It’s not that far off.  Have you seen California’s new labor regulation addressing “assistive animals” in the workplace?  The regulation has been broadened to permit “other” animals (other than dogs) that provide emotional or other support.  The regulation specifically states that;

“a) “Assistive animal” means a trained animal, including a trained dog, necessary as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability.”  Read More

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It was the third time since 2010 that such a bill has stalled in the Legislature amid heavy lobbying by the plastics industry.  Read More

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Here are the top five things to consider when ordering Poly Liners:

1.  Does the product inside require a certified packaging material

• FDA, USDA, USP certified poly packaging

2.  Does the product have sharp edges? 

• A thicker gauge may be required
• A thinner gauge may offer a more economical solution.

3.  What external environments affect the film type needed?

• Cold storage (frozen application)
• Outdoor storage (UVA protection)
• Dust reduction or electro-static environments (Anti-Stat )
• Other?

 4.  Do you need printed Poly Liners?

• Warning labels
• Product labels

   5.  Are different color films or opacities required?

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Kyle spent 17 years working for a custom chocolate manufacturer in Southern California.  Kyle started as a Production Manager and after perfecting his skills on the factory floor, moved into Sales.  He progressed from Inside Sales, Outside Sales and to Sales Management.   Kyle brings an ability to learn and understand his customers’ needs.  He also has the unique ability to understand the complexity of the manufacturing process and how it impacts the customer experience.

While we’d love to say that Kyle loves long walks on the beach, puppies and sunsets, his true interests lie in Football, Golf and Tennis.  You could say he is an avid sports enthusiast, particularly when the Buffalo Bills are playing.  Having been born and raised near Niagara Falls, NY, he claims to have the ultimate buffalo hot wings recipe.  We are eagerly waiting to learn more about that!

Please join us in welcoming Kyle Swick as our new Outside Sales Representative.

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Hue spent 13 years in the food processing industry at a custom chocolate manufacturer in Southern California.  Her time was split between the Graphic Design department and the Accounting department.  The blend of these two skill sets gives Hue the perfect background to tackle the challenges of the Workflow/ Pre-Op position.

Hue has a wealth of interests and talents.  She has been known to whip up a little Tchaikovsky on the violin from time to time.  And we hear there is a great peanut butter chocolate brownie just waiting to be baked…

Welcome Hue!

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For many years, the lightweight, synthetic product was hailed as the great solution to  non-renewable natural products like wood, ore and stone.  It has given us an alternative to hunting animals and chopping down trees.  The lighter weight of plastics also helps reduce carbon footprint during transportation.

Today, the challenge is not whether plastics should be banned.  It is a redirection of attitude.  Each of us must assume the responsibility of properly using and recycling our plastic products.  In doing so, we can get back to appreciating the true brilliance of a product that has and will continue to change our lives for the better.

Read article

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As a result of the increase in theft, store owners’ costs are rising.  The cost of lost product as well as the cost to add security efforts and staff all contribute negatively to their bottom line.  “The reusable bags require staff to watch much more closely, and even though the store has a loss-prevention officer and more than a dozen security cameras, it’s tough to tell what a customer has paid for and what they may already have brought with them.”

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• Know how your product will look in the retail environment.  Failing to do so may result in your key message being missed.  For example if you put your main messaging on the top of your packaging expecting it to be hung, but then realize the products are being arranged in an unexpected position, your attention grabber is essentially gone.

• Be specific with your graphic designer.  If you already have a concept in mind, give as many details and examples as possible.  If you don’t, your designer may think he/she has free reign to go any direction they want.  Ultimately your graphic designer’s goal is to make you artwork that both makes you happy and keeps your branding consistent.

• Monitor your competition’s packaging.  If 60% of the products surrounding your product have blue packaging, it’s probably not a good idea to have blue packaging yourself.  Keeping an eye on your competition will allow you to be aware of potential areas to take advantage of.

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Step 2:  Once the rolls of film arrive from the extrusion department, a single roll is loaded onto the machine and the tension is adjusted.

Step 3:  After once cycle is complete, the worker cuts a sample piece to analyze color accuracy.  Color accuracy is confirmed by looking at the sample through a light box, which emits a special lighting setup that has been adopted as an industry standard.  The colors are then studied by other workers in the printing department and a consensus is reached

Step 4:  Workers are constantly monitoring the accuracy of the artwork throughout the entire job order.  Since the machines run at an accelerated rate, it is difficult to detect deficiencies with the naked eye.  To accommodate for this challenge, workers look through a scanner, which uses a series of mirrors to slow down the rate at which the film is traveling.

Step 5:  A sample is taken from the end of every roll and inspected through the light box to verify there are no color deviations from roll-to-roll.

Step 6:  Once the entire order has been printed, the rolls of film are delivered to either the shipping department or converting department for the next phase of the production process.

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Flexographic Printing

Flexographic (flexo) printing is one of two primary printing methods.  Colors are applied in a series of stages, one color per stage.  Each stage has a series of cylinders, rollers, a doctor blade, and ink tray.  The maximum number of colors is limited to the amount of stages on each particular machine.  Great American Packaging owns and operates two printing presses.  One press can print up to 4 colors and the other can print up to 6.

GAP Supports Flexographic Printing

In process printing, every image is composed of four overlapping layers.  Each layer represents a single value of cyan, magenta, yellow, or black.  When these four colors/layers are combined, virtually any color can be created.

The primary difference between flexographic and process printing is the limitation of colors.  Flexographic printing DOES NOT allow for two colors to overlap and create additional values whereas process printing DOES have that capability.  In other words, once the colors have been established for artwork running on a flexographic printing press, those are the only colors that can be applied.

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To complicate the matter, there are many different color models that computers use to interpret colors.  The above example is showing orange using the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color model.  Another color model, such as CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black), may read the same shade of orange as “(0, 0.6, 1, 0).”  A third color model, such as PMS (Pantone Color Matching System) will translate the same color as “PMS 1585.”

This is an important concept to learn because we only support the PMS color model.  Every artwork file we receive, we must identify the PMS value of each color in the document.

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If you are looking for an internship solely to receive a few school credits and move on, please do not apply.  We are only looking for serious candidates who want to learn our products and grow their career skillset.  This position is ideal for someone who is recently graduated or is their senior year of college.

Details:

• Reports to the Director of Marketing
• Compensation is $10/hr
• Time Commitment is 20-25 hours per week.

Responsibilities

• Assist in all aspect of brand creation and market strategy.
• Assist in copy writing, central messaging, positioning, web content and social marketing initiatives
• Develop online video library including filming, editing, and posting online videos.
• Ongoing research and online marketing projects as assigned
• Support Great American Packaging’s marketing team with day-to-day efforts.

Requirements

• Strong web, social media, and online interactive experience
• Willingness to learn a new industry
• Experience with creating & posting online videos
• Interest in online marketing
• A plus- Degree in Marketing with a focus in online marketing
• Experience with Microsoft Office, especially Excel
• Strong research and analytical skills 
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

Bonus

• Knowledge of Photoshop and/or Illustrator a big plus
• Interviewing skills
• SEO experience

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Understanding the difference between stock and custom poly bags

When you type “poly bags” into a search engine, you’re likely to receive a mix of both custom poly bag suppliers and stock suppliers.  Companies typically specialize in one or the other, however some do sell both.

Stock poly bag suppliers make large quantities of plain common sizes for customers who simply need the bare essentials.  These are usually the cheapest option, but hardly offer any flexibility for customization.  Another positive is they can typically be ordered in small quantities if needed.  While there are plenty of quality stock bags on the market, be aware that there are a lot of poor ones as well.  Poly bags are like any other product; you get what you pay for.

Custom poly bags are at the other end of the spectrum.  They provide incredible flexibility for sizing, branding, styles, and printing.  They are specially designed for organizations who intend on becoming a competitive brand in their respective industry.    Furthermore, custom poly bag manufacturers have more ability to create a product that will work for your particular loading method.

Step 1:  What kind of product do you need packaged?

The first question that needs to be answered is what kind of product is being packaged.  It may seem like an obvious thing to consider, but analyzing the type of product will help narrow the vast number of film options, bag styles, and other features.  For example someone looking for industrial film will have different needs than someone looking for retail packaging.  The same can be said for someone in the medical field compared to someone in advertising.  Once you’ve determined the qualities you need in your poly, the road gets a lot simpler.

Step 2:  What kind of film do you need?

Poly is made by heating plastic resin granules into liquid and cooling the material into plastic sheets.  The variation of resin blends, in combination with the variation of film thicknesses, is what determines what film type is appropriate for a particular product.  For example heavy and cloudy industrial film consists of a completely different blend than light and glossy retail packaging.  Differences in plastic films can sometimes be difficult to distinguish with the naked eye.  Fortunately poly bag manufacturers are well equipped to help buyers determine what film is appropriate for nearly any kind of product you can image.

Step 3:  How do need your packaging?

As previously mentioned, poly bag manufactures have to account for a lot of different packaging methods companies use.  Some customers need their poly bags individually cut and boxed while others have specialized packaging equipment that only require rolls of film to be formed and sealed later.  Other popular options include bags on rolls, wicket bags, and quick fill bags.  Determining how you need your packaging is based on what kind of equipment and production environment you have.

Step 4:  What kind of bag style & features do you want?

One of the biggest benefits of custom packaging is the ability to pick from an extraordinary list of options and features.  Two of the most popular bag styles include flat bags and gusset bags.  While flat bags are traditionally the most common bag style, side gusset and bottom gusset bags are popular for their form-fitting nature.  Other features that can be added include headers, handles, zippers, adhesive tape, and tamper-evidence strips.

Step 5:  How do you want to brand your packaging?

