Many states already allow wineries to ship directly to customers, but there are a few hold-outs. Massachusetts is among those, but that might soon change. As it stands, wineries within Massachusetts cannot ship their wine to any other state, nor can any consumer buy wine from any other state. If the amendment before the state passes, consumers will have a lot more choices and freedoms when purchasing wine. Of course, there are stipulations, buyers must be 21 or over and have an ID when signing for the wine, and there is a limit to how much wine can be shipped to an individual: 12 cases of wine, with no more than 9 liters per case, or about 12 standard bottles.

More interesting than the sale of wine is the affect it will have on the packaging industry and distribution centers. The amendment states that the boxes must be labeled to state that it is intended for someone of legal drinking age. Since there can only be 9 liters of wine per case, there will have special packaging to be able to hold that kind of weight. A standard bottle of wine is about 750ml, which allows 12 bottles per case. However, if a winery were to offer alternative size bottles, the packaging would have to accommodate that.

Distribution centers in other states may already be well prepared for shipping and receiving wine, but this may come as a challenge for those in Massachusetts. Temperature controlled storage and the ability for long term storage will be very important. Security and surveillance will also be very important, but should not be a problem for most distribution centers, which have other merchandise to care for as well. Most importantly though will be the proper handling of the wine. With the proper packaging, the wine will be able to withstand some rough handling, but care must still be given especially when loading the wine for transport.

This September 28th to October 1st, we will be attending Corr Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. Corr Expo is the annual event dedicated to the corrugated packaging industry. It will feature highlights of supplier innovations, educational programs and several keynote/industry speakers. This year will feature topics covering adversity, stories of success, and industry outlook and forecasts.

Corr Expo will also feature events throughout the week. On September 28th, the 2014 Corrugated Classic will take place at the Trump National Golf Club. A reception will follow to give out awards and even cash prizes! On September 30th, there will be a Gala at the Aquarium of the Pacific, which features over 11,000 ocean animals. In addition to access to the entire aquarium, the Gala will include appetizers and beverages. After the Aquarium, there will be a boat cruise fundraiser to benefit the ICPF, the International Corrugated Packaging Foundation. And on Wednesday October 1st, there will be four local plant tours.

Training workshops will also take place throughout Corr Expo focused on optimizing plant operations and a calibration workshop.
This years Corr Expo will even feature a program for any spouses that may be joining the trip. From an opening night reception, to Windsor Tea on the Queen Mary and even a gondola ride, there is sure to be plenty to do.

We encourage you to stop by BloApCo at Booth 433. Come talk to us, we would love to meet you!

We all receive packages in cardboard boxes, and we may reuse them ourselves or may simply place them in the recycling pile. But did you know that those boxes can be used for composting? Jodie Anderson, a soil scientist, has shown that hot composting can do wonders for the soil. In her native Alaska, there are so many cardboard boxes that there are literal box-burning nights. She has been visiting many towns and helping to convince them their gardens can use the soil amendments from those boxes.

Curious how to create your own compost pile out of your old cardboard boxes? Follow Andersons advice and you’ll be well on your way.
Shredding up your cardboard is the first step, this in addition to woodchips would make a fine compost and you won’t need to add anything extra. Since composting will rob the pile of oxygen, it is recommended that the pile be damp. This also aids in the breakdown. You want to make sure that your compost isn’t too wet, or too dry.

Your pile should begin to get hot, up to 130 degrees within 48 hours. If the pile gets too hot, over 165 degrees, turning the pile should help bring the temperature down. You can then leave your pile for five days, before having to check the temperature again. By this time, your huge pile should have shrunk to half its size. Turning the pile every ten days for the next month, will keep the microbes inside of it very happy, and will make great compost for your garden.

The next step will test your patience, as you have to wait a year until the microbes inside of it will be of any benefit.
After this year long wait, your pile will be done curing. Compost itself can be a bit salty and may not go over well with certain plants, so it is suggested to mix it in with the soil when planting.

