General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.

Which Supermarket Trends Are Resonating Most with Customers?

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:32:00 +0000

According to a recent Consumer Reports survey, the top supermarket chains aren’t necessarily the biggest ones. The Supermarket Buying Guide found that customers preferred retailers such as Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Publix, and Costco from a list of 55 major grocery chains in the United States.

Among the lowest rated brands, Walmart Supercenter saw complaints ranging from lack of open check-out stations, employee attitudes, out-of-stock items, and confusing store layouts and pricing. About 80% of customers had at least one complaint about the mega-store. However, Walmart did receive high marks for overall low prices. Considering 43% of survey respondents have chosen to leave a grocery chain specifically because of price – this is a positive note for Walmart.

The report also included tips for consumers to help save money at the register. While many of the recommendations are well-known, it seems that few people actually take advantage of them. For example, coupon clipping has become a well-publicized activity, yet only 2.8 percent of coupons are redeemed according to NCH Marketing Services. Other tips included joining loyalty programs for special discounts, opting for private label goods (store brands), and looking at the unit price rather than the actual price listed on the package – which will help you get the most value.

The report also promoted online grocery shopping, which has been gaining attention as of late. Amazon Fresh, for example, has been rolled out along the West Coast as a new alternative for buying perishable food items. Other chains are jumping on the bandwagon as well, though many require a minimum purchase for online customers. It will be interesting to see where the online grocery shopping trend goes from here as more new technology and delivery options become available.

Which supermarket trends do you see taking off in the near future? Let us know by getting in touch via Twitter. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Flexible Food Packaging Sees a Surge in Demand

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 19:20:00 +0000

According to an article in Food Production Daily, demand for flexible packaging is expected to reach nearly $100 billion by 2018. Flexible packaging for the pharmaceutical and food sectors are leading the charge, with major brands increasingly making the switch from rigid containers to their flexible, film counterparts.

A trip to the local supermarket will reveal flexible food packaging options in just about every aisle. Take this packaging-type for a test drive and it will be no surprise why. For softer foods that typically require a spoon, flexible pouches offer a more user-friendly alternative than the traditional plastic cup. The new Mott’s Snack & Go applesauce pouch is a perfect example. Whereas before, applesauce either needed to be eaten with a spoon, or else awkwardly drunk straight from the cup, now, customers have an option that’s easier to transport and can be enjoyed with minimal effort and no utensils.

Having the ability to re-seal leftover food in the original bag or container is another appeal of flexible packaging. For products that are not typically eaten during one sitting – like shredded cheese, candy, and other snack items – a zipper-like closure can keep the food fresh for next time. A box, on the other hand, can be difficult to keep closed once opened, and usually cannot re-create an air-tight seal.

Overall, the main driver behind this flexible packaging revolution is convenience. Consumers want food that is easy to transport, eat, and store. Flexible packaging offers all of these benefits and more.

To learn about the bags and other flexible packaging options we’re capable of producing at General Plastic Extrusions, please feel free to visit us online. If you have any questions, we’re always happy to provide an answer, so don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.

U.S. Manufacturing Gets an Added Boost from General Motors

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 17:04:00 +0000

2014 is off to a good start for American manufacturers, as numerous reports come out projecting a rise in production and hiring. Adding to this optimism, General Motors has announced an investment of nearly $1.3 billion to five manufacturing plants across the Midwest.

This investment will retain and create about 1,000 jobs in the region. The investment will also provide for plant upgrades, allowing the facilities to better produce new fuel- efficient engines and transmissions. The locations benefitting from this activity are in Detroit, Flint, and Romulus, Mich., Toledo, Ohio, and Bedford, Ind.

The resurgence of the General Motors brand is not only good for the automotive industry, it’s also an indicator of the overall health of the American manufacturing industry. With additional production taking place on the GM assembly lines, other companies and industries stand to benefit from related demands as well.

For example, manufacturers who build automation and conveying equipment might see increasing orders from expanding factories that need to cope with rising production requirements. Similarly, flexible packaging manufacturers can also see an up-tick from producers who need additional protective film and bags to ship products across the country and overseas. Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) packaging in particular can be very useful in protecting automotive components from damaging corrosion during warehousing and shipping.

We’re excited to see how the U.S. manufacturing landscape will continue to develop and grow in 2014. If you need additional plastic film and bags to support increasing production this year, be sure to contact General Plastic Extrusions to request a quote.

The Importance of Antistatic Packaging During Dry Winter Months

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 20:49:00 +0000

The cold, dry air of winter is the culprit of a number of minor maladies; from chapped lips, to dry skin, to the occasional zap of static electricity as you open your car door. But these discomforts aren’t the only concern. For manufacturers, distributers, and suppliers of sensitive electric components and semiconductors, seemingly harmless static electricity can damage products.

