Endless Innovation!

The most exciting thing about being in packaging for the past 51 years has been being part of a group of inventors who introduced many ground breaking new package innovations to the market place.

In the early days in South Africa we used to pack printed brown paper bags with for example dried yeast and then at the brewery we moved onto high speed filling of returnable light weight glass bottles for beer. This fascination with products and packages formed the basis of my career, which developed, into selling all types of packaging machines for the multitude of packages available today.

My enthusiasm for the packaging industry can be described as "being part of endless innovation".

We as a small company have 70 patents and about 50 more on the way all aimed at pouch packaging. Many of these are licensed and working today.

In 2014 we will launch three new pouch packs in the first quarter, ranging from the exciting elegant KoolPaQ™ beverage pouch to the functional SoaPaQ™ used for away-from-home hand washing and finally the new Dip-N-Rinz™ compartment pouch.

Our PGS machinery division supports each of these pouch innovations with newly developed machines from its global strategic partners.

Joint collaboration with our strategic partners allows us to develop on their strengths and is the way of the future. New ideas and working with others who have a passion for creating inventions is often the way to succeed.

So expect more from our Sarasota team in the coming year and not less, as we have a full nursery of ideas to develop.

In closing to quote our Technical Service Manager, "Pouchin' ain't easy, but good ideas help!"

The Machine Future ...

The machine future is Robotics and Vision Inspection Cameras in every function.

Our PGS machine group is being asked what can be done to increase efficiency or better described as Uptime on our pouch machine systems.

Our machines are designed to run 24/7 and performance is operator driven with the obvious human risks. The use of cameras as quality assurance inspectors and robotics for loading ensures highest performance as we reach speeds of 1000 pouches per minute with our pouch making Nishibe machines.

Due to increased requests for proven consistency and reliability we are starting to offer robots and vision inspection cameras. With speeds increasing and the use of different components the cameras are proving to be fail safe. Defect pouches are rejected on line.

Our first success was some three years ago in Canada and the demand was for a medical device pouch that had to be 100% complete when dispatched to the troops. The four robots on the PSG LEE machine made it meet all objectives with zero fail rate.

Factors like reduced machine size, noise reduction and non stop repetitive performance makes these new machines and instant choice.

Now SN Machinery has just sold a machine for the dental device segment where all components have to be present in the pouch for the product to work. The two robots integrated into the machine ensure this happens throughout the shift.

As we sell more and more spout machines we are finding the vision inspection cameras are increasing quality and output beyond our wildest dreams. We are developing the future.

We are also creating highly skilled new jobs for technicians in this robot and camera era.

We continue with the StandUp pouch revolution we started in 1995.

Amara's Law

We are actively preparing for the largest packaging machinery show in North America. We will take six very technical pouch primary pouch and secondary packaging machines and run them in our booth.  This made me think of a principle relating to new technology.

Amara's law "We tend to over estimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run."

Basically our machines are futuristic (scary) however they use modern deep green ecology flexible materials to make or check pouches at high speeds and they do this 24/7 without missing a beat. Of course stuff happens but we don't really appreciate what our engineers have created.

Amara's law really makes sense once you think what we have to offer compared to what was available just a few years ago.

So in my 51 years of working I have learnt that the best education comes from practice, persistence and observation leading to experience. Again everything we do today has a technology link be it the mobile phone or GPS or computer which we were in awe of initially and now accept as part of our lives.

We used to refer to the three R's as part of our education but the new acronym is STEM /Science Technology Engineering Mathematics.

So be prepared to be Wowed at our Las Vegas booth 2540 and don't under estimate what we are doing for the food and beverage industries.

Need to Change in a Web-Based World

We are all exposed to changing business conditions every day. In order for a business to survive in the new web-based marketing world, it must have a plan with a fast introductory path to ensure a successful change.

Most CEO's know they need to change from their original strategic paper, TV advertising plans in order to survive or they will watch the business struggle to compete in the new social marketing era.

The biggest problem for Managers is understanding change behavior in the social network era.

A leader has to direct, motivate and shape the change so customers are seamlessly driven to the product and benefits of buying them.

Remember that knowledge does not change behavior but people do. Thus companies need to ensure that the Customer Service personnel are zealots in this regard. They have to advise, ask, offer and use video to ensure the customer reaches the tipping point and make the sale.

