet (optional) allow use on sloping or uneven floors
Free standing, can be easily relocated by fork truck
Automatically adjusts as boxes are added or removed
Unique spring mechanism requires no electrical power
Works with loads from 400 to 4,500 lbs
Turntable platform spins loads for easy access
Fork pockets for easy relocation
Custom finishes including two-part epoxy corrosion resistant coatings and stainless steel available
Unlike competitive pallet levelers/pallet lifters, the PalletPal 360 spring level loader offers workers complete 360-degree access to loads. All of its custom warehousing components are contained within the diameter of the turntable ring. There are no protrusions, projections, or obstructions, so reach-over zones are eliminated.
Southworth Roll-On Level Loader
When you need a hand pallet jack accessible pallet lifter the Roll-On Level Loader provides easy accessibility. With internal hydraulic power, the PalletPal Roll-On Level Loaders lower to floor height so pallets can be rolled on and off with a hand pallet truck. The lift is then easily adjusted by pushbutton or foot switch control to maintain an ideal height for manual loading and unloading. The narrow side and back panels allow for easy reach over for 4 side access.
The PalletPal Roll-On Level Loader is also available with rotation.
Photo-eye provides toe protection
Platform locks in partially up position to allow relocation by means of a hand pallet truck
Available one-touch auto leveling provides up or down adjustment by a preset increment at the touch of a button
Southworth Pallet Inverter
Rotate a load 180 degrees in less than a minute
If and when a forklift tine rips a bag or a box, the solution used to be to offload the entire stack to access the bad bag pull it out replace it and restack the pallet. Not anymore! The pallet inverter can flip the load in seconds, making swapping broken bags and boxes faster, safer and easier.
With the ability to handle pallet loads measuring up to 48″ x 48″ x 84″ high, the Southworth PalletPal Rotator/Pallet Inverter is a simple, ruggest machine designed to invert entire pallet loads. The pressure adjustable clamping mechanism easily secures loads up to 4,400 lbs and rotates them 180 degrees on a massive anti-friction turret bearing. The PalletPal Pallet Rotator / Pallet Inverter eliminates the need for manually restacking pallets.
Easily replace damaged goods at the bottom of a load
Here are just a few uses:
Replace broken pallets
Switch loads to/from in-house shipping pallets
Transfer from pallets to slip sheets
Replace damaged goods at the bottom of the load
Portable Container Tilters
Manual loading and unloading of wire baskets, containers, and Gaylords may lead to incidents of upper and lower back injuries. E-Z Reach Portable Tilters have casters that allow them to pick up staged containers and move them to the work cell. Baskets can be tilted up to 85 degrees to allow easy access to parts. E-Z Reach Portable Container Tilters are available in 2,000 and 4,000 lbs capacities and feature 12 Volt DC power and a built-in charger (AC power is available). Choose a fork-over design (PTU model container tilter) for containers with open bottoms or straddle design (SPTU model container tilter) for containers with reinforcing bars or closed bottoms.
Lifter / Transporters
Lifting and carrying items from stockrooms, onto shelving, or into production areas can be a source of injury and product damage. Lifters are available in powered form for frequent elevation changes or with foot pump actuation for infrequent elevation changes.
The Dandy Lift line of manual foot pump lift tables/lift carts has set the standard for quality and longevity in portable lift tables for over 30 years. With several models to choose from there’s a Dandy Lift Portable Lift Table for every application. The battery powered units have high speed linear actuators, and the Dandy Leveler is self leveling by automatically adjusting the platform height as items are added or removed. Southworth has options for more heavy duty use like the Backsaver Lite Portable Scissor Lift Tables with manual or powered traverse, PalletPal mobile levelers and Pallet Lift (high lift pallet trucks/skid lifters). Wherever lifting, positioning, assembling, stacking, unstacking, transporting or the need for an adjustable height work surface is a part of the job lift tables are essential.