To counteract this issue, it’s important to make sure all electrical products are protected by a layer (or two) of antistatic packaging. The packaging is either silver if made of metallic PET film, or pink if polyethylene is used for production. While both materials can be used to make sheets or bags, polyethylene offers some versatility as the packaging can take the form of bubble wrap or foam, as well. So if a metallic film is used as the primary packaging around an electric component, a pink polyethylene layer of bubble wrap can offer added protection not just from electrostatic, but from physical damage as well.

But the physical form of the packaging is not the only consideration to keep in mind when selecting an antistatic material option. The pink polyethylene bags are effective in an Electrostatic Protected Area (EPA), while metallic, silver bags can be used outside of an EPA so long as the material is not creased or punctured, which would render the film useless against static electricity.

General Plastic Extrusions is a custom manufacturer of polyethylene bags, tubes, and sheets. We are an experienced supplier of antistatic packaging solutions, and will work with you to determine the best material for your needs. For more information, please feel free to contact us and follow us on Twitter for additional industry updates.

Commitment to Quality in the Food and Beverage Industry

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:10:00 +0000

With all of the recent news surrounding contaminated and unsafe food hitting store shelves, it is more important than ever to ensure that proper food safety standards and requirements are in place. One option for monitoring food safety is quality certifications such as the SQF code.

SQF certification is administered by an independent agency, Eagle Food Registrations, Inc. In order to be certified, companies must submit to regular audits that check for overall cleanliness and quality in manufacturing facilities.

General Plastic Extrusions, a Wisconsin-based food packaging manufacturer registered for this distinction and is SQF Level 2 certified. The certification covers our range of food-grade packaging materials and flexible film products. To keep this certification, GPE must undergo annual audits to make sure we are maintaining a safe operation for food packaging and film.

Having a food packaging provider that is SQF certified to Level 2 helps food manufacturers in the selection process because they can rest assured that the packaging will not impact their product integrity. Keeping food safe from outside contamination is vital to building consumer trust, and will help the success of the brand. Within the food processing supply chain, there are many areas of vulnerability. This is why it’s so important to choose a food-grade packaging provider that is regularly audited for quality and cleanliness.

For more information on GPE’s commitment to quality in all areas of our flexible packaging operations, please visit us online. Feel free to follow us on Twitter for additional industry updates and company information.

Transporting and Storing Metal Components and Equipment

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 19:26:00 +0000

Anyone who depends on metal parts for their manufacturing operations, or even in everyday life, can understand the risks of corrosion. Rust is a very common problem that can derail processing and lead to downtime. For manufacturers and retailers receiving products from overseas, or who need to warehouse products for any period of time, finding a way to reduce or eliminate the threat of corrosion is a necessity.

Now that colder weather has arrived across much of the United States, many people might not be thinking about the impacts of warm, humid conditions on metal parts and components. But in a globalized economy, you also have to think about conditions in the countries where materials are being shipped to and from.

Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) packaging is ideal for high precision machine metal applications, shipping and storage of ball bearings, and other vulnerable metal equipment components. The bags and tubes are waterproof, so a little rain or other humidity during transit and warehousing won’t impact the materials inside. Whether they are being shipped across long distances in tropical locales, or simply being stored for long periods of time until they can be used, VCI packaging can protect small metal parts and larger equipment from corrosion.

In addition, this packaging option is non-toxic and environmentally friendly, making it the perfect solution for companies that are committed to sustainability. It also leaves no powder or residue on the products being protected, so they’ll be ready-to-use as needed.

For more information on VCI products and the metal components they can protect from corrosion, feel free to download a brochure. For additional information or comments, you can contact us online.

General Plastic Extrusions, Inc. Expanding Co-Extrusion Offerings

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:05:00 +0000

General Plastic Extrusions, Inc, located in Prescott, Wisconsin is in the process of expanding its Co-Extrusion capacity and capabilities. Currently General Plastic manufacturer’s 5-layer, 3-layer, and mono layer bags and films. The addition of the new line will bring capabilities to produce 7-layer blown film structures. General Plastic has partnered with Alpha Marathon to manufacturer a custom line that will meet the needs of General Plastic’s current and future customer base. The line is anticipated to be completed within the next 60 days.

Custom Solutions for Every Flexible Packaging Need

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 20:26:00 +0000

Think back to your most recent purchases. They could have been food, electronics, household products, or any other combination of possibilities. Now think back to how those purchases were packaged. Chances are, there was at least one plastic bag, tube, or sheet protecting the goods.