It is important that the changes required by Management are clearly spelt out.

Remember that same is not a number and soon is not a time. Clarity of objectives is important.

Finally, once implemented, measurement is important. You need honesty in what you find, some joy in that the staff understands the plan and trust in the cleverness of the technical people in making it work.

S. E. C. A. M. P. Energy Recovery From Plastics

18 years ago we started our commitment to the end-of-life options for plastic pouches.

We launched our SECAMP logo and printed it on as many pouches as possible. It is an updated acronym for:

S / Sustainable
E / Environmental
C / Collection for incineration
A / Alternative energy
M / Machinery
P / Pouches

We explain that mixed plastics can be mechanically cut into small pieces, heated and chemically transformed and converted into energy, waste metals and slag. (Slag an important material as a road-building base). Thus a zero Carbon Dioxide footprint product!

Florida Power and Light (FPL) has done an exceptional job in building incinerators for energy recovery from garbage including plastics that can't be recycled like pouches.

Energy recovery through incineration is the practice of recovering the embedded energy in used materials and preventing them from going to landfills.

This incineration process provides a valuable alternative energy source, reducing our dependence exclusively on natural gas, solar, coal and expensive oil.

In the future, recycling centers are going to need Material Recovery Facilities to ensure management of the incineration of all waste materials and recycling of those that can maintain the integrity of the recycle process.

Please do your share. Place pouches into your garbage in states where incinerators are used.

NFC the Pouch Tap and Message Process

Brand owners today are looking for ways to capitalize on how to have one-on-one communication with their customer.

The pouch is an incredibly effective package and the new PGS/IZipline NFC antenna chip with its tap touch point engages consumers in building relationship with the brand.

Brand messages are so important and the ability to speak directly and daily with the consumer opens new avenues. Imagine our NFC chip on a morning cereal pouch and one tap shows a video of the day from games to sports or a school quiz. Changed everyday the message will be sought by the consumer every morning.

PPI Global Sales and IZipline will offer a total system from application onto the pouch to sending the brand message to the consumer and measuring the metrics of each NFC pouch sold.

Redi-2-DrinQ™ division launched just in time for summer a ShotPak® cocktail 10 PaQ of 50ml StandUp pouches and 10 American recipes with premium alcohol. These pouches will carry a NFC chip in the near future.

Mix a can of lemon pop or a small Champagne, pour over crushed ice and enjoy two cocktails.

The Importance of Small Companies

Few people realize that more than 45% of private sector business is in the hands of small companies.

One of the benefits of small companies is innovation -- that’s when outrageous concepts are easily introduced. These are usually untested entrepreneurial ideas, but they can be brought quickly to the market place and abandoned just as fast.

This month, our PGS machinery business has introduced a range of high speed systems from SN Machinery for spout fitment applications. Since 2009 SN Machinery has led the spout fitment market segment with the introduction of a 500 form-fill-seal pouch per minute spout fitment line.

Alongside this new SN Machinery technology, Nishibe has developed a premade StandUp pouch-making machine that operates at 1000 pouches per minute.

Both developments have come from small family businesses and both use patents from (PPiTG) PouchPac™ Innovations.

Pouches are recognized today as having a positive zero carbon dioxide footprint benefit when incinerated.

The Redi-2-DrinQ ShotPaQ™ Group has introduced from VinoPaQ™ a 3 liter BarrelPaQ™ patented StandUp pouch with tap for a new range of dry red Zambezi™ and white De Moravia™ wines from South Africa.

Alongside these pouches and just in time for summer, R2D ShotPak® has launched 10 x 50ml Redi-2-DrinQ spirit cocktails in a PartyPaQ™.It takes small companies to get things moving and then the consumers take over.

Cheers and enjoy a glorious summer.

Florida and Growth Opportunities!

Every day I go to work in Sarasota, Florida I congratulate myself on how lucky I have been to find this little piece of paradise.

The latest government census [2012] reported that the Florida population is now 19.5 million. What is startling is they predict a quarter of a million population growth per year for the next decade and beyond. We are lucky our state has natural growth, which means more births than deaths. Even more significant is that by 2014 Florida will become the 3rd most populous state replacing New York. In 1980 we had just 10 million people.