The other big advantage of custom packaging is the opportunity to grow your brand with printed poly bags and film.  Many manufacturers have the ability to print in multiple colors and two sides.  Printed packaging is especially important for retail products where standing out amongst competition is paramount.

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Read More

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What are PMS, CMYK, and RGB?

PMS (Pantone Color Matching System) – Supported by GAP

A system of thousands of numbered swatches. Pantone colors are also called “spot” colors.  This is similar to picking paint at the hardware store to paint your walls: You refer to swatches by choose by number and then the color is pre-mixed before application.

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) – NOT Supported by GAP

AKA, full color printing. For every possible shade and color, this process determines the percentages of each of the four colors (CMYK) needed to make that color.  This is then translated into very small dots. The human eye blends these colors together to see the full spectrum of color.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue) – NOT Supported by GAP

RGB is the color system for computer monitors, video, etc. Without going into the science, it is critical to understand that PMS and CMYK are for printed pieces and RGB is for computer applications such as web sites.

How your artwork ends up with particular color model

Color models are chosen during the design process.  For example you may have hired a graphic designer to create marketing collateral in the past.  The designer likely chose the color model based on specific requirements by the printing company.  However our printing presses may have different requirements.  If the designer created the document using CMYK or RGB colors, it will need to be changed to PMS values before we can run it at our plant.

How to identify which color model your artwork uses

The good news is this is a simple fix.  To check if your artwork uses PMS colors, contact any graphic designer and they will be able to tell you after a quick check of the document.  Even if the colors are in the wrong format, your designer will be able to easily convert the colors in Illustrator.

Learn more about our artwork specifications.

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LOS ANGELES – Feb 4, 2012 – Great American Packaging, Inc., a leader in custom poly bag manufacturing, is excited to announce the hiring of Scott Geukens as new Plant Operations Manager.  Geukens will oversee all production departments including extrusion, converting, printing, shipping, purchasing and maintenance.

“We’re really enthused about the experience and leadership Scott is going to bring to our company,” stated Great American Packaging President Bruce Carter.  “He’s proven he can excel in custom manufacturing and possesses all the qualities we were hoping to find.”

Geukens possesses a strong mechanical background and comes to Great American Packaging after serving as Director of Operations for a custom chocolate manufacturer in Southern California. In total he has over 15 years of experience in the chocolate industry.  Other tasks Geukens will lead include shop organization, implementing cost effective systems, and monitoring overall productivity.

About Great American Packaging, Inc.

Great American Packaging has been the premier custom manufacturer of poly plastic bags and poly plastic film since 1966. Located in California they extrude, print and convert all of their products on site. Great American Packaging specializes in plain and printed poly bags and film; ziplock bags, wicket bags, gusset bags, liners, sheeting, tubing, flat bags, handle bags, tamper evident bags, tape bags and pallet covers. They purchase only the highest quality raw materials and maintain stringent controls over the quality of every product that leaves their warehouse. 
 
Great American Packaging offers quick turnaround, rush orders, FDA approved, USDA approved and USPS approved materials. Great American Packaging is constantly looking for better ways to improve their business by introducing new products and growing and developing their team to better serve their customers. 

Press Contact:
Beth Smith

beth@greatampack.com
1-877-289-2247

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Hi Clarity Retail (100% LDPE)   (Ford Mustang)

 Ah, the Ford Mustang.  This All-American vehicle has been one of the most popular high-end consumer sports vehicles for decades.  So what does it have in common with plastic film?  LDPE Hi Clarity Retail film exhibits a lot of the same swag the Mustang has.  The film is known for its great clarity, high gloss, and excellent heat sealability.

Bread Bags (LDPE & LLDPE Blend)    (BMW 3 Series)

 Want a smooth looking luxury car that has some toughness?  Meet the BMW 3 Series.  Want a film that that has great clarity with some added strength?  Meet LDPE & LLDPE.  This is a practical film type ideal for bread bags and other bakery items.

Hi Strength (LLDPE & LDPE Blend)  (Land Rover)

When winter hits, you need a vehicle that can survive the cold temperatures.  Land Rover’s are known to dominate the snow and excel when the environment gets rough.  Hi Strength (LLDPE & LDPE blend) serves the same purpose.  The film is built to survive in the cold while maintaining a clear appearance ideal for retail display.

Industrial Film (Almost 100% LLDPE)    (H1 Hummer)

The H1 Hummer may not be the most attractive piece of equipment on the planet, but any vehicle that’s entrusted by the United States military certainly deserves credit.  Sometimes you just need a film to get the job done without the glitz and glamour.  Industrial film is composed of a blend that manufactured with sheer strength in mind.

Polypropylene  (Porsche 911 Turbo S)

Hot temperatures are not a problem if you have a Porsche 911 Turbo S convertible.  Simply pop down the top and you’re good to go.  Polypropylene film has a high melting point and does an equally effective job for packaging that requires sterilization at high temperatures.

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What are some of the biggest challenges facing the baking industry right now?  How can the industry turn these challenges into opportunities?

Challenge:  “Input costs.  Commodity and energy price volatility should continue due to drought, demand, currency values and other factors.”

Opportunity:  “Large operations can hedge their needs using futures markets or forward contracting from suppliers. Smaller operations can hedge also by purchasing and storing commodities such as butter when prices are at levels that work for them.”

Challenge:  “Healthcare and government regulations. New healthcare and other regulations will affect all businesses potentially increasing costs and creating some challenging employee issues.”

Opportunity:  “It will be important to stay informed about new healthcare and other new regulations in order to be ready to comply and avoid potential fines.”

Challenge:  “Educating consumers and employees is an ongoing challenge.”

Opportunity:  “Consumers need to know the difference in true artisan products as opposed to products with an “artisan” label and know that many breads and other products that do not use whole grains are also healthy.  If artisan bakers are going to charge a premium price, consumers expect a premium product.  Educating employees to produce and sell these products is very important.  We need to inform the consumer of what it takes to make great bread in the manner we do and educate them about why it may cost more than industrially produced bread. Bakers are trying to make a living just like anyone else, and when our supplies increase in cost, we need to pass that on to the consumer.  At times like these, when the consumer is seeing these issues in the national media, it should be easier for us to make our case. The mission of the Bread Bakers Guild of America is to help educate both of these groups.”

Challenge:  “Finding skilled workers, especially at the management level.”

Opportunity:  “We know the schools are full of students but we don’t see those students coming into artisan bakeries.”

How has the baking industry benefited from the internet and social media?

“It has raised awareness of artisan baking and increased the speed in which ideas spread across the country.  A baker in the Northeast can see what someone is doing in California through social media and websites, and be making the same thing in the blink of an eye.  Or they may see something that they would never have known about otherwise and seek out the resources to learn how to do it.  Sometimes this could be an article or blog post on the internet.  Often that resource can be the source, which is now easier to be in touch with than ever.  Many bakeries are using Twitter and Facebook to advertise daily specials and let people know when something new is available and even to let them know that something has just come out of the oven and is for sale in the shop.  It is free advertising for bakeries and provides a welcome service to the clientele.”

What is the most important trend driving the industry forward?

“As far as driving the industry forward, the continued demand for all natural, wholesome food, that is as local as possible is good for artisan bakers.  There are other trends such as whole grains and gluten free, but I wouldn’t say they are driving the industry forward.  They have just expanded the repertoire of what bakers are offering.”

Visit their site  |  Like them on Facebook

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Over the past three years we at Great American Packaging have been diligently working to increase our online presence.  As a mid-size poly bag manufacturer, we certainly know how difficult it is to break through the clutter and compete with larger, more recognized companies.  A lot of other small-to-mid size companies are in the same boat as well.  Here are some lessons we’ve learned through our own trials that may help your effort to establish an online presence:

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• 92% of respondents did not list over-packaging as a concern when giving their unprompted responses.

• Easy-opening packaging is especially important for older age groups.

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Here are a few questions to consider for buyers of frozen application poly film before making a purchase:

How puncture resistant are your freezer bags?

Puncture resistance is a fundamental priority for freezer bags and film.  When food freezes, it can develop hard jagged edges or sharp points.  The strength of newer freezer packaging can reduce the chance of punctures.

How compatible are your freezer bags with my automated packaging system?

Another factor to consider is what kind of sealing window the bags require.  Different types of resin blends can affect the bag’s performance on your automated packaging system.  Quality frozen application poly bags & film have a much larger sealing window.  This means the bags will seal more efficiently resulting in less time monitoring your machines and more money saved from broken seals.

Do your bags protect against cold crack?

Cold crack can happen to low quality freezer bags when they stay in freezing temperatures for an extended period of time.  Newer high-tech blends have done a great job of reducing this issue.  They are much more likely to hold strong and survive for a longer period of time.

How well do your bags hold up when they are dropped?

Dropping a bag with its frozen content is usually a pretty good reflection of the bag’s overall strength and performance.  Freezer bags that don’t break perform much better in a production environment because they don’t need to be collected and repackaged.  Be sure your poly bags are strong enough to hold up.  It can save you time and minimize store credits from broken bags on the retail shelf.

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Step 1:  Measure your product:  First, measure the diameter and height.  In the example above, the diameter is 20” and the height is 30”.

Step 2:  Determine the amount of excess needed for the width and height:  Excess is the amount of extra space added to the packaging’s dimensions to ensure the product fits comfortably inside.  It’s important to balance aesthetics and functionality when determining the appropriate amount of excess.  Products are typically more visually appealing when there is minimal excess.  However it is usually necessary to have excess to keep load times fast.  If you’re unsure about how much excess you need, contact your poly bag manufacturer to receive further consultation.  For this example we are using an excess width of 2” and height of 4”.

Step 3:  Get the circumference:  Calculate the circumference by multiplying the diameter by Pi. 

20 x 3.14 = 62.8” (Circumference)

Step 4:  Get the width:  Calculate the width by dividing the circumference by 2 and adding the excess. 

