See interview with Kate Putnam, President of Package Machinery, in which she discusses how she acquired and runs her company in Women on Business July 18, 2010.

Kate Putnam indicates what motivates her in running Package Machinery, how she got where she is and what she sees going forward, in an interview by George O’Brien of Business West in March 2010,

Our President Katherine Putnam was quoted in The Springfield Republican 2010 Outlook on February 14, 2010. Here is a link to the article. In it she speaks about how many consumer products companies were unwilling to invest in new wrapping machines due to the economy in 2009.

West Springfield, MA –January 12, 2008 – Package Machinery Co., Inc. today announced the appointment of executive and management consultant Patricia Reinhardt to its Board of Directors.  Package Machinery Inc. is a manufacturer of wrapping machinery for consumer products manufacturers and is certified as women-owned by Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

“We are pleased to welcome Patricia Reinhardt to our Board of Directors,” said Katherine Putnam, Package Machinery Inc.’s President.  “She is a highly experienced executive who has significant business knowledge. We look forward to working with her to strengthen our organization and drive strong growth in the wrapping sector.”

Reinhardt is Managing Partner of Reinhardt-Lippincott & Co. a company that redefines and strengthens the financial base of small to mid-size companies facing financial and operating issues due to either rapid growth or an unanticipated decline in revenues.

Prior, Reinhardt served as Managing Director of DRS Capital, LLC, a private equity fund, CEO of Digi-Block, Inc., an educational products company, and President of BOTEC Analysis Corporation, a firm which focused on economic analyses of public policy issues.

She has Master’s Degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Mary Washington. She is additionally on the Board of Directors of KLD Analytics, Inc. She is also an active member of The Boston Club.

Package Machinery is the leading manufacturer of all servo, high speed overwrapping machinery for consumer products applications. The company was the first in wrapping machinery to create an all-servo machine and offers machinery from the semi-automatic, entry level Wrapster to the high speed FA-ST. To learn more about the company and its capabilities go to http://www.packagemachinery.com.

The Boston Globe, “Hospital trustees shift their focus to medical safety.”

Industry Week, The Changing Faces Of The Workplace

Industry Buzzing Over New Wrapster

Chicago, IL - Package Machinery Company, Inc is excited to announce the release of its new WRAPSTER semi-automatic wrapping solution to the marketplace. Customers can get a glance of this new wrapping innovation at PACK EXPO, Chicago 2006.

Designed to replace hand wrapping, the Wrapster reduces the need to hire large temporary or seasonal workforces without the large capital outlay required for fully automatic wrapping machines. One worker can easily and efficiently “cello or gift” wrap 300-400 cartons per hour using either unregistered BOPP film or standard size rolls of gift wrap paper.

“Market interest has been very strong across all industry segments!” notes Jonathan Viens, National Sales & Marketing Manager at Package. “There is nothing else like it on the market. We conceived, designed, and priced the Wrapster with entry level users, co-packers, and those with small production runs in mind.”
Customers can choose from 2 machine frame sizes that accommodate everything from small cosmetics boxes, media products, and confectionery boxes to large gift basket boxes. “We’ve spent the past year refining the machine design with our Beta test customers,” adds Viens. “The wrap quality is exceptional. More importantly, you will see savings of up to 50% per wrap versus shrink wrap.”

Savings and wrap quality aren’t the only keys to the Wrapster’s market momentum. The machine handles a variety of sizes and comes with a standard kit of size parts. “It’s tremendously versatile and super easy to changeover,” sites Wrapster inventor John Bernet, “Size parts aren’t an issue. You can even gift wrap department store shirt boxes on the larger model.”

The WRAPSTER supplements PACKAGE’s growing line of new, hi-tech, and easy to use wrapping equipment including the industry leading FA-ST Servo wrapper. Launched in 2001, the FA-ST is the first all servo tuck and fold overwrapper on the market, featuring 35% fewer components than competing mechanical wrappers and offers 5 minute changeovers with throughput rates up to 150 boxes per minute.

“Our goal is to be the Wrapper of Choice in North America,” adds Katherine Putnam, Package President. “Customers have been asking us for a simple, affordable, entry level overwrapper and we want them to know; we heard you loud and clear!”

For more information on the Wrapster or other wrapping solutions, please contact sales@packagemachinery.com.

Joint Press Release

Econocorp Inc. Randolph, MA and Package Machinery Co. Inc. West Springfield, MA

Two Massachusetts companies, both members of the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute, were awarded training grants by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for lean education. Econocorp, Inc and Package Machinery Company, Inc. were recently awarded $50,000 and $20,000 respectively from the State to support a comprehensive lean training program.

“Both our companies will be using the grants for a lean manufacturing training program to eliminate waste in our respective production efforts,” notes Mark Jacobson, vice president of Econocorp Inc. “We’ll have our own tailored training program to meet our unique manufacturing needs.” Katherine Putnam, President of Package Machinery Company Inc of West Springfield adds, “And we can send our employees to each other’s sites since our training will be complementary.

Econocorp and Package Machinery will be working with the Greater Boston Manufacturing Partnership (GBMP), a Massachusetts-based program that is based at U-Mass Boston, to deliver a full array of lean enterprise training to all employees of both companies. “GBMP made the grant application process simple and convenient,” says Jacobson.

