What often hits the news headlines are the, well… the headlines. Here's a great example of how misleading a only headline can be.

One would think California is about to ban Styrofoam, but as you read this post while that is a part of the story, it goes on to ask some good questions. Like; if the root problem is garbage of any kind being in an improper place, is that the fault of the garbage or the person who put it there. If drunk drivers harm innocent bystanders, should we ban cars or address drunk driving?

Further, restaurant operators go on to say they have to use two of the "green" alternatives to do the job of one traditional foam container. Is that really green?

Then another post points out the original Styrofoam container is in fact recyclable.

What the California Legislator wants (less garbage, clean beaches, cost savings, etc…) are admirable goals. The question is how to achieve them? If a home burns down, do you ban houses or improve fire safety, response and education?

Last week the National Toxicology Program (NTP) released its (Roc) Report on Carcinogens, which included the substance styrene despite significant appeals from The Styrene Information and Research Center (SIRC). SIRC and other trade associations whose members rely on styrene worked diligently to persuade Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to “double-check” the science and process behind the listing of styrene in the 12th Report on Carcinogens before HHS issued the report. Despite the efforts of SIRC and others, the NTP denied the appeal and listed styrene as ‘reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen’.
 
This action is unfortunate for a few important reasons, among many others;

• European Union Regulators, a panel of internationally recognized epidemiologists and a Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study have determined that styrene does not represent a human cancer concern.

• The NIEHS had to clarifiy the RoC listing relative to polystyrene.. “Styrene should not be confused with polystyrene. Although styrene, a liquid, is used to make polystyrene, which is a solid plastic, we do not believe that people are at risk from using polystyrene products EPS (is safe link). The listing in the RoC is specific for styrene and is based on studies of workers exposed to high levels of styrene in the workplace.”

• Unnecessary regulatory action and a lack of rational context can lead to inaccurate downstream decision making and misplaced fears/concerns.

The ACC (American Chemistry Council) and SIRC are leading the forthcoming legal challenge to the new listing based upon the lack of sound science to support the designation.
 
See this link for more information on styrene Styrene
 
ACC information on styrene and the RoC report ACC 

More information on the RoC is available at their website NIEHS
 
In practical terms, this is analogous to the RoC listing automotive paint as a carcinogen leading to moms not letting their children touch the family car and the end of washing cars in the driveway or car wash fundraisers - when the only way a human could be exposed to enough automotive paint to be a carcinogen would be to drink it in its liquid form.

If you have any further questions, comments  or concerns, please contact us at ffihelp@foamfabricatorsinc.com

Spring 2011

Do people really use Foam Fabricators recycling resources?

"I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your excellent service. Our company, EWaste Disposal, is helping a client recycle as much as possible from their facility as it is being shut down. The client had many pallets of foam that he didn't want going to the landfill. We decided to take the foam, didn't know what we were going to do with it, but knew we didn't want it going to the landfill. Our operations manager contacted your company and you were willing to take it for FREE. We were told it would be used to make other products. Thank you for helping us to eliminate the foam going to a landfill, but providing an avenue for it to be reused. Please feel free to use our company as a testimonial to your company's environmental responsibility. Joan Meeks - Partner Chief Marketing Officer EWaste Disposal ."

Thanks for the nice note Joan!

To recycle or not recycle... (is that really a question?)

Not all molded foam should be recycled and it’s a good thing it doesn’t bio-degrade. That’s an odd way to begin talking about “recycling”, but it’s true. Here are some examples…

• You wouldn’t want that bike helmet to do anything, but, be a bike helmet.
• We hope the insulation in your home lasts forever.
• It would be a bad thing if the EPS energy absorbers in your car, went away.
• The molded foam air ducts in your refrigerator should last as long as the refrigerator does.

There are more examples, but you get the point. Many things made from molded foam are intended to last for a long, long, time. One-use, or expendable packaging, is in a different category though.