(62.8”/2) + 2” = 33.4” (Width)

Step 5:  Get the length:  Calculate the length by adding the diameter, height, and excess.

20” + 30” + 4” = 54” (Length)

Final Bag Size:  33.4” x 54”

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The newspaper also referenced a 2011 study conducted by the Environmental Agency of England that compared seven different types of grocery bags.  Conventional bags tested more environmentally friendly in eight of nine categories.  The worst environment abuser proved to be the reusable cotton bag.  The study supports the claim that plastic bag bans are not based on fact.

The study showed that plastic bags are a more economical option for businesses.  Plastic bags are lighter and take up less room during transport than cotton or paper bag reducing the carbon footprint. Additionally, the cost of paper bags is significantly higher than that of plastic bags. An estimated 101 local jobs could be eliminated and annual wages would fall by roughly $18 per worker if grocers were forced to eliminate plastic bags. 

The study is a testament that due diligence must be made a critical part of every legislative decision for the benefit of our environment and our economy.

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What is the biggest misconception about the nutritional value of grain foods?

“It is one of those things that can be hard to isolate, but it’s unfortunate that some consumers feel like eliminating grain products from their diet is healthy.  I think they probably don’t appreciate the nutritional importance of grain in a balanced diet.  That’s probably one of the bigger misconceptions going on today.”

Why do you think there’s a minority trying to discount the health benefits of grain foods?

“I appreciate you recognizing them as a minority because that is very true.  They’re a vocal group and sometimes they appear larger than they really are.  I believe the proponents of some food diets typically advise to stay away from some kinds of foods, or even entire categories of food.  I think these approaches can seem very compelling to consumers who are looking for a silver bullet for quick weight loss when, in fact, there is no silver bullet.  The other trend I see with consumers is they want to feel more included and educated about the production of their food.  This is an opportunity in the industry to show consumers how their values are already being prioritized by food makers and processors.”

In what ways does your organization work with your scientific advisory board?

“We’re really proud of our scientific advisory board.  GFF’s advisory board is composed of various food professionals such as registered dieticians and independent researchers who look into information that consumers crave.  We work with the members of our board to ensure that their research, their papers and their experience is part of the dialogue realm.  We’ve been placed in various publications and do a lot of work with them for these publications as well as other major media outlets.”

What other issues is the Grain Foods Foundation currently dealing with?

“The Grain Foods Foundation has recently relocated to Washington DC.  I’ve been focusing on making sure that our effort to provide science based education of basic nutritional value of grains is fully understood here in the Washington community.  In addition to the work that we are already doing with industry professionals, health nutrition writers and bloggers, we’ve been ramping up our outreach to critical policy makers as well.”

“This move has also provided us with a great opportunity to partner with the Spina Bifida Association.  Through our partnership with them, we have we’ve had access to print public service announcements that reach millions of consumers about the importance of grain products.”

What kind of work will GFF be doing in 2013?

“One of the things we will be doing in 2013 is a consumer trends survey.  This will be a comprehensive effort to determine what is currently motivating consumers and better understand secondary forces like where they get their information.  We will be releasing the study to our investors in the spring.”

Visit their website  |  Like them on Facebook

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We put a substantial amount of effort in our exhibit to try to make it as fun, entertaining, and informative as possible.  To showcase the strength of our new ice film, we filled one of our plastic ice bags full of Tootsie Rolls and hung it as a piñata.  Attendees were challenged with hitting the bag with a bat to try to puncture the film.  The bag held.  We also played our “30 ft Drop Challenge” video in which we tossed our bags off the roof to see if they would hold.  The bag held.

Great American Packaging sent two representatives to the trade show, Brian Robinson, New Business Development and Bob Clarke, Sales Manager.

“Overall we had a great time meeting everyone at the show,” stated Clarke.  “It was great to see so many people stopping by to see what we offer and I’m already looking forward to seeing what IPIA is going to do for next year’s show.”

Click here to learn more about our ice bags.

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What are the biggest issues currently facing the food industry?

“There’s actually a whole series of challenges that we’re dealing with at the moment.  We have a difference between the developing world and the developed world.  In the developed world, it can be said that we have an abundance of food and don’t necessarily eat the right food.  This has led to a growing rate of food-based diseases including obesity.”

“In the past, the developing countries have traditionally had an issue with not having enough food.  The irony in that now is you have very few countries that have those problems.  You can pick a few in Africa where overweight and obesity is very limited and that’s a reality.  But one of the statistics I’ve often offered in presentations is asking the audience which country has the most overweight people in the world.  They usually first say the US, but that is wrong.  Then they will say Scotland, but that is also wrong.  At that point I tell them to think in terms of the number of people.  Usually they are thinking in terms of percentages.  At that point somebody will usually figure it out and say China, which is correct.  In fact it was ten years ago when China passed the point where there were more overweight people than underweight people.  That is happening now with virtually every country.”

“That doesn’t mean everyone is getting fed though.  In the US, we do have a growing part of our population that doesn’t get enough to eat.  You could argue that it’s financial as opposed to the other issues, but the fact is we have an internal hunger issue too.”

“The thing about it is that the world used to be separated into countries that have one problem or the other.  Now we’re all dealing with the same problem; we’re dealing with malnutrition in parts of the population and a growing rate of obesity in other parts of the population.”

Why is misconception a problem with food?

“In today’s technological world, the information you sometimes run across is amazing.  Part of it is because people aren’t connected to their food like they were 50, 70 years ago where the percentage of the population that was involved with some part of farming or farm-related industry was enormous.  Now there is something like less than five percent is involved in any aspect.  People just aren’t connected to their food like they used to be.”

How has the IFT helped influence the uniformity of food education standards?

“What IFT focuses on, it’s actually one of our biggest things we put emphasis on, is the quantity and quality of food around the country as well as the world.  IFT has, for a long time, focused a lot of effort behind raising the standards of food science and finding ways to encourage the best and brightest to join this industry.”

“There’s a whole series of videos we’ve done called “A Day in the Life of a Food Scientist.”  The first one goes through what life is like as a NASA food scientist.  It’s really interesting because the whole team is looking into things like how to feed a community of people on Mars.  The videos represent a lot of the challenging and exciting things about food technology.”

“More specifically to your question about food education standards, the IFT has a program where we approve undergraduate food science degrees from major universities.  Over the decades, it’s mostly been United States universities, but we’ve been expanding to other parts of the world.  We’ve noticed it’s sometimes a much larger subject in universities outside of the US.  We’ve also done other things like fund scholarships for those going into the industry as well fundraiser events like our annual fun run.   Last year we had around five hundred people running in Las Vegas who participated and raised around $100,000 for scholarships.  We have these scholarships, again, is to encourage people to get into food science.  These types of things are important in order to fulfill the food challenges of tomorrow.”

Visit their website  |  Like them on Facebook

The post The Institute of Food Technologists continues effort to fight the industry’s toughest issues. appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

What are the most prominent challenges the metalforming industry is facing right now?

“Near-term I think it’s the uncertainty of where the business is going and how we’re going to get there.  The last couple of years have been very good for most of our members with the exception of those who have commercial construction and home building as their primary markets.  But others, such as those serving automotive and other industrial markets have been doing well.  I think we’re also concerned about what’s going on in Washington and what kind of tax structure we’re going to be working with in terms of our ability to get loans and the financing we need.”

“Long-term I think our primary concerns are oriented toward work force.  There’s a lot of retirement coming in the next ten years and this is an industry that relies on skilled employees for things like tool and die-setting, machining, and other sensor technologies or electronic knowledge.  Most of which doesn’t take an engineering degree, but it can be learned through an apprenticeship or years of on-the-job training.”

“We’re also concerned with what will happen with a lot of the large US Fortune 1000 companies if the business climate here doesn’t improve.  Right now the US corporate taxes are higher than the rest of the world.  We have an issue of a territorial income policy that that’s encouraged some companies to move their headquarters offshore.  However that’s more of a long term concern. “

Do you see a way the industry can turn these challenges into opportunities?

“I think so.  The good news is that we have some favorable things going for us right now, including the dollar.  We’re competitive globally again.  Because of the downturn in 2008 and 2009, companies got lean and have stayed lean so they’re very cost competitive again.  If we have the right policies that encourage investment and capital we’ll continue to gain in productivity every year.”

“We’ve also seen movement by some of the larger companies growing.  Most of our members are middle market companies that make component parts and sell them to other industries.  It looks like we’re going to see a lot of growth and capacity for building automobiles in the US largely with new facilities by some of the Asian countries like Japan and Korea.  We’re seeing some shift to Mexico and that’s very shippable from most states in the US.  We’ve also been seeing some potential growth in Canada again which we haven’t seen in awhile.  Apple even said they’re going to bring a line for Mac Books back to the US.  That’s a good sign because electronics is usually sent offshore quite a bit.”

How well do you think companies in your industry have adapted online?

“The majority of some industries like electronics, automotive, and telecommunications have shifted to electronics for their business processes.  They don’t get orders from fax anymore.  The scheduling, releases, invoice payments, and shipping notices are all done over internet portals.  So I think the back offices of our companies are very automated.”

“As middle market companies, I think most of our other members are not fully taking advantage of social media.  Their websites typically are mostly brochure-like and lacking information.  However they do usually have a private area for their customers to go in, which is important.  I still don’t think they might be taking advantage of all the marketing opportunities they might be able to though.”

What do you see as the most important trend driving the industry forward?

“I think energy costs and being financially competitive globally are the two drivers.  That should be a positive for manufacturers in the US.  I also think the work force issue is another one.   We have to get bright young men and women into our industry in those skilled and semi-skilled.  Maybe it’s because of a perception that manufacturing isn’t a good place to be at because of all the layoffs in 2008 and 2009, but that’s one of the battles we face.  We need counselors in high school and college to encourage students to get into manufacturing.  If we can’t overcome those issues, that’s going to be a real constraint.”