What types of material handling equipment do you use on your floor? Our industrial packaging supplies company is here to help do a safety audit and recommend appropriate additions. Oftentimes, insurance companies can offer their customers safety grants to purchase equipment/supplies that focus on safety-related improvements. Ask your HR or Safety Department for more information.
Colony’s Service Team (L-4) Ryan Farley, Marj Hutchinson, Pete Brownell, Mike Stoppard, and Josh Miller
We are pleased to announce the expansion of our equipment repair and service department. Pete Brownell is now our Automation and Equipment Specialist while Josh Miller is stepping up as our Service Manager. This change will allow Colony Packaging & Machine to continue to expand our service capabilities by implementing new value-added programs for our customers including in-house battery operated strapping hand tool repair, increased planned maintenance offerings, custom warehousing, package conversion, and our promise to deliver within our service windows. Pete and Josh will work hand-in-hand with our customers and in-house service technicians to provide excellent solutions and service.
What hasn’t changed? Our expert knowledge on packaging equipment, packaging line upgrades and implementations, and our fast response times to downed equipment. As one of the top packaging suppliers, we’re excited for this change as we continue to invest in our 10,000 square foot demo space filled with top-of-the-line solutions including our learning center classroom for group trainings. We also continue to offer discounted service rates and faster response times when you buy the consumable item which matches the machine. For instance, if you buy the stretch film that matches the stretch wrapper you’ll be given our Priority Plus Service Package.
Our industrial packaging company is here for all of your on-premise demos, brainstorming packaging sessions, and competitive quotes. We’ve been in the business for 60 years and have the case studies and experience to back it up. Check out one of our latest case studies in partnership with Orion – a leading stretch wrapper manufacturer. Orion said, “Colony’s strengths within packaging are recommending the right equipment and options tailored to specific applications, as well as equipment repair and support, on-demand converting, and prompt customer service.”
Ready to set-up a new call regarding your automation plans? Email us at contactus@colonypackaging.com to get started or contact your salesperson directly while mentioning this post.
Battery operated hand strapping tools are one of the most common industrial packaging equipment and productivity boosters we see at customer locations. It is easily implemented and operators see the benefits instantly. But, for a manager who may not be in tuned to the benefits the face value might seem hard to justify. Let’s take a look at what we see out in the field across warehouses.
The Application
When companies ask our industrial packaging company to evaluate their production lines for areas of improvement the first thing we ask in strapping scenarios is how often a load is being strapped or bundled per hour, what size is the load, and what is being strapped. This tells us if there is room for increased productivity and safety and what solutions can bring those goals to fruition
Frequency of Strapping
If a customer is hand strapping a load more than two times an hour or strapping a load has become cumbersome for operators due to the physical effort involved it is time to look at a battery operated hand tool. We have even seen customers that can’t keep buckles in stock or use so many of them that battery operated strapping tools save costs overall from decreased downtime and a decrease in material costs.
Mobility Considerations
When hand strapping loads mobility is always key. Whether an operator is going down a line, traveling across the work area, or staying in a centralized spot the ability to work around the load is considered. Battery operated hand tools allow operators more flexibility on the production floor and are easily calibrated to the item being strapped.
The Price
On average our customers get a positive ROI within a couple months of purchase due to eliminated buckle costs and increased productivity. We also see an increase in morale amongst operators. Lastly, operations managers are able to work cross-functionally with their safety departments in a meaningful way to highlight the addition as a positive safety protocol for less recordables. Oftentimes customers can apply for grants through their insurance providers to pay for equipment like this as well.
Colony Packaging & Machine offers a large array of battery powered strapping tools and strapping machinery. Our team looks at your overall goals, budget, and production floor setup to recommend solutions to meet your overall expectations. Check out our options here and read more about strapping here.
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 have lent itself well as Colony Packaging & Machine navigates the future and recommends alternative packaging solutions. Fluctuations in pricing continue and lead times across industries shift at any given time, but these alternatives can help you think more creatively and broadly about your packaging applications to give you back power in the sourcing and decision-making process. Here are some of our top THIS or THAT options – packaging edition.