At the supermarket, you’ve no doubt seen bags on a roll distributed throughout the produce department. Then there are bags in the dairy section, keeping cheese safe and fresh; and bags in the bakery department keeping bread and other perishables from going stale. All of these bags serve a similar purpose, yet all are customized to best fit the needs of each type of food.

Beyond flexible packaging for food, even electronics packaging requires plastic bags. Each roll of wire, and every electronic adapter or charger is often packaged in its own plastic sleeve for protection and to prevent tangling during transit. There are also plastic sheets and liners to protect delicate phone, computer, and television screens. Just like food bags, each of these flexible plastic covers are tailored to suit a specific function.

At General Plastic Extrusions, our job is to determine what these specific needs are, and create a customized flexible packaging solution around that. To stay competitive in the global market we transitioned into more sophisticated, higher end structures. Unlike Chinese manufacturers, who offer small, standard stock size bags made of lower end materials, we create custom products using cutting edge technology.

Learn more about our capabilities, and feel free to tweet us for more information. We look forward to hearing from you!

July 4th Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 16:28:00 +0000

General Plastic Extrusions, Inc. will be closed July 4th - July 7th

Happy 4th from everyone at GPE, Inc.

What is SQF?

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:49:00 +0000

SQF stands for Safe Quality Food. It is a food safety and quality management system for the entire food supply chain. This is one of four codes recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). SQF is a preferred choice for many retailers and food service providers around the world.

The Safe Quality Food Institute Mission: To deliver consistent, globally recognized food safety and quality certification programs based on sound scientific principles, consistently applied across all industry sectors, and valued by all stakeholders.

SQF Vision: To be the single most trusted source for global food safety and quality certification.

General Plastic Extrusions, Inc. believes that food safety is very important to its customers, and ultimately the entire food chain. General Plastic has been working the last year to improve its operations and development a Safe Quality Food (SQF) program that will benefit all of its customers and future customers.

This week General Plastic Extrusions, Inc. was audited by Eagle Food Registrations Inc for SQF Certification. The audit was an opportunity for continued improvement to the GPE SQF program. After the two day audit, General Plastic received 8 minors, and 4 opportunities for improvement giving them a score of 92 points out of 100. General Plastic Extrusions, Inc. will be making some minor improvements and expect to receive official certification within the next 60 days.

Plastics Guru iPhone App

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:18:00 +0000

The following is a helpful link for anyone in the plastics industry. This iPhone app lets you calculate bag weights, blow up ratios, and stay up to date on the latest in the plastics industry.

http://plasticsguruapp.com/

Packaging Outpaces Overall Economy : Plastics Technology

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:43:00 +0000

Packaging Outpaces Overall Economy : Plastics Technology

Create Your Own Backyard Ice Rink

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:07:00 +0000

General Plastic Extrusions has been helping customers create their own backyard ice rinks by supplying rink liners for several years. Visit our website for more information on what we have to offer. Call for pricing and availability. Make this year the year that you decide to make your backyard the talk of the neighborhood and the place for winter fun!

715-262-3806

General Plastic Holiday Hours

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:53:00 +0000

Good Afternoon-

The following is the Holiday schedule for General Plastics. During these days production will be down.

November 22 and 23- Thanksgiving
December 24 and 25- Christmas
December 31 and Jan 1- New Years

Hoping everyone enjoys the holiday season!!!!

General Plastic Extrusions to seek SQF Certification

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:19:00 +0000

Prescott, Wisconsin

General Plastic Extrusions, Inc has announced that they are in the process of seeking SQF Institute Certification. SQF Institute stands for Safe Quality Foods Institute and is recognized around the world as a credible food safety management system. General Plastic is a packaging manufacturer and SQF Certification will make it easier for their food processing customers and prospects to work with them. General Plastic has been ISO Certified for over 10 years and is looking to improve their quality standards even further by going through the more rigorous SQF system.

General Plastic has completed its HACCP portion of the SQF requirements and last month sent Production Manager, Rich Olson and Quality Manager, Gavin Wiersma through SQF practitioner training in Madison, Wisconsin.

Gavin Wiersma, Quality Manager at General Plastic commented, “We have had several of our food customers’ audit us and they have been pleased with the results of their audits. The addition of SQF Certification will streamline future vendor qualification and audits.”

General Plastic plans to complete the SQF Certification by year’s end.

Bulk Cheese Packaging

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:50:00 +0000

General Plastic Extrusions is a custom manufacturer of packaging for the cheese industry. Our product's are custom manufactured to meet and exceed each individual customers needs. General has the capabilities of producing both barrier and non-barrier type packaging. Some of the products that General Plastic manufacturers for the cheese industry include barrel liners, block bags, 640 liners, box liners, shrink bundling film, and more. Visit our website to learn more and give us a call today to learn how we can help with your companies cheese packaging needs.