“There are some really optimistic signs though.  PMA has supported the National Institute for Metalworking Skills for fourteen years now.  We were one of six metalworking associations that came together to form the group as an independent body to develop the skill standards and credentialing systems for a variety of machining levels.  The skill standards are not nearly as adopted as the AWS welding certification, but they’re the sort of things we need to have as a country so community colleges can offer the academic aspects along with some of the technical skills.  Or perhaps do something with the companies individually to get people credentials so companies know what they’re hiring.  So if we can’t get there then that’s a risk, but I think we will.  I think there’s a lot of momentum and recognition going on for the first time.”

Visit PMA | Like PMA on Facebook

The post Precision Metalforming Association heads effort to develop young talent appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

After several months of development and testing, we’re happy to announce the launch of our new digital poly calculator.  This tool allows you to compute the estimated weight of your poly bag or poly film order.  The main motivation for developing this device was to make the buying process easier for purchasers of custom poly bags.  Here are some ways our calculator can help you:

• Speed – The calculator is designed to get information, compute information, and return information as fast as possible.  Finding the weight no longer requires a phone call or online quote request.

• Flexibility – Want to see the effect varying mil thicknesses have on your poly bag order?  How about different bag styles?  Our new tool allows you to check this and more.  You have free range to play around and see how the different metrics affect each other.

• Communication – Sometimes we field calls from people seeking a quote but do not have all the pieces of necessary information.  By using the calculator before you call, you will have all the information you need to place an order.

How it works – You can find the calculator on every product page of our website.  You must first select the style of bag you wish to get a weight for.  The input fields will change dynamically depending on which style of bag or sheeting you select.  Simply fill out the form, click “submit,” and a weight will be returned to you on the following screen.

Click here to use the calculator.

The post Great American Packaging Free Digital Poly Bag Calculator Now Available appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

One organization that’s taken this message to heart is the Partnership for Food Safety Education, a non-profit group who has gone to great lengths to educate people on the importance of staying clean for the holidays.  Great American Packaging had a chance to speak with Shelley Feist, Executive Director, about common mistakes, food safety myths, and event planning advice.

What are some common food safety mistakes people make during the holidays?

“Often on a holiday consumers are managing a bigger meal, more guests, more ingredients, greater complexity than they do for a regular weekday meal at home.  We know consumers in general are aware of important safe food handling practices, but they aren’t always consistent in doing these practices.  Being consistent in practicing safe food handling is critical to reducing risk of food poisoning.”

“Consumers should keep the basic Fight BAC!® messages of Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill in mind when preparing their holiday meal.  If there are multiple cooks in the kitchen for the holiday meal how about having a 3 minute cooks’ food safety conversation before everyone gets started preparing?  The basic Fight BAC!® brochure is a great overview of the critical food safety practices and it can be downloaded from fightbac.org.”

What other kind of food safety tips people should pay attention to?

“Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill should be kept top-of-mind when preparing food.

Washing hands with soap and water before and after handling food, using a food thermometer to ensure that food is cooked to a safe internal temperature, and making sure leftover food gets refrigerated within two hours are all important basics that can reduce risk of illness.  The Partnership has great detailed information for consumers on turkey thawing and cooking and safe handling of leftovers at holidayfoodsafety.org.”

What are some common food safety myths?

“One common myth is that rinsing poultry is a food safety step.  The important “kill step” for meat and poultry is cooking it to a safe internal temperature as measured with a food thermometer.”

“There are also, understandably, many consumers who think they should wash all bagged lettuce and greens.  The fact is that, while it is important to thoroughly wash whole fresh fruits and vegetables, if packaged greens are labeled “ready-to-eat,” “washed,” or “triple washed” then the product does NOT need to be washed at home.  Pre-washed greens have been through a cleaning process immediately before going into the bag. Re-washing and handling the greens creates opportunities for contamination.”

“Finally, consumers continue to think they can tell when food is cooked by looking at it.  The fact is the only sure way to know food is safely cooked is to check the temperature with a food thermometer to confirm that it has reached a safe internal temperature. Color, texture and steaming are not indicators that a food is safe to eat.”

What advice do you have for people planning a holiday event?

“Easy!  Plan food safety right into your meal preparation.  It doesn’t take a lot of effort, and it is important to the health of your family and guests.  Download our food safety holiday guide from holidayfoodsafety.org and put it up on your refrigerator for review as you prepare the holiday meal.  And have all of your guests wash their hands before they sit down for the meal.”

What are the best resources for home chefs if they have a question about food safety issues?

“Consumers have great resources they can rely on for science-based, concise food safety advice.  Great resources are fightbac.org;  holidayfoodsafety.org and foodsafety.gov.  USDA also operates its meat and poultry hotline leading up to and including on Thanksgiving Day at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854).”

The mission of the non-profit Partnership for Food Safety Education is to end illness and death from foodborne infections in the United States.  The Partnership delivers trusted, science-based behavioral health messaging and a network of resources that support consumers and health educators.

Visit their website  |  Like them on Facebook

The post Partnership for Food Safety Education sheds light on common holiday food preparation mistakes appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

What are some of the challenges currently facing the print industry? 

“It’s no surprise to your readers that print’s been challenged by new competitors for the past few years: digital media is having a serious effect on the volume of print used in companies across the country. As businesses use more e-media to communicate with prospects and customers and to strengthen their online presence, print takes a hit. That’s the #1 challenge to the industry right now. How can print be used in tandem with e-media in ways that strengthen a company’s marketing campaign? Another challenge isn’t necessarily a new one: there’s a lot of competition among commercial printers, so the issue of differentiation is critical today. How does one printing company differentiate itself among the thousands of others? What product, service or other capability sets it apart in ways that resonate with the market it serves? Tricky business.”
  
How do you think businesses can turn these challenges into opportunities?

“Forward-thinking printing companies are finding ways to evolve – I tell you, it’s really inspiring and impressive. They are taking time to listen to their customers, determining needs, learning what media channels customers are flocking to, and adding additional services to their ink-on-paper capabilities to be able to do more for customers, especially concerning Communications delivery.”

“If a printer’s customer uses a combo of print, email marketing and mobile computing to promote its products, that printer should be building “muscle” (i.e., skill and capability) in those other media – even if they align themselves with partners who handle that work.”

“Truly, I think the success of printers stems from listening to their market.”
 
How well do you feel the print industry has adapted to the increased competition brought forth by the online B2B world?

“It is definitely on the minds of the printing industry. I don’t have hard numbers on how widespread the “evolution” of printers is, but I know it’s not a majority of printers who’ve seen the light. I think the evolution of the industry will take many more years.”

“Keep in mind that this change is different: it’s not a matter of simply getting new equipment or adapting new printing technologies; rather, it’s adapting to a revolutionary change in how people and businesses communicate with one another. All of the popular new media have to be studied and evaluated as well; it’s not as if a printing company can invest in every e-technology that comes into fashion. They must carefully assess what their market’s using and decide which one/s fit into their natural mix of services.”
 
What do you see as the most important trend driving the print industry forward?

“There are two:
 
1. Increased competition from e-media.

2. Increased demand for personalization. 

The industry must pay attention to Gen C (people born after 1995) and how they communicate. This will mean a whole different ball game for how printers do business with businesses and with consumers.”
 
Do you have any upcoming events that you would like people to know about?

“Thank you for asking. Right now, there are no definite PBI events planned. We’re busy planning our work for 2013 and nothing is “off the table”! I know for sure we’re adding lots more videos and content to our web site – stay tuned!”

“If your readers want to keep up with my predictions, thoughts and insights about the printing industry, they’re invited to sign up for my newsletter – just visit my site at www.printbuyersinternational.com to do so. I have written it since 1999 and have over 4000 subscribers worldwide.”

Visit their website  |  Like them on Facebook

The post Digital media tops list of concerns for print buyers appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

For an industry trying to adapt to new government regulations, the impact of the recent drought has complicated matters even more for businesses across the nation.  The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) has remained steadfast in its support to help businesses overcome these roadblocks and keep the industry moving forward.

For more than 40 years the Virginia-based organization has represented the interests of a wide range of companies including processors, distributors, suppliers, and retail operators.  We caught up with Corey Henry, Vice President of Communications, to discuss some of the issues currently facing the industry and what businesses are doing to adapt.

How big of an impact has the most recent drought made on the frozen food industry compared to other droughts in the past?

“We continue to worry that the drought and the devastating affect it had on this year’s corn crop could result in dramatic cost increases for food makers, and ultimately, higher prices for grocery store shoppers.”

What is the AFFI doing to help businesses recover from the drought?

“We remain engaged in an effort to convince the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to waive the Renewable Fuel Standard for corn ethanol in order to ensure that food makers have access to a sufficiently sized and affordable corn supply.  A failure to waive the RFS will result in a drastic reduction in the volume of corn available as a feedstock and ingredient, and will result in significantly higher corn prices.”

What are some of the other challenges currently facing the frozen food industry? 

“Like all food producers, frozen food makers are currently focused on the sweeping food safety changes mandated in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the most significant overhaul of U.S. food safety laws in decades.”

“Food safety has long been the number one priority for AFFI members, and we have developed a variety of tools and services to help our member companies understand the new food safety regime created by FSMA and aid their efforts in complying with these new rules.”

How do you think businesses can turn these challenges into opportunities?

“As companies engaged throughout the frozen food sector work to comply with FSMA, this will naturally spur opportunities to develop and promote new and innovative techniques, equipment and services designed to further enhance frozen food safety.”

What do you see as the most important trend driving the industry forward?