While it’s doing its job, it is very efficient and very safe. Think about the simple (yet amazing) molded EPS coffee cup or a cup-of-noodles container. Only a few grams of foam does a lot of work. EPS is and has been for many decades; safe, clean, light-weight, reliable and efficient – all at a low cost.

Molded foam is “safe” for two big reasons:

(1) Whether it’s a coffee cup or coffee machine packaging it is about 95% air and 5% plastic. Think about that. Molded foam is mostly air. In the pictures you see here, we’re looking at microscopic cells of EPS (the first one is a molded part, the second one is that same part's individual beads and the last one is looking into the cells of those same beads). When you see in the cells (what molded foam is made from) you can see why it’s 95% air. The very thin polystyrene cell walls trap air, like little balloons. That’s why EPS is so light, cushions and is a good insulator.

(2) It is chemically inert. Nothing that can harm you will ever “get out” of the foam and into you. That’s why the FDA considers EPS safe for food use/direct contact and it’s why you can pour that boiling water in that cup-of-noodles, and, it’s perfectly safe.

Interestingly, #2 is also why if molded foam does find its way into a landfill, it’s safe there too. Unlike some paper items with ink on them, that bio-degrade, nothing will ever leak or leach out of EPS to pollute the soil or ground water. And that is THE landfill issue. We’ll never run out of room for them, it’s what can leak out of dumps that is the problem.

But, reducing, re-using and recycling are the best places to be. Thanks to the whole “green” movement a lot of time and care is given to minimizing the size of the packaging we design in the first place. Our engineers do that every single day, literally. We also re-use foam packaging every day too. We take back foam and recycle it in our own plants and we purchase reprocessed polystyrene resin, made from recycled EPS EcoSix. Last, we created an environmental resource “reuseps” www.reuseps.com dedicated to helping people do the right thing with “used foam”.

What is the right thing to do? Now you know the answer. That depends on what it was intended to do in the first place.

Google or Bing the word reuseps. It will come up number one every single time. It’s a one-word one-click way to get recycling help and it's how we take responsibility for the products we produce - after they have efficiently, cleanly and safely done their jobs.

 Q1 - 2010 - "EcoSix" Update

With Rapac’s support Foam Fabricators has continued to make more progress… The picture below is of molded EcoSix material/parts which were recently produced in one of our plants. These parts will be tested in April and assuming the results are positive, we will then move into full production!

Check back for more updates.

Like most any new technology or material, the current supply of this material is somewhat limited. The supply will be increased over time to match marketplace demand.

If you would like to source parts from this material and/or want more information about doing so, please just click this link ffihelp@foamfabricatorsinc.com .

Prior to recently spending the time to understand what can legally be claimed with respect to “100% recycled content” EPS materials that can be purchased by Foam Fabricators, Inc (FFI), our position has been to essentially go along with what the market has been doing, but, only say; “up to 100%...” until we fully understood the detail.

FFI has not been too active in this specific area, because, we have been more focused on establishing processing parameters, the boundaries of consistency and reliability and fully understanding the physical properties of recycled content material, relative to virgin EPS. We mold a broad spectrum of parts for many divergent markets and industries, so fully understanding all of this performance data was no small task.

After working through the aforementioned, we recently turned our attention to trying answer many questions relating to what can legally be said, and proven, with respect to recycled content percentages. While voluntary industry organizations such as the AFPR (Association of Foam Packaging Recyclers) and the ACC (American Chemical Council) do weigh in on this subject, we feel the most objective source and standard can be found within the FTC (Federal Trade Commission). And the FTC has very specific guidelines relating to this subject.

FTC Part 260(e) says (in part);

“A manufacturer routinely collects spilled raw material and scraps left over from the original manufacturing process. After a minimal amount of reprocessing, the manufacturer combines the spills and scraps with virgin material for use in further production of the same product. A claim that the product contains recycled material is deceptive since the spills and scraps to which the claim refers are normally reused by industry within the original manufacturing process, and would not normally have entered the waste stream”.

