Recently we were asked to evaluate a consumer product that was flow wrapped for overwrap. We carefully undid the wrapping, so that we could see how much material was being used to flow wrap. We laid that film out flat against what we cut to do the overwrap; then we measured the difference.  The difference in square inches was 14% less for the overwrap. That means a 14% film savings over the life of the machine.

We then went on to look at the case pack. Because the excess film took up so much space in the box, there was an extra inch along one side of the box. We cannot do the calculation of what that might mean over a pallet load but we believe that one inch might be huge when looked at over a truck load, or many truck loads. We see sustainability written all over it.

Flow wrapping is a great choice for airtight sealing. You can use clear or printed film and have a total barrier seal. Some candy companies have switched to flow wrapping their candy bars because the candy lasts longer in vending machines.

So what is flow wrapping? Think of a tight fitting bag that your product is slide into and sealed. That is not quite how it happens but that is the net effect. The product ends up with tails and flap of long seam on the back/bottom. For larger products, there is also a tucking action that makes the flow wrap conform better to the product, like a gusseted bag.

Overwrap, like a neatly wrapped gift, is not as complete a barrier wrap, since it uses a tuck and fold to more tightly hug the product with sealing centered on the bottom seam and the tuck and fold, but it commonly considered to be a more attractive wrap.

Flow wrap and overwrap both use polypropylene film (BOPP) to create the wrap. Both can use printed film. Overwrap offers the versatility of wrapping with other materials such as paper, waxed paper or cellophane.

We cannot be sure that every package would show this difference in film consumption, but we now know that there are opportunities for material savings between flow wrap and overwrap.

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

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