“Savvy consumers are continually in search of foods that can fit their budget, help improve nutrition and satisfy a diversifying taste palette.  Frozen food makers are ideally situated to meet this demand through the introduction of innovative new food and meal options that new cover a wide range of ethnic and global cuisines, to new steam-in-bag technologies that aide preparation, to new better-for-you products.”

“Innovation has long been the calling card of the frozen food industry, and that commitment will help frozen food makers stay on top of emerging consumer preferences.”

Click here to visit AFFI.  |   Like them on Facebook

The post The American Frozen Food Institute looks to help businesses recover from the drought appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

• When you call in, be sure you know the quantity of poly bags or film you need.  If it’s a large order, sometimes we can make smaller batches of orders that can hold you over until the next batch can be run.

• Be sure your artwork is completely ready to go and in a viable format.  We can process .ai (Adobe Illustrator), or .psd (Photoshop). 

• The most important thing to do is call your sales consultant as soon as you can.  The typical lead time for a rush order is two weeks for plain material and three weeks for printed and converted material.

The post Three easy tips to expedite your rush order with Great American Packaging appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

• Know your customers and their needs.  Every customer is different in terms of communication, education and customer service.  Understanding each of your customer’s preferences allows you to tailor your services to meet their expectations, thereby creating lasting and viable relationships. 

• Be a solution for your customers. If you can help your customers identify a problem and, in-turn, assist them solve that problem, your services become much more appreciated than a traditional customer-to-supplier relationship.

• Be confident in your product.  When you’re enthusiastic about your product, people will feel it and be more willing to start a business relationship with you.

The post How to keep your business successful in economic downturns appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

With over 1,500 members strong, the American Cheese Society has been a leading voice for the North American cheese industry since it began in 1983. The Denver-based organization serves as a networking resource to educate, promote, and connect their members. The group also provides business development plans to ensure the community is sustainable and current with safety procedures.

Like many industries in the US, the cheese industry is in a mode of growth, and the American Cheese Society is at the hub of this growth.We talked with Nora Weiser, Executive Director to better understand the opportunities and challenges faced by her members.

Impacts of a Growing Industry

As cheese manufacturing grows, producers are faced with the ultimate challenge of how to manage that growth. As the wave of opportunity washes in, producers are finding ways to expand their reach geographically. Along with this expansion comes the need to move product across the country without incurring sky rocketing transportation costs. Companies are also weighing the balance between growth and the need for consolidation. “As with any industry, once it starts booming the more you have to look at issues of consolidation.”

Using the Web to Enhance Networking

Individual producers both small and large have come together to share ideas and invest in new technologies to help grow the industry. The American Cheese Society has created tools like CheeseWire, a social media network. This online resource provides producers in the industry the ability to connect to new vendors, ask questions of their peers and promote open positions. “The really nice thing about it is it’s not just limited to just our members. Anyone can join the network and participate with all us cheese people.”

By sharing common challenges and cost saving ideas, members of the cheese industry have helped each other and their industry to grow.

Click here to learn more about ACS | Like them on Facebook

The post The American Cheese Society remains focused on answering industry growth appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

Manny Mota with the founder of Great American Packaging, Greg Guerwitz

If you wanted to put all of Manny Mota’s achievements in professional baseball down on paper, it would be quite the list.

Manuel Rafael Mota Geronimo spent most of his esteemed career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and at the time of his retirement Mr. Mota left holding the all-time major league record for career pinch-hits and an overall lifetime batting average of .304, a very sought-after statistic in American baseball. He is a two time World Series Champion, a national all-star and the longest tenured coach in Los Angeles Dodger history, but his most wonderful accomplishments have come off the baseball diamond.

Manny Mota created a home in the Los Angeles community and continues to play a huge role in the coaching staff. When Mr. Mota is not coaching he is running the Manny Mota International Foundation with his wife Margarita. This humanitarian organization is now over 30 years old and helps the youth in both the United States of America and Dominican Republic, Manny Mota’s birthplace. The mission of the Manny Mota International Foundation is to provide educational, health and recreational opportunities for the underprivileged, especially disadvantaged youth. The initiative also uses the Manny Mota Baseball Clinics program as a bridge to teach youth to build healthy bodies and minds through positive role models and teach self-discipline through sports. This entire program provides American and Dominican Republic communities the necessary path to improvement and self-reliance. Since 1992, the Manny Mota International Foundation has held a yearly fundraising event called the “Campo de Sueños (Field of Dreams) Awards Banquet.” This is how their humanitarian programs are funded, but this banquet also sheds much needed light on special and outstanding individuals and organizations that make significant contributions to their communities. Finally, after years and years of extreme effort the foundation will be building a complex in the Dominican Republic that will include a school, medical dispensary, community center, baseball diamonds and basketball courts.

A custom manufacturer of poly bags and film, Great American Packaging is proud to contribute to the Manny Mota International Foundation. The 100% recyclable bags they supply to the foundation are used for a multitude of purposes such as food and clothing distribution. Every now and then Mr. Mota stops into the Los Angeles based plastic packaging manufacturer and his warm personality is infectious. There are always stories to be told and pictures to be snapped.

The post Dodger Icon and Plastic Bag Manufacturer Join Teams appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

Online Presence = Success

Creating an internet presence can be a daunting task. Not only does it take building, creating and publishing an internet website, but also staying active on almost every facet of the web from blogs, social media, news articles, press releases and online directories. Online initiatives are not something you passively try to do in your spare time; they require a vast amount of focus. As Great American Packaging continues to grow as a 21^st century company we wanted to share what we have learned from this massive process. Here are the top 5 tips and tricks we recommend when starting an online initiative.

1. Stay active on social media! Even if no one seems to be reading it shows there is an actual human behind your company. Sometimes your industry will not be the most entertaining to follow but it demonstrates that your company is more user-friendly and current than your competition may be. Social media is also a great way to answer questions any of your customers may have.

2. Post blogs three times a week! When creating a company blog it is ideal to post a minimum of three times a week. This way various blog directories that you sign up for are more apt to put you in their directory. Blogs are a great way to offer your companies opinions on various topics and to provide quality information. Feel free to get creative with your blog and post items such as: a recent success story, promoting something local or discuss a current event.

3. Announce your company everywhere! Getting your companies name out there for people to search for is most crucial. A great way of doing this is by signing up for online business directories. When signing up for online directories however, you want to register with the directories that have a good quality score. “Having a high Quality Score means that Google’s system will think your ad, keyword, and landing page are all relevant and useful to someone looking at your ad.[i]” Registering with quality directories ensures that the back link you receive will increase your own sites score.

4. Create a YouTube channel! Current technology allows anyone and everyone to make an online commercial. There are numerous free movie software packages that allow you to accomplish this such as: Windows Movie Maker (PC) and iMovie (Mac). YouTube is an essential avenue for your company to be because it is the second biggest search engine behind Google. Make videos that are information and entertaining. Movie media is a perfect way to show your products, staff, information, reviews and insights.

5. Be entertaining! When posting content to all of your various outlets do not forget to be entertaining. This has been reiterated throughout this entire post, but it cannot be stressed enough. You want your content to have life and not just read as a boring informational lecture from your company. Often your posts do not even have to be about your company. Instead switch it up and talk about a current sporting event or a recent holiday. Bring humor and your company’s personality into all of your content and soon you will have an engaging online presence that may lead to a large number of followers.

[i] http://support.google.com/adwords/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2454010

The post Top 5 Tips To Create An Online Presence appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

Print directly on your bags – Purchasing poly bags and labels separately can become costly when you figure labor into the equation.  Printing the artwork directly on the bag is an effective option to reduce costs and manpower.

Know the right mill thickness– Most retail bakery bags range from 1.5 mil to 2.5 mill.  Ordering the appropriate thickness for your bags can save you money in materials or lost/wasted product.

Get the right poly bag style – It’s been well documented how aesthetics influence consumer’s decisions to buy products.  Be sure you are getting the right style and dimensions for your product.  For example, form-fitting gusseted bags are among the most popular style for bread loafs.  The square bottom allows for proper branding of your product from any side or angle.

Be aware of the type of poly film – Oxygen Transfer Rate (OTR) is the rate at which oxygen passes through the packaging.  Low rates will allow your bakery products to stay fresh for a longer period of time.  Moisture Vapor Transfer Rate (MVTR) is the rate at which moisture passes through the film.  Having a low MVTR rate will both keep the original moisture rate consistent while also protecting against unwanted moisture from getting inside.

The post The Do’s of Bakery Packaging appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

• All of our packaging is 100% recyclable.  Every bag, liner, and roll of film we produce can be salvaged for reuse after its initial life cycle is complete.

• Our minimal scrap rate is another facet of our operation that we’re proud of.  The little scrap we do turn out is sent out for re-processing, and can then be reused for Industrial packaging purposes.

• All of our poly bags and film are manufactured at our AMQD-compliant facility in a safe and healthy environment where our valued employees work every day. 

• Plastic, by nature, embodies the principals of “reduce, reuse, recycle”.   The raw materials used to produce poly are derived from a bi-product of the oil refining process.  This re-purposed bi-product, or, ethane gas would otherwise be ejected into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas.  

• Plastic packaging provides manufacturers of perishable goods the ability to keep those products fresher for longer periods of time increasing the shelf life

Our company has, and always will, place a large emphasis on being eco-friendly and running our operation in the greenest manner possible.  Whether it’s related to our facilities, our method of transportation, or our materials, the environment plays a prominent role in our day-to-day decision-making process.

The post How Our Company Continues to be Eco-Friendly appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

With such an ample range of mil thicknesses available on the market, the task of identifying the correct one might initially seem like a daunting task.   Fortunately packaging companies have become quite adept to help you with this job.

