Automated Packaging Systems crowned Company of the Year

As it celebrates 25 years in Europe and a 25,000 sq ft extension, Automated Packaging Systems has been awarded Company of the Year at the Food Processing annual awards.

“The award is a welcome acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication by all our staff over the last 18 months,” says Managing Director Peter Wylie. “It’s satisfying to receive recognition from within the food industry following our commitment and investment in the FAS SPrint, a core part of our bagging portfolio.

“We’ve built the FAS SPrint and, indeed, the entire business on an ability to supply flexible, cost-effective, high impact bagging solutions. At this time of global economic uncertainty, the savings in costs and increases in efficiency from our bagging solutions have never been more valuable. Being awarded Company of the Year is recognition of this.”

Commenting on the award, David Strydom, editor of Food Processing said: ''From the moment Food Processing started working with Automated Packaging Systems, we realised we were dealing with a professional outfit which is making an impact on Britain’s food industry.

“Owing to its reputation within the industry and to the quality of its products, Automated Packaging Systems is exactly the type of company which gives hope to our food industry. FAS SPrint represents innovation, which is why our readers voted it 'Company of the Year' in the 2009 FP Awards.''

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Happy 25th anniversary, Automated Packaging Systems

Job cuts, bankruptcies, downsizing; all symptoms of the recession hitting UK businesses. Not for Automated Packaging Systems though.

As it celebrates quarter of a century in Europe, Automated Packaging Systems is bucking the trend of financial gloom and opening a £2m extension at its European headquarters in Worcestershire. The extension sees the world leader in flexible bagging solutions gain an extra 50%, 25,000 sq ft, of manufacturing and warehouse space to serve its European customer base.

“Twenty five years as a supply chain partner has seen us grow to produce about 900 million bags per year,” says Peter Wylie, Managing Director of Automated Packaging S Europe. “We’d reached capacity in our existing premises and, despite the economic climate, we’ve got some very positive growth plans for the next five to ten years.

“We’re still budgeting for growth in 2009,” he emphasises. “The extension will give us the platform to achieve it.

“Our customers span many markets across a multitude of industries and geographies, from plumbing fittings to medical components, electronics to food. Our success is no accident; we’ve built the business on its ability to supply flexible, cost-effective, high impact bagging solutions to satisfy our customers and, most importantly, their customers too.

While acknowledging the challenges facing firms during recession, he says APS are well placed to weather the storm.

“Automated Packaging Systems’ bagging solutions are able to offer savings in costs and increases in production efficiency,” he says. “Plus great packaging helps sell more, and we deliver great packaging, every time.”

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Get the basics in the bag

There’s no quick fix solution to the recession, but in these challenging times business leaders are being reminded about the importance of getting the basics right.

Being responsiveness to customers’ needs; being flexible to the changing marketplace; consistently representing excellent value – these are the simple steps that will see businesses ride-out the recession.

The world leader in flexible bagging solutions, Automated Packaging Systems, has heeded this advice and launched a new range of 13 stock bags, in various sizes, to help its customers respond more easily to every opportunity.

“Our business is built on its ability to supply flexible, cost-effective, high impact bagging solutions and after 25 years as a supply chain partner our model has never been more relevant,” says Mike Healey, Automated Packaging Systems’ European Marketing Manager.

“Our supply-chain partner approach to business allows us to stay close to the front line and keep abreast of the big issues. We understand what our customers want and, equally important, we understand what their customers want. At this time of global economic uncertainty our customers need the ability to respond more easily to every opportunity, quickly. Our extended stock bag offer allows this.”

Automated Packaging Systems will be using its new £2m extension to hold stocks so bags can be made available on short lead times. Repeat customers will benefit from as little as 48hr order fulfillment.

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Green is the magic colour for AirPouch

AirPouch, the desktop void-fill system from Automated Packaging Systems, is reinforcing its green credentials as it unveils a more environmentally-sustainable material for void-fill applications.

The leader in high speed, flexible and reliable bagging solutions will produce void-fill cushions from single-source reprocessed material at the company’s European headquarters in Malvern. The new film will contain at least 95% reused material that is by-product from its bag manufacture process.

