Liberty Intercept Blog

We can talk about better packaging, shipping and storage, and decreased carbon footprint any day. It’s summer, and I’d like to share something different, a more personal story:

My wife and I were on one of my favorite beaches recently, Nantasket Beach in Hull, MA.  My fondness is based not only on memories of lifeguarding Nantasket in the mid to late 70s, but also because it’s a public beach where on any given hot day, thousands of sunbathers will visit, so it has a bit of a honky tonk edge.  You can people-watch all day long at Nantasket, observing all sorts of characters and the interplay between fellow sun worshipers.

I had the opportunity to hear the vice president of a major computer company speak about reliability and the tactics they use to achieve increased product reliability.  Because human nature strives to keep things the same and views change as uncomfortable, he emphasized that the change process was long and arduous. This VP was brought in like the new sheriff arriving in Dodge City. It was apparent he had complete executive support to change this company’s operation and design systems; in doing so he would enact a change in its culture. It worked famously. Their return has been extraordinary; they achieved tremendous increases in product reliability which led to lowered cost of goods on every level of the corporation and a stronger reputation amongst their customers.

Manufacturers looking to contain costs often consider outdoor storage for unused items: large machinery and vehicles are often stored outdoors so precious warehouse space can be reserved for other items. With the right packaging, outdoor storage is the perfect cost-saving solution for many companies.

Having worked with Intercept Technology protective plastic packaging for 15 years, one of the many benefits we depict about the Intercept product line is that it does not contain volatiles. Intercept packaging is volatile free. This emphasis is important, in part, to differentiate Intercept from common corrosion protection packaging materials that do use volatiles.  Reading a recent article on the pollution sources of our lakes and streams was a revelation and provided impetus to explain:  what is the significance of the term “volatile free”; what’s the big deal?

"The food packaging industry can make a valuable contribution to reducing the wastage of food. Appropriate packaging strategies help to protect food along the value chain and to make food available to more people. Packaging preserves food, protects it from physical damage and temperature influences and makes it transportable.” At the recent Interpack 2011 trade event in Dusseldorf, Germany Christian Traumann, president of the event and chief financial officer of Multivac, acknowledged the issue of food waste as one of the most pressing problems we face worldwide.

When manufacturers first learn of the benefits of Intercept Technology™ Packaging, they have questions about which form of Intercept will work best in their manufacturing or storage facility, or for shipping their parts or products.

There's much experimentation going on in the packaging world. Focus on the environment and sustainability requires reworks, better materials, and enhanced features in retail and industrial packaging to ensure the highest freshness and viability of products during shipping, storage, and in use.

We spent three days on the trade show floor at EASTEC 2011 last week and had a blast. EASTEC is hosted by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and is the largest manufacturing trade show on the East Coast. It was the most fun I've ever had at an event like this. Our philosophy on trade shows is that attendees are there to learn about new products, machinery, techniques, and procedures. We, as an exhibitor, are there to ask questions of those who may have challenges with corrosion or ESD and want a new oil-free and environmentally safe solution with packaging.

The US Military has packaging specifications to which companies packing products for military use, if so designated in their contract, should adhere.  The central document is the MIL-STD-20731E Standard Practice for Military Packaging.  This 183 page document has a great deal of information for contractors to follow, including definitions such as what is reusable, what is consumable, how to prepare the product for packaging, marking, etc.  The 2073 document also includes the methods on how to package.  For instance, Method 41 – “Watervaporproof bag, heat sealed. The item, preserved, wrapped, and cushioned as required in 5.2.3.6, shall be enclosed in a close fitting heat sealed bag conforming to MIL-DTL-117, Type I, Class E, Style 1, 2 or 3; or Type I, Class F, Style 1; or Type II, Class E, Style 1. (Note: For electrostatic protection refer to 5.2.4.1.)”. 

Choosing good packaging can save manufacturers of equipment, metals, machinery, electronics, parts, optics, and other items time, space, labor expense, reworks, waste, and money. And it can increase quality and reliability. Good packaging can be the difference between disposing of your entire product before the end of its expected life, or installing a few well protected replacement parts and enjoying the use of your product for its full life. Properly packaged small parts or large machinery can sit on shelf or even in outdoor storage for months or years until needed. If I'm being honest (to quote Simon Cowell) isn't it really all about money?