Here is a brief breakdown of some of the most commonly used gauges:

• 1 Mil - Light weight film used for light weight products and temporary storage.  Common uses include bakery bags or dust protection.
• 2 Mil - Popular film thickness used for light to medium weight products.  Common uses include printed retail bags and pail liners.
• 3 Mil - A sturdier film helps to protect medium to heavy products.  Common uses include pallet covers.
• 4 Mil - Perfect for heavy duty industrial products.  Common uses include drum liners.
• 6 Mil - High puncture resistance to protect against heavy and/or sharp industrial products.  Common uses include heavy industrial covers & liners.

The post Choosing the right mil thickness for your poly bags appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

Maintaining low microbe levels is accomplished by having the correct poly film, effective poly bag seals, and a proper internal atmosphere.  Different poly film types, such as linear-low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and oriented polypropylene (OPP) have different barrier properties.  Differentiating the packaging’s internal atmosphere enables the food product to decompose at a much slower rate.  The third essential component is having great seals on your poly bags.  You could have the best packaging in the world, but if it has poor seals it’s all for nothing.

Learn more about poly bags.

The post How Poly Bags Affect the Shelf Life of Food appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

The results come to a bit of a surprise as many believe fresh is more energy efficient.  “This report goes some way to debunking the commonly held assumption that producing, storing, and consuming frozen food is more energy intensive than chilled products,” stated researcher Judith Evans.

Read Full Report

Learn more about poly bags.

The post Study finds frozen food more eco-friendly than fresh food appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

If you’ve ever wondered how to find this information on your own, it can be done without any expensive machinery or software.

Step 1:  Open your logo in Microsoft Paint (PC) or Paintbrush (Mac).

Step 2:  Select the “color picker tool,”(next to the eraser).

Step 3:  Click on any color in your logo.  The color should appear in the “Color 1” box.

Step 4:  Click on “edit colors.”

Step 5:  In the lower right corner, there are three values for red, green and blue.

Step 6:  Use this conversion tool to enter the three values.  You can ignore the “RGB” input field.

Step 7:  The tool will return a chart with a list of colors.  The top color is the color you searched for.  The closest PMS value will be located directly under it.  In the example below, the closest PMS value is “485 2X.”

Step 8:  Document this value and repeat the process for every color in your logo.

The post How Convert Your Logo’s Colors to Pantone Values for Poly Bags appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

What separates the two?  One factor might be how efficient groups use their resources.  Managing time and money are two critical factors that can be either an asset or hindrance depending on how well you deal with them.  Using poly bag yard signs versus poly coated cardboard signs is an example that saves money and reduces time.  Yard signs made of poly bags are more cost efficient, easier to transport, and better for the environment.

• More Cost Efficient – Poly bag yard signs cost less because they only require one step to manufacture whereas cardboard signs require two steps to manufacture.  After the cardboard signs are cut-out of and printed, they’re coated with polyethylene to protect against harsh weather conditions.  The coating also produces a slight shine that makes the sign look a bit more aesthetic.  Poly bag yard signs offer the same protection with one less step in manufacturing.  The material is naturally resistant to rain and harsh weather conditions.  It also emits a natural glossy look without the need for any extra coatings.  The time saved in the manufacturing process is a benefit to you because sign makers can offer a better price.  The money saved can then be directed towards other campaign efforts.

• Easier to Transport – Be sure to consider the amount of space you have to transport the signs.  Poly bag yard signs can be folded, boxed, and unloaded easier than cardboard – which is made of material that is about an eighth of an inch thick.  The thickness and volume can be a problem when you’re transporting thousands of signs to several different locations.  The space required to transport poly bags is dramatically less and allows you the flexibility of redirecting more workers towards other tasks.  Once election season is over, poly bag yard signs are easily recyclable.

• More Eco Friendly –The public continues to demand environmentally friendly efforts from both the private and public sector.  It is important to weigh this factor when you’re looking at campaign advertising material.  The production of poly yard signs requires at least four times less energy than cardboard signs.  Since cardboard is made of paper, it emits up to 70% more air pollution in the manufacturing process.   They also produce 80% more solid waste and consume up to three times the amount of water compared to their poly bag counterpart. 

Source: www.science.howstuffworks.com

Learn more about poly bags.

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Another attractive benefit of frozen food is its increased shelf life.  Fresh food typically lasts considerably shorter than frozen, making it less efficient to store for long periods of time.

As the demand for frozen food increases, so do freezer bags.  If you work in the frozen food industry, be sure to stay ahead of the game and factor the economy into your purchasing schedule.

Learn more about freezer bags.

Source: Seafood Source

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Want more? 

Watch the Video:  Tossing Ice Bags Off the Roof

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Which? found that participants who received their cookies in packaging rated the product “significantly higher” than those who tasted them blind.

The findings also looked at store packaging for value products compared to luxury products.  Store brands have typically stuck with simple features to give more reason for buyers to go with luxury products.  However with the increasing number of value products, stores are investing more resources towards appealing packaging.

“The continuing recession means that supermarkets have to compete even harder for custom,” stated Which? expert Matt Clear.

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Luckily packaging is not one of those problems – or it shouldn’t be at least.  As a poly bag manufacturer for over 45 years, Great American Packaging puts a considerable amount of effort towards constructing efficient, durable packaging specifically for seafood manufacturers.  If things to pick-up faster than normal, we offer a rush option for time-sensitive products.

Learn more about our freezer bags.

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Why buy Custom?  Custom bag manufacturers offer a lot more options compared to their stock counterparts.  Bags can be ordered with custom sizes and styles including headers, handles, perforated strips, ziplock and more.  They can also be manufactured with printed graphics for branding.  Special films can be custom blended to meet packaging needs including; freezer film to alleviate cold crack, anti block for storage and transport of powdered material or slip additives for automated packaging.   Custom manufacturers typically work with businesses or individuals needing large quantities.

Why buy Stock?  Stock bags are great if you’re simply looking for plain bags and you do not need a special style or fit for your product.  They’re also ideal if you plan to purchase a small quantity.

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Fiscal Responsibility – Polyethylene film is less expensive than cardboard. This makes the poly yard sign option the most economical choice for promoting your campaign. 

100 % Recyclable – Poly yard signs are made from 100% recyclable low density polyethylene.

Eco-Friendly – Plastic bags are more resource efficient, reduce landfill waste and generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions than paper products.  For every truck needed to deliver plastic bags, it would take seven trucks deliver the same number of paper bags.  Now imagine how many trucks it would take to deliver a heavier cardboard sign…

Weather Resistant – Poly yard signs are durable enough to endure sleet or rain without losing quality.

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• Enable your packaging to hang from a rack:  Display racks are widely used in pretty much any kind of store.  Headers give you the option of adding an additional hole at the top of the packaging to make it easy for your product to hang from a variety of rack styles.

• More real estate to showcase your product:  One of the benefits of poly bags is the ability for customers to see your product through the clear plastic film.  If you want to print graphics on your packaging, adding a header gives you plenty of room to add information without sacrificing views of the physical product inside.

• No lost time in the loading process:  Someone could easily assume that header bags might take longer to load with the extra material at the top.  In actuality, they don’t take any longer at all since header bags are loaded and heat sealed at the bottom instead of the top.

• Print directly on the bag:  Some companies choose to use a card header at the top of their bags.  This adds time and expense to their packaging process.  Printing directly on the poly bag is the most economical and aesthetic solution to rack display packaging.

The post How Header Bags Can Enhance Your Branding appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

But how do you know what to look for?  What’s good and what’s bad?  Here are some things to keep in mind the next time you’re in the market for seafood bags:

The first thing you should do is double check the film’s gauge.  The gauge, or mil thickness, is simply how thick the plastic film is.  When ordering poly bags, you have the option of purchasing a wide range of thicknesses.  High quality freezer bags typically range depending on the film type and the weight of the product inside.  It’s critical to meet or exceed the minimum recommended thickness or else you could be at risk of buying bags that won’t support the weight of your product.  Since it’s impossible to determine the difference between mill thicknesses with the naked eye, consider investing in a micrometer so you can check yourself to ensure you’re getting what you paid for.  Micrometers can be purchased for as low as $12.

Another factor to consider is how resistant the film is to cold crack.  When plastic is stored at freezing temperatures for excessive periods of time, its ordinarily flexible molecular structure slows down causing the film to become brittle.  Regular plastic bags will lose its elasticity and “crack.”  To combat this deficiency, high quality freezer bags are built with advanced blends of resin that allow the plastic to remain fully intact at freezing temperatures for a much longer period of time.

Identify the level of compatibility with your bags and packaging equipment.  Automated packaging machines run more efficiently when partnered with polyethylene films that have wider heat sealing windows.  When a factory’s environment changes because of the weather, it means the machine has to be manually adjusted to compensate for the difference.  With advanced blends, machines are able to handle the sealing process with much more of a flexible temperature window.  This results in an increase in productivity and a decrease in time and wasted material.

The best way to verify these important factors is to simply ask your bag manufacturer about them.  Ordering from a reputable manufacturer will help you save time and money because you’ll be getting a quality product that won’t cause you headaches. 

Click here to learn more about seafood packaging.

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The answer lies in the molecules.   At room temperature, the long, chain-like molecules are free to move around and exhibit flexibility.  This allows the plastic to stretch, bend, and conform to different shapes depending on what’s inside the bag.  When it’s placed in freezing temperatures for an excessive period of time, the molecules slow down dramatically.  In such conditions, the plastic has less flexibility and more potential to become brittle.

Different film blends perform better under freezing conditions depending on how many links are in the blend’s carbon chain.

If you still have questions about the different polyethylene film blends and cold crack, give us a call 1-877-289-2247.

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• Check the bag’s style – The style of your bag should depend on the shape of your product.  Gusseted bags are specifically designed to support cube shaped, odd sized or bulky objects.  The form fitting feature of gusseted bags allow the pressure from the weight of the product inside to be more evenly distributed.  This reduces the potential for punctures.