“The environment is a primary concern for all of us, even at a time when the rising cost of raw materials is hitting customers hard. Reprocessing by-product from our bag manufacturing process reduces the environmental impact of film and helps reduce costs,” says Mike Healey, Automated Packaging Systems’ European Marketing Manager.

“As well as reducing reliance on virgin fossil fuels and eliminating unnecessary shipping, the new film will offer cost advantages over conventional material.”

This innovation is consistent with values associated with AirPouch, explains Mr Healey. “The ultra-lightweight cushions have long been considered a cleaner, lighter and more user-friendly alternative to loose fill material. AirPouch offers a no-mess packing solution that reduces shipping and disposal/recycling costs, while increasing packing productivity,” he says.

The AirPouch desktop void-fill system is fast and easy-to-use, providing protective air-filled cushions to meet end-of-line packing requirements at a rate of 15 linear metres per minute. And the award winning EZ-Tear ™ perforations make handling and separating cushions easier. The system can operate in either automatic or semi-automatic mode creating continuous strips of air cushions.

The cushions are available in three sizes – 200x100mm, 200x200mm or 200x400mm – and several films. The premium, high performance, multi-layer Superior film sets the standard, along with the new single-source reprocessed film and Oxo-Biodegradable film. All AirPouch cushions are 100% recyclable where facilities exist.

Strong AirPouch cushions offer excellent protection and padding and are ideally suited for components, spare parts, CDs, books, electronics, pharmaceuticals and electrical items. AirPouch is widely used in mail order centres, fulfilment houses and for parts distribution.

As Mike Healey says: “AirPouch is ideal for any application where product protection and void-fill are required. Built to the quality of the Autobag range, the machine shares many common benefits such as speed, reliability, minimal downtime and low maintenance. And the small footprint of the tabletop system frees up valuable space in the packaging area.”

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‘FreeSpace’ sets new pace in desktop bagging

Raising the bar for desktop baggers, Automated Packaging Systems is unveiling the PS 125 ‘FreeSpace’.

No stranger to innovation, the international bagging leader has harnessed the latest engineering developments to offer a solution with all the benefits of an Autobag system, but in a simple table-top design.

“The PS 125 ‘FreeSpace’ desktop bagger compresses all we know about bagging into a smaller package,” says Mike Healey, European Marketing Manager at Automated Packaging Systems. “Specifically designed for low- to mid-volume operations, it’s highly productive, flexible and simple – just like any other Autobag machine – but on a smaller footprint.”

The new PS 125 ‘FreeSpace’ desktop bagging system is capable of operating at speeds up to 25 bags per minute, weighs just 37kg and features a footprint of 550mm x 480mm.

“We’re confident that the PS 125 ‘FreeSpace’ will raise the bar for desktop baggers in the UK,” says Mr Healey. “The system has been adopted for a wide range of applications in small and medium sized businesses. Everything from splitting bulk purchase fittings and craft items for retail to dispatching goods from offices. The option to have products go out in individually labelled clearly branded bags has been particularly well received.”

“At the other extreme, the PS 125 ‘FreeSpace’ is giving Autobag users the option to bag efficiently within production cells for the first time, rather than move goods to a separate department for bagging.”

According to Automated Packaging Systems, its new PS125 ‘FreeSpace’ desktop bagger brings with it all the benefits of the bigger, tried and tested AB 180. It is capable of streamlining packaging operations to deliver savings in labour and costs.

The quiet, all-electric design doesn’t require compressed air to run, making the unit suitable for non-industrial applications. And the unique lockable turntable enables ergonomic handling and changeover of Autobag bags-on-a-roll in tight spaces.

An optional built-in imprinter features next-bag-out printing technology and is ideal for short-run and order fulfilment. And the PS 125 ‘FreeSpace’ connects to Local Area Networks like a standard printer, making it possible to integrate office systems and print directly onto bags from remote locations. The imprinter is capable of printing high resolution graphics, text and bar codes directly onto the bag, eliminating the need for a separate labelling operation.