PPi Technologies GROUP, the largest StandUp pouch machinery supplier in the USA and with the billion pouch capacity Redi-2-DrinQ™ contract packing facility just being completed is ready for any future expansion in the state. Florida has three growth market opportunities in the well proven tourist industry, the new technology corridor being expanded from coast to coast [which we are part of] and the fast developing food industry, making the state a potential bread basket for the rest of the country and export markets [where we plan to enter as a pouch contract packer].

With all of this population growth the question of the environment comes up and we are extremely proud that the pouch is a zero carbon dioxide package when incinerated and fits well into the Florida Power and Light (FPL) plan with more than a dozen incinerators around the state producing energy, metal for housing and slag for building our roads. FPL is a leader in this regard. Thus the pouch package will leave nothing behind for our grandchildren to find and wonder what to do with!

With the forecasted strong population growth, and a positive environmental Deep Green garbage policy, you can see why I am thankful every day for choosing this state. It is also worth noting the forward-thinking friendly-to-business state regulations, which are also emulated locally in the support from Sarasota EDC and City management. All geared to encouraging small companies to grow!

How To Add 60 Minutes To Your Day

Personal productivity varies by person to person. Some people never carry work over to the next day, preferring to complete all tasks or delegate them before going home.

In today's world with snail mail, FedEx, facsimile, email and all the social media led by Google, Facebook, You Tube and Twitter you can hardly get your standard tasks complete. Planning an office routine is paramount.

So what to do about your routine?

You can make lists by priority, or create piles of papers by due dates or delegate which is basically passing the buck. Or you can:

• Take time and decide what can be done to complete essential tasks for which you are responsible and complete them as fast as possible. Do not hold these over.
• Drop any reading, both project/office related or any fun stuff. Take it home as homework. You are better off reading material at home than getting distracted from your serious work load.
• Reply immediately to requests for information. This stops accumulation of paperwork or emails and the feeling of "you owe, you owe".
• Plan about 40 minutes before lunch and 30 minutes just before leaving for home for secondary emails and social media activities.

Make sure you allow time in the morning and afternoon for face time with colleagues. This is essential for health and fun and it reduces stress. Drop all low priority tasks and participate in these via email.

Be prepared for meetings and hopefully these become more efficient. Plan your desk-work load so that 50% of the time you are at your desk (about 4 hours a day). Be firm with this and suddenly you will find spare time for enjoying your day at the office.

Social Media & Technology: A Vital Combination

According to The Lantern, 1.4 billion people will use social media in 2012 and some colleges are capitalizing on the ubiquity of online technology by incorporating it into their business class lessons. Suddenly online technology does not hinder learning -- it fuels it.

Companies are starting to accept that advertising is changing and the size of the Company does not matter if you have a good Brand. Today there are companies in various segments dropping sales gimmicks and saying goodbye to the things people don’t need when using their products. It is the new Brand Managers [often called Generation Flux] who work in these companies that are shifting society’s perception of a brand and convenience.

In the ‘60s, consumers drove to the big stores for cheaper processed foods. Today, people are finding a new love for raw and organic foods and as such, consumers are calling for the return of the local neighborhood market. They are asking where food is from, how it’s grown, and the nutrient content and ingredients. Social media will communicate all this to the consumer and not necessarily the Brand Manager.

Social media is a relatively new advertising frontier and with that comes the danger of misconceptions and a moving target as regards reports and news about brands. These reports are instant and the public becomes immediately aware of the good and bad about a brand.

ShotPak™ has always recognized that social media is not a magic bullet to immediate brand success and thus we make sure our Design Marketing Group team is constantly tuning, tweaking, experimenting, and measuring everything we do, so that when there’s a solid recommendation on how social media can play a role in growing the Brand, we follow their advice in some way, shape, or form.

The PGS machine group has taken full advantage of Social Media and the capability to send and use videos of their machines running applications and solving problems. The use of video has been patented by PGS.

Today Social Media is an ongoing conversation between brands and their consumers. While talking with someone you want to be inquisitive and interested in what they are saying as well as compassionate or understanding as required.. It has been said that “the biggest brilliant basic of social media is treating it as if it were a pleasant, never-ending phone conversation with the consumer”.

Social media has firmly entrenched itself as a brand-to-consumer communication. The ability to filter out what really matters to the customer‹ likes, wants, needs, sense of humor, favorite places, etc. -- and deliver those things to the customer in the most seamless, engaging, and secure way will completely change the way business is conducted.