The full FTC Part 260 guidelines can be seen at www.ftc.gov/bcp/grnrule/guides980427.htm

Given this rather practical guideline any scrap/rejected material in any EPS resin and/or part manufacturing chain that we or our raw material suppliers would typically reclaim and reprocess anyway, cannot contribute to a “recycled content” claim because these materials are not being diverted from the waste stream which would otherwise end up in a landfill or similar outcome. This same basic reasoning extends to the blowing agents in the EPS, additives in it and coatings on it. So from both a literal and practical standpoint, it does not seem possible for any company to claim 100% recycled content EPS.

We are presently working with a raw material supplier, Rapac, to clearly establish and agree on what can reasonably be claimed with respect to all this, such that our customers can do this same while maintaining the integrity of their brands and the credibility of their “green” marketing claims.  Based on what we know now, we can safely say that EPS parts molded by FFI from Rapac’s EcoSix material will contain in excess of 50% recycled EPS. Rapac is additionally undertaking the project of establishing and undergoing third party certification to document/back-up this claim.

Foam Fabrications interests are to live up to both the language and the spirit of what we believe to be a high and objective standard that would be perceived by the general public as both true and fair. Doing so protects our customers good names and allows our customers to do exactly the same thing. These taken in tandem should result in preserving long term consumer confidence.

Fall/Winter 2009

Rapac, L.P. and Foam Fabricators, Inc working together on High %  Recycled Content Packaging

Packaging and the packaging business is unique in a few of ways. One is that we produce and sell a "necessary evil". Think about it, no one would buy packaging if they didn't have to… yet, almost everyone does for almost everything. Another interesting aspect is that if you're a packaging supplier, the best thing to be is; "invisible". If packaging works the way it's supposed to, no one gives it a second thought and over time it fades into the background. However, if you want instant attention (kind of the opposite of being invisible) you will get it, if, the packaging does not function properly. It is an absolute fact that all packaging engineers and buyers have no sense of humor whatsoever when a $500.00 item cannot be shipped, or is failing in the field, because $.90 worth of packaging is not working as it should.

Because most packaging quietly does its job, when environmental pressure builds, packaging becomes an easy target. No one would think of banning an iPod a Nintendo Wii or fresh flowers to help the environment. They all have value, provide a service or maybe are just fun. But we all need to be careful about banning or even changing packaging - just because it's in the background. If that packaging isn't there doing its job, right, the first time and every single time you won't get that iPod, Wii or those flowers…

What are we getting at here? We all need packaging that works and that isn't going to change any time soon. So the point of all this is; there is environmental pressure on a lot of things, including packaging and we're doing many things about that. We are constantly making sure packaging designs are efficient and as minimalistic as they can be. We spend a lot of time recycling, helping people recycle and adding recycled content to the packaging we produce. And this last piece is in the process of taking a big step forward.

Foam Fabricators, Inc. is working with a company named Rapac, L.P. www.ringcompanies.com/rapachome which produces a plastic resin "EcoSix" we can mold EPS packaging from that contains in excess of 50% recycled content. The processing trials are going well and we are hopeful to be moving into limited production soon. After that we will carefully scale the use of this material up to meet customer demand. And after reading the beginning of this little story, you now understand why we say "carefully scale up…". Rapac's EPS material must meet the same 10 criteria for success that common EPS has been for decades. These are:

1 - Product protection
2 - Producer quality control
3 - User utility and convenience
4 - Cost effectiveness
5 - Marketability
6 - Global availability
7 - Material processability/stability
8 - Distribution chain reliability
9 - Environmental compatibility
10 - Consumer safety

For a package to be successful, you don't get to pick, all ten criteria must be met. And with Rapac's material... so far, so good! Check back here for updates or email us for more information at moldedhelp@foamfabricatorsinc.com

July/Aug 2009

 How about a little summertime humor... ; )

April 2009

Would you like a full resource and environmental analysis on EPS, well here it is… Full EPS LCI

Do you need help putting a recycling program together? Follow this link Thinking clean and acting green

March/April 2009 

Several environmental studies are coming out that tell an old story; there are no quick-n-easy green answers and/or magical all-in-one green solutions.