Strapping OR Bundling Stretch Film, Titanium Stretch Film
Titanium stretch film is a top-rated banded stretch film to help with ultra-heavy loads. This film can replace certain types of strapping for hard to manage loads.
When it comes to bundling products or strapping uniform skids modern stretch film can be a key alternative. Bundling stretch film comes in high gauges and is a compact, easy substitute to strapping. Similarly, we offer a high strength stretch film which is newer to the market. This titanium stretch film has heavier bands that create a strapping-like retention to the pallet which creates a stable load for shipping. Customers who have tested this film admit they haven’t seen anything like it on the marketplace.
Corrugated Cartons OR Mailers & Branded Mailers
Between our in-house carton stock, drop ship program, and custom box capabilities we offer a large range of solutions for customers seeking out shipping boxes. However, as e-commerce continues to boom many top packaging suppliers offer products in ready-to ship boxes that could be slipped into a mailer versus additional corrugated boxes. Mailers can be custom printed similarly to boxes while avoiding UPS and FedEx DIM weight hang-ups. Plus, many options come pre-padded with bubble or paper to add an extra level of protection during the shipping process.
Printed Cartons OR Printed Tape
The growth in e-commerce sales has exploded the custom printed tape industry.
Higher minimums for printed cartons can sometimes get in the way of budgets and space. Consider instead printed water activated or packaging tape to get your box brand-ready. Another consideration? Low-volume case sealer is available at affordable prices to guarantee appropriate tape placement and predictable, consistent tape usage giving you better forecasting for shipping costs.
Custom Labels OR Printing on Demand
Marking and coding equipment has come a long way and the MPERIA series from Matthews allows for custom printed messages up to multi-inch height on demand by production line all maintained by one controller. Yes, one controller for a full plant of production lines and multiple printing needs (we are offering free demos now, just contact us). Custom labels are a great resource for consistent messaging but for co-packers or companies looking to change out messaging quickly the downtime of changing out partial rolls can be cumbersome, wasteful, and overall a bad deal. Similarly, this can be a great option for companies that need to change dating, nutritional components, or other legally-driven information on the fly without wasting pre-printed labels.
EPS OR Hexacomb
More customers have approached us in recent years seeking a recyclable, compostable alternative to foam cushioning. Our answer has consistently been hexacomb. Hexacomb can be manufactured or scored on the floor to custom fit products being shipped. Similar to EPS, hexacomb can come with right-sized wells within the framework to create the best fit possible for products. EPS is still a top option and one we recommend often, but we recognize some companies are looking for a more sustainable-option to get them in line with their customer expectations and this is it.
Wooden Crates OR Ecorrcrates
Versatile, safe, and strong – ecorrcrates are a perfect substitute for heavy, cumbersome wooden crates.
We’ve talked about them before, and we’ll continue talking about them because they are just that great. Ditching the wooden crates has saved our customers time, resources, and potential workers’ comp claims. Forget the nails, tools and heavy lifting – plus your end user will be thanking you when they don’t waste valuable time opening and discarding the crate. Ecorrcrates are giving customers the durability they need without sacrificing shippablity domestically or internationally. Ecorrcrates can be custom made by shipment or modular for small-piece combined shipping. The possibilities are endless. We take your product to the design lab for maximum benefit. Plus. Ecorrcrates deliver flat and compact to you with easy set-up to save space before use. There is no losing when it comes to Ecorrcrates.
Manual loading and unloading of wire baskets, containers, and Gaylords may lead to incidents of upper and lower back injuries. 
The Dandy Lift line of manual foot pump lift tables/lift carts has set the standard for quality and longevity in portable lift tables for over 30 years. With several models to choose from there’s a Dandy Lift Portable Lift Table for every application. The battery powered units have high speed linear actuators, and the Dandy Leveler is self leveling by automatically adjusting the platform height as items are added or removed. Southworth has options for more heavy duty use like the 