Some of the biggest innovations taking over the retail space lately wont be ever seen by customers. Yes, online shopping is steadily picking up pace, but its not the only development working its way through industry. Energy efficiency is the new black and retailers are working hard to stay ahead of the trend. But its not just about stores changing out old light bulbs for more efficient varieties; retail distribution centers are increasingly rolling out new updates to reduce their environmental footprints.

In Freetown, Massachusetts, a Stop & Shop distribution center is welcoming new legislation designed to reduce or eliminate food waste by setting up an on-site system that generates power from spoiled food. The warehouse and distribution center serves more than 200 Stop & Shop locations in New England, and covers more than 1 million square feet of space. Such a major operation requires a major amount of electricity, totaling 17 million kilowatt hours each year. Once the new food-to-energy system is in place, it is expected to provide about 40% of that power demand. The facility will be just the second of its kind in the United States, with the only other similar system located in California.

Walmart distribution centers have also been making headlines lately thanks to their own growing commitment to green energy. The mega-brand has increased its investment in hydrogen fuel cells, which are being used to power electric lift trucks in six of their North American distribution centers. Plug Power is the selected provider for Walmarts fuel cell infrastructure, and the brand is well-known for their material handling options. The company is also expanding beyond the warehouse, with new applications for fuel cell power constantly being found.

Were interested to see what other new developments come out of the material handling sector over the next few years. Were also happy to do our part to increase efficiency in distribution centers by installing scrap and waste handling systems that save energy and improve working conditions for staff members. Learn more about our energy efficient scrap handling systems for warehouses online. For more information, please feel free to contact us or reach out via Twitter.

For those of us serving the supply chain industry, excitement is building for the newest expo in this sector MODEX 2014. Hundreds of industry thought leaders will be attending this show, which includes 120 on-floor seminars, keynotes from figures including the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Delta Airlines, as well as numerous educational sessions. And of course, one of the main benefits of attending is the opportunity to network with other industry professionals.

MODEX 2014 is sponsored by the Material Handling Institute (MHI), which is an organization that promotes connection and growth among material handling companies. While MODEX is a relatively new event, with the first show taking place in 2012, it has grown considerably and has become a must-attend show for supply chain managers. The show is also being collocated with Supply Chain & Transportation USA (https://www.supplychainusaexpo.com/) which is billed as The Only One-Stop Source for Global Logistics Solutions. Registration is free for both events.

The expo runs from Monday, March 17th to Thursday, March 20th and will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. In addition to all of the features described above, MODEX 2014 also boasts recreational activities, including Industry Night at the Georgia Aquarium (https://www.modexshow.com/attendees/industry-night.aspx). Guests will be able to interact and socialize in the company of about 10 million fish, which is sure to be an experience to remember.

For more information on this exciting show, please visit the website at https://www.modexshow.com/default.aspx. You can also stay up-to-date by following the event on Twitter: https://twitter.com/modexshow.

BloApCo will be exhibiting at Booth #3532, and we look forward to seeing you there! Feel free to connect with us on Twitter before, during, and after the show: https://twitter.com/bloapco

If you operate, manage, or work in a retail distribution center, youre probably very familiar with the break, pack, and repack function. Disposal of old corrugated containers, or OCC, is a process that soft good/apparel stores, drug stores, and contract repacking companies all have to deal with on a daily basis. Some of the more common problems associated with OCC disposal and recycling include:

“A slow OCC line that causes picking lines to end up compromised, impeded, or even shut down

“More employees must be hired just to break down boxes

“You have to take workers off other duties to do the risky job of putting boxes in a baler or compactor

“Compactors and balers jam due to inefficiently broken down OCC containers during peak periods of the day

All of these problems at a retail distribution center result in loss of time, productivity, and money. In addition, there is a booming market for recycled OCC in the U.S. and overseas, so speeding up your OCC disposal and recycling will not only save you money, it can also add income to your operation.

The solution to these problems lies in becoming proactive. You can save time and money by installing a piggyback shredder (https://www.bloapco.com/shredders.cfm?id=8) in addition to your existing baler or compactor.

One thing is for sure; things won’t get better until you get ahead of an OCC disposal problem. So if this dilemma sounds familiar to you, contact one of our OCC experts at BloApCo and they will be able to custom tailor a solution for you.