Hurricane Issac shuts down resin production

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:49:00 +0000

Hurricane Issac has shut down resin production in the Gulf Coast area. Read the complete article from Plastic News.

Elastic Poly Cover Bags

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:35:00 +0000

General Plastic Extrusions is proud to announce the addition of elastic poly cover bags to its product offerings. These cover bags are customized to meet each individual customers sizing needs. Whether you are looking to cover a Gaylord, Tote, Barrel or Drum, General Plastic can create a customized elastic cover to meet your needs. Custom mil thickness, and color options are also available. Each bag is sewn with elastic around the opening of the bag to ensure a snug fit around your container.

These covers are used to protect your products from dust and debris and are used in the Food and Industrial Industries. Contact General Plastic for your customized elastic poly cover needs. Below is a demonstration of a elastic poly cover bag being used.

Poly Bags for Food Packaging

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 19:32:00 +0000

General Plastic Extrusions manufacturers a variety of products for the food industry. Our products are custom manufactured to meet our customers exact needs. Whether you are in need of box liners, poly sheets, or shrink bundling film, General Plastic most likely can produce the product for your food packaging needs.

Some of the food packaging products that General Plastic manufacturers include:

Combo Bin Liners
Box Liners
Shrink Bundling Film
Gas Flush Bags
Drum Liners
Form Fill & Seal
Top Sheets
Long Hold Cheese Bags
Pallet Covers

These are just some of the products that General Plastic manufacturers for the food industry. Contact General Plastic today for more information on how we can help your company with its food packaging needs.

Bag Sizing Calculator

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:07:00 +0000

Not sure what bag size you need for your custom application? General Plastic has a web page with helpful calculators to determine what size bag you need to line or cover your specific box size.

Visit General Plastic Extrusions Calculator Page

Please contact customer service with any questions on determining the right bag size for your application.

Phone: 715-262-3806

E-Mail: sales@generalplastic.com

General Plastic Extrusions Green Initiative

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:16:00 +0000

In an effort to reduce corrugated waste, General Plastic is moving away from corrugated boxes and will be packaging products that come on a roll with sleeve and cradle packaging unless corrugated packaging is required. This is one small change that General Plastic hopes will have a big impact in preventing unnecessary corrugated waste.
Please contact General Plastic with any questions or concerns.

Skid of Sleeved & Cradled Product

Corrugated Waste from unnecessary corrugated packaging

Linear Tear Bags

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:25:00 +0000

General Plastic Extrusions is pleased to announce that we now manufacturer Linear Tear Bags made from a proprietary blend of Surlyn and Linear Low resins. These bags are made with a tear notch and the words "Tear Here" printed on the bags. General Plastic custom manufacturers linear tear bags to meet each customers individual requirements. Linear Tear Bags are commonly used in the medical industry. Below is a demonstration on how a linear tear bag is used. Contact General Plastic today for more information and a free sample.

DID YOU KNOW? VCI Packaging

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:34:00 +0000

General Plastic Extrusions will begin making blog posts on specific products that we manufacturer. We have a diverse customer base with a wide variety of products and needs. General Plastic believes that it is important for our customers to learn more about the products they use as well as other products that may be beneficial to their companies needs. This new segment of blog posts will be entitled "DID YOU KNOW?"

DID YOU KNOW?

General Plastic Extrusions is a manufacturer of VCI products. VCI stands for Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor. General Plastic's VCI products come in the the form of bags, tubing, and sheeting. These products are a cost effective and proven corrosion protection product for basic corrosion protection. Our VCI products are used for protecting metal components and equipment during storage, operations, and shipping.

We can custom manufacture your VCI products to virtually any dimension to meet your companies individual needs. Please contact us with any questions or quote requests that you may have.

GPE VCI poly bags protecting metal blades from corrosion

Visit our website for more information and to download our VCI brochure.

Short Lead Times

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:19:00 +0000

General Plastic Extrusions would like to remind its customers that their current lead times are 10-14 days or less for most items. Contact them today to let them know how they can help with your companies poly packaging needs. Some of the items that General Plastic manufacturers are the following:

Gaylord Liners

Box Liners

Shrink Bundling Film

Pallet Covers

Top Sheets

FDA grade bags

Gas Flush Bags

Nylon Co-Extruded Bags

You can also visit our website for more information on the products that we custom manufacturer for our customers as well as helpful calculators to determine the approximate size bag for your packaging needs.

General Plastic joins Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (General Plastic Extrusions, Inc.) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:29:00 +0000

General Plastic now has a Facebook page. Visit us today!