There are applications and situations where it makes sense not to use molded foam. If all you need is blocking and bracing other materials may make sense…

But if you need cushioning and/or insulation – molded foam is usually the best choice. What’s news is; environmental cradle to grave studies indicate that molded foam is a reasonable and responsible choice – and that paper alternatives do not necessarily have less environmental impact.

 EPS Sustainability Summary

Molded pulp or EPS?

If you'd like more information go here reuseps.com or click this link to have a Foam Fabricators representitive contact you moldedhelp@foamfabricatorsinc.com

Jan 2009

Worried about navigating the current rough economic waters? We can help.

Foam Fabricators, Inc. announces it's new (old) "brand". You didn't know we had a brand... ? Follow the link below.

FFI Brand

Thanks for visiting.

Nov 2008

The packaging show in Chicago was a success and we'd like to thank all who visited us. The centerpiece of our booth was; "molded foam - the environmentally responsible choice" Click the links below for more detail...

November 08 Newsletter

Follow this link to go strait to www.reuseps.com

Oct/Nov 2008

This year our booth will feature an enviornmental update that will surprise a lot of people! Maybe molded foam was the right (low impact) choice all along...

Pack Expo is fast approaching and we're exhibiting again this year.  We have 100 free registrations for our customers.  Please stop by and visit our booth - E-6303.

To register, got to www.packexpo.com

• Select the  "PMMI Trade Show" tab at the top of the page.
• Select "Register PEI 2008"  and then “Register Now”
• In the “Registration Type” section, enter code 28V72. The registration fee will be waived prior to checkout - if you're one of the first 100 and do so on-line prior to 11-5.

 Thanks and we hope to see you in November!

July 2008

You can take a plant tour right here on our website.  Just follow this link...  FFI Mfg Plant

April 2008

Good news - The EPS recycling report is out and the rate is up again, to almost 20%. Follow this link for more information and/or the full report.

New Recycling Report

March 2008

Did you know Foam Fabricators has a new "green" brochure? Here it is: FFI 08 Brochure

December '07

50 years of growth continues! Foam Fabricators bucks the trends and adds a new plant to its system, in South Carolina.

Effective December 8, 2007 Foam Fabricators has acquired an additional molding plant in Anderson South Carolina.  The plant will begin production December 10, 2007 which will enhance our presence in the South East United States and will provide additional capacity to allow us to take advantage of growth opportunities.

Jim Sammons will relocate from our Fort Madison plant and will be plant manager of the new Anderson plant.  Until we retain a permanent plant manager for the Jefferson plant Jim will also oversee operations in Jefferson

follow these links for updated contact information address phone

August/Sepember '07

We’ve merged our Dallas, TX fabrication operation and our Keller, TX molding plant into one physical location, in Keller. The State of Texas widened the road in front of our Dallas plant, triggering the move.  We leased more space in the same building in Keller so now both businesses are under one roof. While any move is a lot of work, in the end this enhances our efficiencies and the move itself was accomplished with no impact on our customers.

follow these links for updated contact information address phone

May/June '07

We have updated the recycing portion of this site to adress sustaianability from a complete life cycle perspective.  Please take a look EPS and Sustainability

March '07

Longtime Foam Fabricators employee James Hughes is promoted to President.

Click the link bellow to view the announcement from our owner.

Promotion Announcement

Congratulations James!

January/February '07

http://www.foamfabricatorsinc.shop/thankyou.html

The best is yet to come,

Foam Fabricators

October/November '06

Foam Fabricators, Inc at Pack-Expo

We'll be at booth E-8612.

More info about Pack-Expo: http://pei2006.packexpo.com/content/factsheet.html

More info about Foam Fabricators at Pack-Expo: http://packexpo2006.bdmetrics.com/portal/viewcompany.aspx?id=1876938

Do you need a free pass to the show?  We have some, but quantities are limited.