“GBMP is walking us through all aspects of lean manufacturing including helping us focus our efforts on areas that will benefit each of us most, as well as training our people,” adds Putnam. “They have a strong process that will keep us on track as we tackle the opportunity of changing how we produce our machines and create cost savings from our current processes.”

To support this effort, both companies applied for grants through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is a matching fund grant. The match is made in terms of the employees’ time and normal compensation and the grant must be used over a period of two years.

“The single most important advice I can impart to any company looking to do something similar is this: DO IT!” exclaims Jacobson.

“I learned about the GBMP from work we’ve done in the past with the New England Trade Adjustment Assistance Center,” adds Putnam. ” I really respect how helpful and thorough GBMP has been throughout the process. Last year, we were approved through NETAAC to receive grant money in support of some product development, process improvement and marketing efforts we needed to help us improve our competitive position. We will be working with the NETAAC grant, which matches every dollar we spend, for the rest of this year and into 2007. This has been a great start for any company looking for both state and Federal programs to help it develop and be more competitive.”

Econocorp Inc of Randolph MA is a recognized worldwide leader in cartoning and casepacking for moderate and lower production volumes.

Package Machinery of West Springfield MA is a manufacturer of custom wrapping machinery for consumer products companies. Having been first to market with an all servo wrapping machine, it is a global leader in wrapping technology and is certified as women-owned by WBENC.

To learn more about these companies, contact:
Mark Jacobson at 781.986.7500 mark@econocorp.com, or
Katherine Putnam at 413.732.4000 kputnam@packagemachinery.com

Katherine E. Putnam elected to board of packaging industry association

West Springfield, MA - Package Machinery Company Inc. is pleased to announce that its President Katherine E. Putnam has been elected to serve a four year term as a director of the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute, effective January 1, 2005. Package joined the PMMI in 2000. Putnam currently serves on its Global Marketing committee and has served since 2002.

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) is a trade association whose more than 500 members manufacture packaging and packaging-related converting machinery in the United States and Canada. PMMI’s vision is to be the leading global resource for packaging. Its mission is to improve and promote members’ abilities to meet the needs of their customers. Learn more about PMMI and its programs by visiting the PMMI Web site.

Package is a global technology leader in the manufacture of wrapping machinery for consumer products and has patented its machine design. Customers include major consumer products companies in North America. Package is certified as a women-owned business by WBENC. For more information about Package and its products, visit http://www.packagemachinery.com.

Putnam has been president of Package for nine years. She also serves on the boards of Baystate Health System, Associated Industries of Massachusetts and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. She is also a member of the Women Presidents Organization, The Commonwealth Institute and the Boston Club.

Putnam lives with her husband and children in Whately, Massachusetts.

For more information, contact:
Katherine Putnam, Package Machinery Tel 413.732.4000 x100
Email: kputnam@packagemachinery.com, or
Sara Kryder, PMMI Manager of Communications Tel: (703) 243-8555 E-mail: sara@pmmi.org

Package Machinery Company, Inc. Receives Certification for Women’s Business Enterprise National Council

May 30, 2001, West Springfield, MA - Package Machinery Company, Inc. has received certification from the National Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBENC), a national organization dedicated to enhancing opportunities for women’s business enterprises in America’s major business markets. WBENC offers a thorough, standardized national certification process for businesses owned and operated by women. Through its Internet database of certified firms, WBENCLink, corporations and government agencies can find women-owned and operated firms from which to purchase goods and services.

“I’m very proud that Package has received certification,” said Katherine E. Putnam, President. “It means we are part of a network of companies that are helping to open new doors for women in business. It expands our horizons for contracts for our business. WBENC is a national leader in promoting diversity and best practices in corporate America. We are the first company in western Massachusetts to be granted such certification.”
WBENC also conducts training programs for its organizational partners, conducts surveys on important issues concerning women’s business ownership, and designs and implements comprehensive research projects aimed at expanding supplier diversity programs. The organization annually compiles a list of top corporations supporting women-owned businesses in purchasing.

Package Machinery Company, Inc. is a manufacturer of plastic and paper wrapping and bagging machinery for food and other consumer products. The Company supports existing machinery with parts, service, technical advice, and provides rebuilds of machinery made by its predecessor company going back to its origins in 1913. Its customers include most major consumer products companies as well as many regional consumer products manufacturers. “Many of our larger customers have supplier diversity programs which we hope will open doors to new business,” said Ms. Putnam.

Package Machinery Company, Inc. is also a member of the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), a major trade association for packaging machinery manufacturers. Its predecessor company was one of the founding members of the PMMI. The Company has been headquartered at 380 Union Street, West Springfield, MA since 1996 when it moved from Connecticut. The original company was headquartered first in Springfield MA until 1947 and then in East Longmeadow MA until 1986. Ms. Putnam, a resident of Whately MA, is the successor to her grandfather and great grandfather at Package.

For more information, please contact Katherine E. Putnam, President at 413.732.4000 x 100 or visit the following web sites.

Package Machinery Company, Inc.
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
Center for Women and Enterprise
Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute