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Quick Packaging Offers Long Lasting Product Protection

Honeywell, Lentros Engineering and Mail Boxes Etc.: Each Has Discovered Sealed Air?s Instapak Quick^® Foam-In-Bag Packaging

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Instapak Quick® foam packaging

When companies begin to search for new packaging solutions usually one common need arises - the packaging must protect the product that is being shipped. This need for protection is the common thread between corporate giant Honeywell Corporation, family-owned Lentros Engineering, and retail franchise Mail Boxes Etc. A second common thread is the packaging solution they use: Sealed Air Corporation?s Instapak Quick^® foam-in-bag packaging.

The products shipped by Honeywell, Lentros Engineering and Mail Boxes Etc. vary greatly in size, shape, weight and type. Even within these three companies, a variety of products are shipped. Therefore, all three were seeking a versatile packaging solution that provides superior cushioning properties for multiple products. Instapak Quick^® packaging offers the exceptional protection of Instapak^® foam, by expanding and forming around the product being shipped, without a large up-front investment in equipment.

"When Honeywell began searching for a new packaging solution in 1999, the costs for a large foam-in-place system were too high for our budget," stated Jeanette Wall, shipping manager for Honeywell Loveland in Fort Collins, Colo. "Initially we looked to Instapak Quick^® as a ?quick fix? but have continued to use it because it provides the product protection we need and it is easy to use."

Honeywell Loveland is a calibration lab that uses Instapak Quick^® packaging to protect sensitive test equipment that must be calibrated accurately and certified before being shipped to other divisions of the company. For Ashland, Mass.-based Lentros Engineering, Instapak Quick^® packaging protects advanced technology manufacturing specially designed for Lentros? customers. And, one never knows what the customers of Mail Boxes Etc.?s retail stores might want to have shipped; the company?s franchises may use Instapak Quick^® foam-in-bag packaging for a multitude of items weighing less than 45 pounds.

Instapak Quick^® packaging consists of bags containing the liquid Instapak^® components needed to form Instapak^® foam packaging. These bags are stored in the compact Instapak Quick^® warmer. To use Instapak Quick^® packaging, the packager removes a bag from the warmer and unfolds it to lay flat. Then, pressure is applied on the bag in the designated area to open the inside seal. Once the seal is broken, the packager simply pats part "A" and part "B" of the bag back and forth to manually mix the foam components contained inside. The bag of expanding foam is placed into the shipping carton and the packager nestles the product to be shipped onto the rising protective cushion. A second expanding foam-filled bag is placed on top of the product and the shipping carton flaps are closed. The second Instapak Quick^® bag expands around the product and against the carton to form a top cushion.

1. Remove the bag from the Instapak Quick® warmer, unfold, and lay it on a flat surface.	2. Apply pressure to the "Press Here" area on the lower left side of the bag to open the inside seal.	3. Pat part "A" and part "B" back and forth and the bag will begin to expand.
4. Place the expanding foam-filled bag in the box and nestle the product onto the cushion.	5. Place a second expanding foam-filled bag on top of the product and close the box flaps.	6. The Instapak Quick® bag expands around the product and against the box to form a top cushion.

This versatile packaging system also helps companies save valuable operating space. Compact enough to sit on a mailroom table, the largest Instapak Quick^® warmer is less than 2 feet in length by 1 foot in width. According to Ray Hill, Instapak Quick^® product manager at Sealed Air Corporation?s Engineered Products Division, one small box of Instapak Quick^® foam packaging can produce protective cushioning for up to 24 shipping containers.

Honeywell Loveland - Sensitive Test Equipment

When Honeywell purchased a calibration laboratory in 1999, it switched to Instapak Quick^® packaging to meet the high packaging standards that an operation of that type required. The switch also enabled them to meet the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation standards for laboratory safety and shipping of the sensitive test equipment the company repairs, calibrates and certifies. Honeywell?s calibration laboratory currently ships 25 to 35 pieces of certified equipment each day. According to Wall, Instapak Quick^® packaging is used for 95 percent of the equipment due to it?s protective cushioning capabilities.