Contact your local Foam Fabricators salesperson, call 800-626-1197 or email smorey@foamfabricatorsinc.com

What will you see....?

We're introducing our "LITE" program at this years Pack-Expo in Chicago which runs from Sunday October 29th ~ Thursday November 2nd.

L - Lower Costs

I - Increased Protection

T - Through

E - Engineered Solutions

Want more information about the "LITE" program right now? Follow this link LITE

Also please visit one of our partner companies, Cold Chain Technologies at booth N-4833.  For more information see http://packexpo2006.bdmetrics.com/portal/viewcompany.aspx?id=1877629

July/August '06

"Packing Light"

issue: July 2006 APPLIANCE Magazine

by Erin Biesen, Assistant Editor

Suppliers provide the necessary packaging solutions for OEMs and keep them up to date on new technology.

SmartMove Conveyors is seeing a growing trend to incorporate computers and controls into conveyor equipment.
 
There are three major factors that most OEMs and suppliers take into consideration when looking at packaging materials and equipment for appliances—product protection, cost and automation. One of the more important is protection of the product from the manufacturing warehouse to the home.

“[We want] assurance that the part or product is adequately protected during its rigorous journey from manufacturer to consumer,” says Bob Ryan, vice president of marketing for Bradford Company, a maker of packaging products and material handling systems in Holland, Michigan, U.S. “Class ‘A’ parts are generally high ‘value added’ products and must be properly packaged to avoid abrasion, surface damage and breakage.” Atul Vir, president of Equator Appliances, located in Houston, Texas, U.S., notes that product damage can be one of the most consequential issues manufacturers face. “Consumers wait to have their appliances delivered and if it gets there with even the smallest blemish they are not going to be happy,” Vir says. “Then the consumer wants a replacement and there is the problem of who takes responsibility for the damage—the dealer, the distributor, the manufacturer?”

Damage en route can come from many sources. Not only are there bumps and bruises that occur along the way, but also temperature variance. “The [packages] need enough hot-melt or cold adhesive to hold the package together under extreme transportation conditions, hot, cold, etc.,” explains Joe Klimesh, Nordson area manager (Duluth, Georgia, U.S.). “Sealing with hot-melt or liquid adhesives also contributes to the structural integrity of the package. Appliances and appliance parts that are shipped and stacked benefit the most.” An example of this is a corrugated box with flaps. If the OEM uses hot-melt adhesive to seal this type of package it penetrates into the fiberboard, which Klimesh says allows for a stronger bond than staples or tape. Strong packaging methods also help manufacturers determine the success of a packaging system. “A returned product is a sure sign of an unhappy customer,” says Stacy Webb, regional manager for Foam Fabricators, Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. “If the appliance company can determine the cause of this return, then the returns related to damaged products would give an effective measurement of how well the package system performed.”

Specifically speaking about tape, 3M notes that one of the major issues that appliance retailers are concerned about is whether or not the tape holds during shipping and also can be removed cleanly after it is stored in the hot or cold conditions of a warehouse. “If the tape does not remove cleanly, the consumer is left to their own devices in deciding how to remove adhesive residue,” says Sam Lamberta, senior packaging specialist at 3M in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S. “This may result in damage to the surface of a new appliance, which could lead to a complaint call to the appliance manufacturer and possibly even a service call at the manufacturer’s expense.”

Foam Fabricators, Inc. is one of several packaging companies continuously trying to create strong, successful packaging systems.
 