“The PS 125 ‘FreeSpace’ desktop bagger has many unique features,” emphasises Mike Healey. “But it also offers the user friendly operating system and superb standards of reliability which our customers have come to expect. And the tried and tested Autobag on-board system diagnostics simplify maintenance and maximise productivity. “The machine has been adopted for a wide range of applications. Everything from splitting bulk purchase fittings and craft items for retail to dispatching goods from offices,” he says. “The option to have products go out in individually labelled clearly-branded bags has been particularly well received.

“At the other extreme, the PS 125 ‘FreeSpace’ is giving Autobag users the option to bag efficiently within production cells for the first time, rather than move goods to a separate department for bagging.”

The new PS 125 ‘FreeSpace’ desktop bagging system is capable of operating at speeds up to 25 bags per minute, weighs no more than 50kg and features a footprint of 550mm x 480mm. The quiet, all-electric design doesn’t require compressed air to run, making the unit suitable for non-industrial applications. And the unique lockable turntable enables ergonomic handling and changeover of Autobag bags-on-a-roll in tight spaces.

An optional built-in imprinter features next-bag-out printing technology and is ideal for short-run and order fulfilment. And the PS 125 ‘FreeSpace’ connects to Local Area Networks like a standard printer, making it possible to integrate office systems and print directly onto bags from remote locations. The imprinter is capable of printing high resolution graphics, text and bar codes directly onto the bag, eliminating the need for a separate labelling operation.

“The PS 125 ‘FreeSpace’ desktop bagger has many unique features,” emphasises Mike Healey. “But it also offers the user-friendly operating system and superb standards of reliability which our customers have come to expect. And the tried and tested Autobag on-board system diagnostics simplify maintenance and maximise productivity.

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Bagging to beat the recession

Keeping up with demands for ever more innovative, distinctive and environmentally-
responsible packaging can be a challenge. The key, according to Connections AML, lies in close supply chain relationships.

Recognising the value that packaging can add to products, Connections AML turned to its supply chain partner, Automated Packaging Systems, for support. It wanted packaging that satisfies not only functional objectives but also branding and communication objectives. Packaging that’s distinctive and cost effective.

Working with Automated Packaging Systems, Connections is able to deliver these objectives within the constraints of budgets, supplying over 4,000 lines of plumbing components to leading UK retailers.

“Brands demand consistent, well-designed and well-presented packaging but they also want to show an improvement to the bottom line,” says John Peck, Operations Director at Connections AML. “It is often a compromise between the marketeers, who want a certain brand image, and production, which demands the best price.

“The cost of packaging can be an overriding issue but, with Automated Packaging Systems, we are able to show our customers a cost saving,” he says.

And the cost benefits aren’t to the detriment of design or functionality. Using an Autobag AB 180 with a PI412cw Imprinter, Connections AML is able to pack its customers’ products into distinctive, sealed and branded plastic bags. “This single material packaging fulfils our customers’ objectives,” says Mr Peck, “and it fits our approach to packaging. We are always looking to strip back packaging, rather than add to it.”

Connections use six Autobag AB 180 set-ups which are all used in conjunction with PI 412cw Prism Thermal Transfer Imprinters. This has allowed them to improve productivity, efficiency and design to the benefit of both Connections and its customers.

“Our customers have been delighted with the output from Automated Packaging Systems,” explains Paul Gilbert, production manager at Connections AML. “We invested in two Autobag machines to satisfy a specific customer request and, one year after the installation, our customer reviewed its packaging and decided to switch to Automated Packaging Systems for its whole range.

“This led to us purchasing four more Autobag systems and we now use the machine routinely for several customers, producing up to 70 different bagging variations,” he says. “The difference in productivity has been huge.”

Reflecting on the positive customer feedback and increases in productivity, John Peck says he’d like to channel more business through Automated Packaging Systems. “It is so efficient,” he says, “not only does this benefit our customers, it also benefits our business. We can afford to finance the machinery because we know we’ll earn back the outlay from savings in costs.”

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