News
| Date: |
August
1, 2004
For Immediate Release |
| Contact: |
Jerry
Meier, Vice President (414) 362-8247
For Additional Information |
Paper
Machinery Corporation Introduces the Revolutionary
Barrier Plus™
Container, the First Ever Pre-printed Plastic Convolute
Container
Milwaukee, WI, August 9, 2004 – Paper Machinery
Corporation, a leader in package forming and converting
machinery, has just launched the first commercial
application of the Barrier Plus™ container
in collaboration with ProCal. Barrier Plus is the
brand name for PMC's development of a pre-printed
plastic container formed on PMC Machinery. ProCal,
a manufacturing company based in South Gate California,
is utilizing this revolutionary technology to produce
their PicturePot™
containers for the garden and nursery market.
 Looking
for an innovative solution to meet growing demands
for its herb, vegetable and flower pots, ProCal
has distinguished its range of products from anything
else in the market with PMC's Barrier Plus?
container. This is a first-of-its-kind development
of a preprinted, polypropylene container formed
from a flat sheet by anyone. The result is an increased
production of pots that offer a proven mix of barrier,
affordability and printability.
“Until Barrier Plus, printing, die-cutting
and convolute forming of preprinted polypropylene
has not been achievable. Modifying the polypropylene
material was necessary for what has traditionally
been achievable on PMC machinery with polyethylene-coated
paperboard,” said Jerry Meier, vice president
of PMC. “This is truly a technological breakthrough
with clear advantages over paperboard as well as
thermoforming or injection molding of plastics.”
“The difference between the Barrier Plus
technology and our old manufacturing process is
comparable to the performance of a Model T versus
a Ferrari,” said Gary Vollers, ProCal’s
president. “Assembling the quality, pre-printed
pots from a flat sheet has enabled us to reach the
highest production rate with the best product in
our 20-year history.” In April 2004, ProCal
installed the PMC 1002P machine, which runs at 200
cpm for pot sizes ranging from six ounces to 32
ounces. The PMC 1300P, which forms pots at 110 cpm
for sizes 32 ounces to 120 ounces will ship in early
summer.
Since ProCal pots are used to grow and transport
plants, as well as maintain their presentation for
retail, one of the most significant aspects of the
Barrier Plus container are the holes punched inline
into the sidewall and the bottom. This design provides
drainage for excess water and facilitates air circulation,
which is critical in maintaining healthy robust
plants. For other products, the polypropylene material
provides or can be modified to achieve unbeatable
protection against moisture and gas absorption.
“Customer response to the new containers
has been unbelievably positive, and the feedback
tells us that our pots are better than anything
else on the market,” said Vollers. He continued,
“Since replacing our equipment and upgrading
technology to Barrier Plus, we’ve significantly
increased production with the same number of employees.”
According to Meier, Barrier Plus offers customers
several value-added features. The plastic sheet
is considerably thinner than the sheet used for
thermoforming. It has significant amounts of minerals
added which also reduces the plastic cost. At a
production speed of 200 containers per minute, the
PMC forming machine produces containers more economically
and utilizes less costly tooling than other forms
of plastic technology.
In addition to the greater productivity and production
economics, the Barrier Plus technology has given
ProCal’s PicturePots a distinct advantage
in marketing. Plants today are merchandised by large
all-purpose retailers like Home Depot, Lowes and
WalMart. These retailers can now build loyality
through brand recognition. ProCal is using the high
quality graphics produced by Barrier Plus technology
to build this brand recognition.
Picture Pots feature quality graphic reproduction
with easy to read, easy to find information. This
strengthens the communication throughout the grower
to retail cycle. Growers know which pots to use,
merchants know whether to display in sun or shade
and consumers know the description of the plants
purchased. The little descriptive sticks, which
are always lost or the printed plastic tags laboriously
wrapped around a plant’s branch, are no longer
needed.
“As we continue to market this innovative
technology, our customers don’t need to spend
more money for increased value and quality,”
said Meier. “Barrier Plus allows us to aid
their efficiency and profitability with a revolutionary
and patentable solution to plastic’s printing
challenges.”
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