Cost Considerations

Cost is a major consideration that OEMs must look at when changing or altering packaging processes, including the cost of potentially damaged products. “Prevention of damage is the only way to keep costs down,” says Ryan of Bradford Company. “In order to make good packaging decisions, knowledge of materials and the proper testing protocols are key.”Testing can help. Webb of Foam Fabricators, Inc. expresses the importance of shipping simulations in order to prevent particular areas of damage. “Many appliances have areas of vulnerability to damage that the package and packaging system must address. Shipping simulations will find them.” LG Electronics notes that increasingly appliances are being shipped overseas from their factory of origin to the consumer, which needs to be taken into account when packaging is specified. “There are various factors that need to be taken into consideration and tested when designing a packaging system, these include shock, vibration and temperature,” says Jay Lee, engineering manager of Digital Appliances, LG Electronics USA, Inc., a subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc. (Seoul, Korea). “By having these processes in place, we ensure our products will be shipped, handled and received in their manufactured condition,” added Richard Donner, LG’s director of Standards and Regulatory Compliance. “This also helps reduce expenses due to damages from inferior protective packaging.” Klimesh of Nordson states that both retailers and end users require undamaged cartons. “Damaged cartons are returned to the manufacturer,” he says. “Return shipping, product repair, product re-packaging, and re-shipping are becoming unacceptable costs in today’s lean manufacturing environment.”

Safe Transit

In 1948 Dana Chase Publications, Inc., publisher of APPLIANCE magazine, noticed the high levels of loss during shipment of porcelain enameled products. Publisher Dana Chase Sr. realized that simply putting the right programs in place to address the issue could prevent millions of dollars in finished products loss. This notion led eventually to the creation of the National Safe Transit Committee (NTSC). NTSC determined that there needed to be prevention instead of just a cure for the problem of in-transit damage. The committee developed standard shipping tests to see if a packaged product could withstand the typical transportation shocks, “Project 1 and 1A,” and in 1952, the first Transit Tested label was put to use.Much has changed for the organization in the last 55 years, including a change of name to the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) in 1994. The Transit Tested program today has been developed to help protect products and profits through reduced damage and product loss, provide economically balanced distribution costs, provide reduced damage claims, and reduce packaging development time.ISTA now offers a list of suggestions to help companies improve upon their protective packaging systems to reach a goal called Just Right Transport Packaging. The Just Right approach calls for a product to be made as rugged as economically possible, then adds packaging designed with just enough of the right type of materials to protect against hazards during distribution. The testing used in this approach takes into account all the potential distribution hazards that could come during different modes of transit, including shock, vibration, compression, and atmospheric hazards. The approach makes a point of testing only for the hazards and intensity levels that may be present, which requires that environmental hazards, packaging performance and product fragility be quantifiable in engineering terms. The association states a company should test the packaged product, know the distribution environment that the product moves through, continuously review and improve, and stay up to date.There is also a Transit Tested program, which is the ISTA test procedures and projects for packaged-products. The benefits of this program include protection of products and profits through reduced damage and product loss, economically balanced distribution costs, reduced or eliminated claims hassles, shortened package development time and confidence in product launch, and customer satisfaction and continued business. For more information on ISTA, visit www.ista.org.

Cost-Saving Automation

Incorporating automation into the packaging process can help in removing the cost of errors and damages. “Automating the manual taping process not only results in a cost savings, but also insured precise tape placement and consistency,” says Lamberta of 3M. “Automating adhesive application systems,” according to Klimesh, “provides superior line speeds and fewer chances for operator error compared to tapes or staples.” He adds that automating the adhesive process allows personnel to be better utilized in other manufacturing and production areas, which could reduce the overall cost of manufacturing. “Good adhesive systems often operate 24/7 for months at a time with minimal maintenance. An investment in a quality adhesive system also helps assure greater productivity and less downtime.”

Protecting the Environment

Packaging companies are trying to be environmentally conscious when creating or incorporating new materials. “This industry has gone to great lengths educating the public on recycled products,” says Webb. “Foam, corrugate and plastic are all recyclable materials. As we continue this path, consumers are more aware of how to properly dispose of the package.”Cold glue can typically be recycled more easily than hot-melt. “Cold adhesive is an emulsion, which is processed and becomes part of the new recycled paper without impacting quality,” says Klimesh. “Hot-melt must be removed during the recycling process.”Environmental standards are having an impact on the packaging industry as retailers and manufacturers are being forced to reduce the amount of waste their products generate. One of the largest components of this is expendable packaging. According to Ryan, the use of biodegradable materials and exploration of returnable packaging are important possibilities. “In the industry, I think we are all trying to work toward environmentally safe packaging methods,” says Vir of Equator Appliances. “Europe is further ahead with its wide spread use of Styrofoam and shrink wrap.”