• Check the bag’s size – The size of the bag is crucial in properly packaging your product.  If the bag is too small, there is a higher potential for the product to break through.  Bags that are too large could cause problems during automated packaging by catching on machines. The best way to verify that your bag is the proper size is to check with the bag manufacturer.

• Check the type of film-  Polyethylene film can be manufactured to meet a variety of packaging needs including flexibility, strength, clarity and temperature resistance.  It is important to let us know how you are using the bag or film so we can be sure to get you the right product for your needs.

The post Four Ways to Prevent Poly Bags From Breaking appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.

]]> http://www.greatampack.com/four-ways-to-prevent-poly-bags-from-breaking/feed/ 0 http://www.greatampack.com/three-reasons-why-your-bakery-should-use-ziplock-bags/ http://www.greatampack.com/three-reasons-why-your-bakery-should-use-ziplock-bags/#comments Mon, 10 Sep 2012 23:13:29 +0000 beth http://www.greatampack.com/?p=1257 Ziplock bags have proven to be one of the most successful types of poly products.  They have dominated the resealable market for over a half century and continue to be a common item found in households across the world. Freshness Preservation – The obvious benefit of ziplock bags is its ability to preserve freshness of the [...]

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]]> Ziplock bags have proven to be one of the most successful types of poly products.  They have dominated the resealable market for over a half century and continue to be a common item found in households across the world.

• Freshness Preservation – The obvious benefit of ziplock bags is its ability to preserve freshness of the contents inside.  Since bacteria and fungi require oxygen to grow, food inside unsealed bags tend to decompose at a quicker rate.  While ziplock bags can’t eliminate decomposition entirely, it does an effective job at dramatically slowing down the process.

• Ideal for On-The-Go – Let’s face it, people in this day and age are always in a rush.  The demand for single serve packaging has never been higher and manufacturers have tailored products to meet this trend.  Ziplock bags continue to be one of the most efficient types of packaging for multiple closes.

• Versatility – It doesn’t matter whether you’re packaging bread, cookies, or muffins, ziplock bags can be custom built for a wide range of products.  These FDA approved bags also support extra features such as tamper evident strips, headers, and colored printing.

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]]> http://www.greatampack.com/three-reasons-why-your-bakery-should-use-ziplock-bags/feed/ 0 http://www.greatampack.com/three-reasons-why-you-should-use-pallet-covers/ http://www.greatampack.com/three-reasons-why-you-should-use-pallet-covers/#comments Fri, 07 Sep 2012 21:42:40 +0000 beth http://www.greatampack.com/?p=1253 Shipping pallets with a lot of valuable goods can be a hassle.  By the time you’re ready to ship your merchandise, you’ve already invested a considerable amount of time making the product, boxing the product, and loading it onto pallets.  Pallet covers are a great tool to protect all that hard work.  Here are the [...]

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]]> Shipping pallets with a lot of valuable goods can be a hassle.  By the time you’re ready to ship your merchandise, you’ve already invested a considerable amount of time making the product, boxing the product, and loading it onto pallets.  Pallet covers are a great tool to protect all that hard work.  Here are the top three reasons why you should be using pallet covers:

• Protection against contaminants – Once your products leave your plant, you don’t know what kind of contaminants it could be exposed to.  Food products are especially important to guard against contamination.

• Protection against moisture – When you choose not to use pallet covers, you run the risk of exposing your goods to rain and water.  Plastic film is a great shield against potential damage from moisture.

• Protection against UV rays – If you’re shipping boxes with printed graphics, adding UV inhibitor’s to your pallet covers will help protect against fade.

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]]> http://www.greatampack.com/three-reasons-why-you-should-use-pallet-covers/feed/ 0 http://www.greatampack.com/how-does-plastic-resin-affect-poly-bags/ http://www.greatampack.com/how-does-plastic-resin-affect-poly-bags/#comments Wed, 05 Sep 2012 23:10:29 +0000 beth http://www.greatampack.com/?p=1246 Plastic film is created by first melting large quantities of small, granule shaped resins.  There are many different kinds of resins offered on the market.  The difference between the various types of resin depends on how the end product will be used.  For example, the resin used to create crack-resistant freezer bags is often different [...]

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]]>

Plastic Resin

Plastic film is created by first melting large quantities of small, granule shaped resins.  There are many different kinds of resins offered on the market.  The difference between the various types of resin depends on how the end product will be used.  For example, the resin used to create crack-resistant freezer bags is often different than the resin used to create industrial pallet covers.

Each type of resin serves a specific purpose and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.  Resins can also be blended in multiple combinations.  Helping your supplier to understand what and how your are packaging will help you get the best poly bags and film for you.

Great American Packaging products include:

• FDA Approved film
• High Strength Industrial film
• High Clarity for Printing & Retail
• Frozen application film

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Answer:  There isn’t a difference.  The term “poly” is short for polyethylene, the primary chemical in plastic.  Therefore, poly and plastic can be used interchangeably to describe the same thing.

How are poly bags made?

Answer:  Poly bag manufacturers begin the process by ordering large quantities of resin.  Resin is a small grain-like compound composed of several types of chemicals.  The resin is then heated, melted, and blown through a large machine that turns the substance into a long tubular shape.  As the plastic cools, it can be formed into different styles and shapes.  The plastic film can also run through a machine that will print text or images on the material.

How do I buy poly bags?

Answer:  The most important thing to determine is how much customization you want.  There are many companies who stock bags with common styles and sizes.  Other companies, such as Great American Packaging, specialize in custom bags featuring many more sizes and printed graphics.

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It doesn’t matter if you’re in consumer products, manufacturing, food, or medical, getting the right dimensions for your poly bags is important for efficiency and presentation. There are two primary types of poly bags that are frequently used; flat bags and gusset bags. Knowing the difference between the two will allow you to thoroughly plan how your packaging will look in the final stage of production.

What is a flat bag? Flat bags are the most common type of poly bag. It features a versatile two dimensional design that lies flat when there’s nothing inside. Flat bags can be manufactured individually cut or on a roll depending on the customer’s preference.

How do I measure a flat bag? In its most bare form, a flat bag is measured by simply identifying the value of the width and length. The formula is written as “W x L.” It is important to note that the width MUST be written first so the manufacturer will know where the opening needs to be.

If the bag consists of an additional component such as a header or lip, the value is placed after the length with a letter representing the component. For example, a bag with a width of 6”, length of 8”, and lip of 2” would be written as “6 x 8 + 2L.” In this case, “L” would represent the word “lip.”

What is a gusset bag? A gusset bag is different from a flat bag because it is designed to form fit around an object. A bread bag is an example of a gusset bag because it conveniently fits the shape of the bread. Gusset bags can be broken down into bottom gusset bags and side gusset bags.

How do I measure a bottom gusset bag? Bottom gusset bags are written virtually identic

al to flat bags. The only important thing to remember is writing the gusset value after the length value. For example, a bag with the width of 9”, length of 12”, and bottom gusset of 4”, would be written as “9 x 12 + 4BG.”

How do I measure a side gusset bag? Side gusset bags are a bit more complex than bottom gusset bags because of the way they’re manufactured. A side gusset bag is essentially a flat bag with its bottom corners folded in and creased along the sides. In other words, when they’re being manufactured, they begin as flat tubing with the side gussets folded in later. This is important to note because there is an added dimension – the gusset’s width. Follow these steps to measure a side gusset bag:

1. With the gussets folded in, measure the face of the bag.
2. Open the folds so the gussets are fully extended. Measure the gusset size.
3. Measure the length.

The formula for a side gusset bag is “width x gusset width x length.” For example, a bag with a width of 20”, gusset width at 10”, and length of 30” would be written as, “(20 + 10) x 30.”

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• Storage Warehouse Alternative – Storing large equipment in warehouses can be a nightmare.  Not only do you pay for the space, you have to pay for transportation as well.  Custom-designed poly sheeting is a great alternative because it can protect from dirt, rain, corrosion, and other environmental elements.

• Form and Fill – Sheeting is great for retail packaging when a product needs to be tightly wrapped.  Automated packaging machines can cut and seal the film to specific dimensions.  The machines can then expel unnecessary air to preserve the product’s freshness.  Sheeting can also come be produced with antistatic film ideal for electronics packaging.

Learn more about poly sheeting.

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]]> http://www.greatampack.com/the-many-uses-of-poly-sheeting/feed/ 0 http://www.greatampack.com/how-to-improve-your-food-packaging/ http://www.greatampack.com/how-to-improve-your-food-packaging/#comments Fri, 24 Aug 2012 22:06:49 +0000 beth http://www.greatampack.com/?p=1226 Is your packaging keeping up with the times?  According to a study released by Packaged Facts (Rockville, MD), consumers want packaging that is easy to open, close and maintain freshness.  People also want convenient packaging that is light weight and less bulky.  The study found a few surprises as well.  Consumers were less concerned about [...]

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]]> Is your packaging keeping up with the times?  According to a study released by Packaged Facts (Rockville, MD), consumers want packaging that is easy to open, close and maintain freshness.  People also want convenient packaging that is light weight and less bulky.  The study found a few surprises as well.  Consumers were less concerned about the attractiveness of the artwork as well as on the go packaging.  This comes despite the fact that there is an increasing amount of single serve products flooding the market.  The ability to microwave contents inside its packaging also ranked low even though it’s becoming a more popular feature added by manufacturers.  Here are a couple of important tips to ensure your packaging meets consumer needs of today:

• Make sure your reclosable bags have a good seal.  One of the most common complaints with resealable bags is getting a good seal.  A poor zipper can cause food to lose freshness, which is one of the biggest concerns for consumers. Learn more about resealable bags.