When Honeywell purchased a calibration laboratory in 1999, it switched to Instapak Quick^® packaging to meet the high packaging standards that an operation of that type required. The switch also enabled them to meet the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation standards for laboratory safety and shipping of the sensitive test equipment the company repairs, calibrates and certifies. Honeywell?s calibration laboratory currently ships 25 to 35 pieces of certified equipment each day. According to Wall, Instapak Quick^® packaging is used for 95 percent of the equipment due to it?s protective cushioning capabilities.

Wall explains, "It is very important that the equipment arrives at our customer?s location in the same quality that it leaves Honeywell, especially since we are providing certification that the equipment works properly."

Another advantage for Honeywell is that each year its customers can send the equipment back to the calibration lab for the equipment?s annual certification using the same Instapak Quick^® packaging in which it was sent. Dan Hart, sales representative with Packaging Resources Colorado who introduced Honeywell to Instapak Quick^® foam-in-bag packaging, states, "In addition to product protection, presentation and convenience were factors for Honeywell. They really liked that their customers could repack and resend the equipment in the same packaging."

Actually when equipment arrives at the laboratory, the technicians take photographs of how it was packaged because they must track and document any damage to the equipment, adds Wall. The calibration laboratory recommends that customers send equipment back using Instapak Quick^® packaging to diminish any product damage during shipment.

Lentros Engineering - Advanced Technology Prototypes

For Lentros Engineering, the packaging protection afforded by Instapak Quick^® foam-in-bag packaging provides peace-of-mind.

"Lentros Engineering wants to ensure that our products get to our customers safe and sound, and will not have to be sent back due to damage," said Jim Towne, shipping and receiving manager for Lentros Engineering. "I am especially glad that we use Instapak Quick^® packaging because for every outgoing shipment I must personally sign a document stating each product is adequately protected.".

After researching various packaging alternatives, including peanuts, paper pulp loose fill and air-filled packaging, executives at Lentros Engineering watched a demonstration of Instapak Quick^® foam-in-bag packaging. They were impressed with the unique way Instapak^® foam forms around the product providing superior cushioning and protection.

Because Instapak Quick^® packaging helps to prevent product damage during the shipping cycle, the money that Lentros Engineering spends on Instapak^® foam-filled bags is offset by the elimination of damage costs. Also, since Lentros Engineering is located in a small facility, the company liked that the packaging system does not require a large amount of space or changes in logistics.

Mail Boxes Etc. - Customers? Consumer Products

A significant portion of Mail Boxes Etc.?s business is in shipping -- which includes packaging materials, packaging services and actual shipping -- so it is important that the company provides quick and personal service to its customers. Also, as a retail store, Mail Boxes Etc. encounters all kinds of items that customers want to ship. Product protection, space efficiency and ease-of-use are on top of Mail Boxes Etc?s list when considering what types of packaging to include in the corporate guidelines provided to its franchisees.

Many of Mail Boxes Etc.?s franchise owners are first introduced to Instapak Quick^® foam-in-bag packaging at Mail Boxes Etc. University, a six-week training course for new franchise owners. According to John Lorts, manager of freight services for Mail Boxes Etc., the benefits of Instapak Quick^® packaging are immediately apparent to the students.

"Many new franchise owners first notice the small size of the Instapak Quick^® warmer," said Lorts. "To our franchisees, it is important that packaging materials do not take up much space within the store and Instapak Quick^® packaging is perfect because the cushions can be expanded as needed."

Also, because Mail Boxes Etc. centers experience seasonal surges in business, it is important that their packaging systems are easy to use. According to Lorts, the simplicity of using Instapak Quick^® foam-in-bag packaging has prompted some MBE franchisees to believe it is faster than using more traditional packaging.

No matter the size of the company or the types of products being shipped, Instapak Quick^® packaging is a versatile solution that provides superior product protection, while taking up very little space and requiring minimum up-front costs.

"Each day we learn about a new company that is using Instapak Quick^® packaging to protect their products during shipment," stated Hill. "From people working out of their homes to small-business owners to large corporations, Instapak Quick^® foam-in-bag packaging is proving to benefit all types and sizes of businesses."

Learn more about: Instapak Quick® foam packaging