Bradford notes the importance of getting products safely from the manufacturer’s warehouse to the consumer’s home.
 
Up and Coming in Equipment

There are numerous views as to what the major packaging methods will be and are currently growing into being important. Greater flexibility and control of the process will certainly be required.
SmartMove Conveyors, Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S., is seeing integration of computers and controls growing in conveyor equipment. “In the past many of these packaging ‘upgrades’ occurred at the integrator, and are now being requested direct from the conveyor manufacturer,” says Gregory Ferguson, vice president. “That is why SmartMove has introduced the digital controller for its conveyor line. Now ‘smart’ production engineers can work with a conveyor that is easily programmed to meet their requirements.”Nordson is noticing a trend toward the use of dual gluing using hot-melt and cold glue adhesive systems. Cold glue can provide the packaging superior strength and make recycling easier, however it does take longer to dry. The hot-melt system quickly processes adhesives from 200°F to more than 400°F (100°C to 205°C), holding the flaps closed while the glue dries. “We expect that the appliance industry may soon follow the packaging trends that are becoming standard in other industries, combining hot-melt and cold glue systems,” says Klimesh.3M sees custom equipment as a growing packaging trend. Unique equipment is designed to specially apply a particular type of the company’s tape and can locate the exact point of the tape application, resulting in lower labor costs and consistent tape placement.The appliance industry may see expanding growth of clear packaging systems. This method of shrink or heat wrap eliminates the need for a corrugated box and provides retailers visibility of the product. “Studies have shown that this reduces the damage and customer returns related to damage,” says Webb. “Customers want an un-blemished product thus the outer packaging must be without damage. If the customer is able to see the product in the package, then they are more willing to overlook any damage to the package.”OEMs and packaging suppliers have numerous considerations when looking to change or improve packaging methods. As long as the product makes its way to consumers’ homes unharmed the packaging method is a success.

March '06

1. Want to see a video of EPS being molded?
2. How about some interesting environmental information?

Theres more to come in the next few weeks, so check back in...

For Foam Fabricators employees, the emergency contact list has been updated (thanks Dan L.) which you can access through the intranet

Detroit Auto Show, January 2006

Foam Fabricators signs deal with JMA... a leading automotive sales and engineering firm based in Detroit.  This move marks the transition of a passive sales/marketing stance by Foam Fabricators to an active one (in the automotive industry).  Foam Fabricators has been molding componentry, automotive and otherwise, for years.  This has lead to a broad based capability that can be leveraged by JMA into what the company calls a “rational growth plan” i.e., meeting the growth needs of the automotive market, not cannibalizing the existing base.

JMA has a fine reputation in this market sector – they’re committed to solving problems and run a “solutions” based business.  This coupled with Foam Fabricators manufacturing plant network (spanning most of N. America) and 50 years of material-neutral custom molding experience should make for a dynamic team!

Foam Fabricators co-molded "light weight" pallet

Airdex pallets !

JSP (one of our raw material suppliers) offers a moldable porous EPP (P-EPP).  This material has unique sound managing capabilities...

P-EPP link

 Yep, that, Mother Earth News...  To find our why just follow this link recycling and source reduction

March 2006 -

Foam Fabricators of Scottsdale, AZ and Petro Pac de Chihuahua, MX have merged assets in Chihuahua, MX, to open a new molded foam plant.  In addition to the new plant, Foam Fabricators will be taking a more active role in support of Petro Pac's other plant on Juarez, MX. 

Petro Pac has a fine reputation in the Juarez region. This combined with Foam Fabricators North American resources will mark the beginning of a repositioning in that market too.

The new plant will be accepting orders in April of 2006. Click here for contact information

Career Opportunities !!!

We need three more team members!  Go to ... jobs to find out about them.