• It’s also a good idea to make sure you’re emphasizing your packaging is environmental friendly.  People are paying more and more attention to how products are made and what material they’re made of.  Don’t under estimate what a simple message on your packaging can do to establish confidence with consumers.

• Whenever you are packaging food, it’s vitally important to ensure it is in FDA Approved material.  Packaged Facts found that food safety was among the most important concerns for consumers.  Learn more about FDA Approved bags.

 

(Source: Packaged Facts)

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]]> http://www.greatampack.com/how-to-improve-your-food-packaging/feed/ 0 http://www.greatampack.com/how-wicket-bags-work/ http://www.greatampack.com/how-wicket-bags-work/#comments Wed, 22 Aug 2012 21:25:14 +0000 beth http://www.greatampack.com/?p=1216 What are wicket bags?  Wicket bags are used to load products at a high rate of speed for optimum time efficiency.  They are ideal for line work as well as full automatic packaging equipment.  Common uses include retail bags and food bags. How it works:  Wicket bags are designed with a perforated lip and two holes [...]

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]]> What are wicket bags?  Wicket bags are used to load products at a high rate of speed for optimum time efficiency.  They are ideal for line work as well as full automatic packaging equipment.  Common uses include retail bags and food bags.

How it works:  Wicket bags are designed with a perforated lip and two holes at the top.  A U-shaped metal rod is inserted through the holes allowing for multiple bags to be loaded onto a single wicket.  Some companies choose to have custom graphics printed on their bags to increase brand awareness.  Once the bags have been manufactured, they are shipped to a production shop and attached to high speed packaging machines.  The bags are blown open, loaded and torn off one-by-one.  Each bag is then sealed by heat, tape, or stapled.

Manual loading:  The great thing about wicket bags is they can be loaded by either machine or hand.   Even if it’s as simple as laying the bags flat on a table and doing all the sealing manually, wicket bags are very easy to handle and will save you a tremendous amount of time.

Learn more about wicket bags.

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]]> http://www.greatampack.com/how-wicket-bags-work/feed/ 0 http://www.greatampack.com/bottom-vs-side-gusset-bags-whats-the-difference/ http://www.greatampack.com/bottom-vs-side-gusset-bags-whats-the-difference/#comments Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:18:21 +0000 beth http://www.greatampack.com/?p=1213 Gusset bags are used as an alternative to flat bags when a product needs to be form-fitted.  They’re used for a wide array of applications ranging from products such as industrial box liners to high-end packaging for retail display.  Gusset bags can be broken down into two categories – side and bottom.  Each type is [...]

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]]> Gusset bags are used as an alternative to flat bags when a product needs to be form-fitted.  They’re used for a wide array of applications ranging from products such as industrial box liners to high-end packaging for retail display.  Gusset bags can be broken down into two categories – side and bottom.  Each type is built differently and provides unique features.

• Side gusset bags are manufactured similarly to flat bags with the exception that their lower corners are folded inwards and sides creased.  The bottom of the bag has a single seal spanning the entire width of the bag.

• Bottom gusset differs because it’s folded at the base of the bag.  The square bottom allows the rest of the bag to shape nicely into a box-like profile with creased sides.  Bottom gusset bags are ideal for aesthetic product display and can be produced in a variety of shapes and sizes.

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]]> http://www.greatampack.com/bottom-vs-side-gusset-bags-whats-the-difference/feed/ 0 http://www.greatampack.com/important-packaging-points-to-consider-for-ice-manufacturers/ http://www.greatampack.com/important-packaging-points-to-consider-for-ice-manufacturers/#comments Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:35:24 +0000 beth http://www.greatampack.com/?p=1210 Ice is a tricky product to package because of its heavy weight and jagged edges.  It requires a special blend of polyethylene film to ensure the bag is strong enough to hold its contents. Some of the challenges ice manufacturers must overcome when packaging ice include: Broken Bags:  Broken bags can lead to increased costs [...]

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]]> Ice is a tricky product to package because of its heavy weight and jagged edges.  It requires a special blend of polyethylene film to ensure the bag is strong enough to hold its contents.

Some of the challenges ice manufacturers must overcome when packaging ice include:

Broken Bags:  Broken bags can lead to increased costs to pay for Store credits as well as lost product during transportation. 

Cold crack:  Cold crack is when the bag fractures while it is stored in the freezer.  Some polyethylene films are designed specifically with a low freezing point to protect against cold crack.

Sealability of the poly film:  There is a wide range of temperature windows for heat sealing polyethylene.  Films with a wider sealing window create more flexibility during the form and fill/ high speed automated packaging process thereby creating a more efficient production line. 

A new blend of polyethylene film developed by Great American Packaging, Inc. is now solving these packaging challenges.  The biggest improvement and main focus of the advanced film is to add shear strength and puncture resistance.  In fact, it’s strength has been tested and survived tossing off thirty foot high roof.

The new ice bags are able to withstand cold crack more efficiently because of the upgraded alkene structure that comprises the film type.

The advanced blend also improves efficiency in the manufacturing phase.  With the new blend, machines are able to handle the sealing process with a much more flexible temperature window.  Less attention needs to be spent on machinery settings resulting in saved time, resources, and man-power.

The new bags are ideal for product display because they feature a special type of resin that produces a high clarity finish on the film.  In the design phase, it was important to ensure the look of the bag did not suffer at the expense of the added strength.

The end result is an incredibly strong blend that features excellent clarity for retail display.  The bags can be built to customized specifications and a variety of styles.  Manufacturers can now reduce store credits and increase production, thereby, increasing their bottom line.

For more information about Ice Bag specs, please visit: http://www.greatampack.com/products-page/specialty-bags/gap-ice-bags/

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]]> http://www.greatampack.com/important-packaging-points-to-consider-for-ice-manufacturers/feed/ 0 http://www.greatampack.com/plastic-bag-bans-the-latest-green-craze/ http://www.greatampack.com/plastic-bag-bans-the-latest-green-craze/#comments Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:25:48 +0000 beth http://www.greatampack.com/?p=1206 A lot has been said about the plastic bag bans that are continuously growing throughout the nation.  There are currently seventeen states with cities that have either banned, or are considering banning plastic bags.  Even companies are getting in on the mix.  SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment was among the first theme park chains to axe [...]

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]]> A lot has been said about the plastic bag bans that are continuously growing throughout the nation.  There are currently seventeen states with cities that have either banned, or are considering banning plastic bags.  Even companies are getting in on the mix.  SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment was among the first theme park chains to axe plastic bags.  But is it worth it?  Or is it simply the latest green fad?  Todd Meyers of the Mukilteo Times looked to answer that question in a recent article.  Here are some notable figures he collected that suggest plastic bag bans are based on erroneous beliefs:

• Plastic bags save energy.  The U.K. Environment Agency reported the global warming potential for plastic bags is 1/4^th of paper and 1/173 that of a reusable cotton bag.

• The notion that the number of plastic bags in the ocean is rapidly expanding is false.  According to Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institute, “the amount of plastic in the Atlantic Ocean hasn’t increased since the 1980s.”

• Science is often ignored by politicians because, “the political symbolism of banning the bags is powerful.”

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]]> http://www.greatampack.com/plastic-bag-bans-the-latest-green-craze/feed/ 0 http://www.greatampack.com/bakery-bag-trends-2012-are-you-in-the-know/ http://www.greatampack.com/bakery-bag-trends-2012-are-you-in-the-know/#comments Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:33:42 +0000 beth http://www.greatampack.com/?p=1203 According to a 2012 study by Puratos, an ingredients manufacturer headquartered in Belgium, consumers’ attitude towards healthy food will be a prominent factor in determining what people choose to buy in the future.   Here are some simple steps you can take to ensure your packaging will stay current with the times: Be sure your bakery [...]

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]]> According to a 2012 study by Puratos, an ingredients manufacturer headquartered in Belgium, consumers’ attitude towards healthy food will be a prominent factor in determining what people choose to buy in the future.   Here are some simple steps you can take to ensure your packaging will stay current with the times:

• Be sure your bakery products are being packaged in FDA approved bags.  Then, let your customers know by printing it on the bag.  Environmentally friendly packaging will be an increasingly important factor when consumers are deciding what products to buy.

• Consider adding a small “about” or “story” section on your packaging.  Consumers are becoming progressively more interested in where a product’s ingredients come from, how they were made, and where they were produced.

• Package food in smaller portions.  Portable food could be a convenient option for the large group of consumers that are always on the go.

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]]> http://www.greatampack.com/bakery-bag-trends-2012-are-you-in-the-know/feed/ 0 http://www.greatampack.com/am-i-getting-the-bag-i-ordered/ http://www.greatampack.com/am-i-getting-the-bag-i-ordered/#comments Tue, 14 Aug 2012 23:32:41 +0000 beth http://www.greatampack.com/?p=1198 Poly bags may seem like a relatively simple product, but there are a lot of variances between film types, thicknesses, and unique features that can be easily overlooked without the proper attention. Here are some tips to ensure you’re getting what you pay for: First, verify the actual dimensions of your poly bags are the [...]

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Micrometer

Poly bags may seem like a relatively simple product, but there are a lot of variances between film types, thicknesses, and unique features that can be easily overlooked without the proper attention. Here are some tips to ensure you’re getting what you pay for:

• First, verify the actual dimensions of your poly bags are the same as you ordered.

• Next, check that the gauge (thickness) is correct. A micrometer is a tool used to check the thickness of the film.

• Finally, if you ordered a special material such as high clarity film, spend some time visually inspecting the film to ensure the quality is up to your expectations.

If your product seems to be deficient in any area and your supplier is not helping, contact a third-party manufacturer. They can help inspect your bags, check the gauge, and could be a resourceful alternative.

The post Am I Getting the Bag I Ordered? appeared first on Custom Poly Bags & Plastic Bags Wholesale | Great American Packaging.