The fall season is quickly creeping up on us, and were looking forward to welcoming it with the CorrExpo 2013: Where Ideas Turn into Innovation. Well be exhibiting at booth #507 from October 7-9, 2013 at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, IN.

The event brings together professionals in the corrugated packaging industry and includes educational programs and supplier exhibits. This is an annual event presented by TAPPI.

CorrExpo uses a combination of expert speakers, panel discussions, and informative workshops to tackle some of the most pressing issues in the corrugated industry. Its a great opportunity to network with everybody from buyers to suppliers. For BloApCo, its a chance to meet potential clients in converting and packaging plants for the processing of their corrugated scrap.

In addition to networking opportunities, CorrExpo also promises to be a fun and memorable experience. On Monday, October 7th, CorrExpo is hosting a golf tournament with an awards ceremony to follow. And on Tuesday, October 8th, guests will be treated to an evening gala at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Attendees will enjoy dinner followed by a lap around the track.

Interested participants still have time to register, and can do so online. Sponsorship opportunities are also available, with more information found on the website.

Be sure to stop by booth #507 to meet members of the BloApCo team and learn about our corrugated disposal methods. We look forward to seeing you there!

As summer begins to wind down, we start looking ahead toward fall. An annual season staple for those of us working in packaging-related fields is the PACK EXPO.

The show is an opportunity for packaging companies, packaging equipment manufacturers, and other businesses to come together to showcase their wares. In addition, potential clients from just about every industry have a chance to review suppliers and find the perfect solutions for their needs.

When most people think of a packaging exhibition, theyre typically thinking of flexible packaging manufactures, or corrugated box makers. In reality, all of the industries that rely on these packaging and shipping materials are represented as well. PACK EXPO serves companies working in the automotive sector, food packaging, household goods, electronics, and more. Each of these companies requires protective solutions for their products, and these solutions are all found at the show.

In addition, businesses should also consider waste management solutions. All of that packaging material has to go somewhere at the end of its lifecycle, and industrial conveying systems and shredders can eliminate that extra bulk. And for packaging manufacturers, trim cutters can streamline operations by removing edge trim and moving it to a collection area for disposal. Its estimated that about 30% of manufacturers need a trim cutter.

To get in touch with packaging and equipment manufacturers, or industrial sales leads, be sure to check out PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013. The event is taking place September 23  25, 2013 and will bring together thousands of attendees representing more than 100 countries. For more information, visit PACKEXPO.com.

Throughout the manufacturing process, waste is inevitable. Even before any work is started, raw materials arrive in shipping containers and protective packaging. From there, the materials undergo various treatments and processing procedures to prepare them for the next steps in the manufacturing process. Once thats finished, theres usually some material waste from grinding, sanding, or other machining tasks.

The first step in minimizing waste is by re-thinking your shipping methods. Consolidate packages when possible, and try to get them all shipped together to save time and fuel.

Another measure is recycling materials at every stage of manufacturing  including shipping. Reuse as many boxes and packing materials as you need for your own packaging and delivery operations. When you start to notice excess Old Corrugated Containers (OCC) taking up valuable real estate, stop wasting that space by breaking down and recycling those boxes.

Industrial shredders are available that can take care of just about any waste handling need, including corrugated materials. They are ideal for manufacturing plants, warehousing facilities, and distribution centers. Balers are also a good idea, since they take the shredded bits and compact them for easy storage and removal.

What are the main sources of waste at your facility? Share your tips with us via Twitter: https://twitter.com/bloapco.

Not only does this year mark our 80th year, it has also begun with a significant change for BloApCo: a complete overhaul of our website. On the redesigned website, you will find that our Product Selector Guide and Application Selector features allow you to find the perfect product for your needs. Simply plug in the size and type of material that you are using, and the website will direct you to the best possible waste handling solution. We will also give you the option to leave your email address so that one of our engineers can contact you quickly with more information. Our versatile products are used in many different industries; this new feature will allow our wide variety of clients to find the perfect scrap and waste handling systems for their needs, every time.

We’ve made some other changes to the website as well. You will find more information on each product so that you can thoroughly research at your convenience before purchasing. In addition, the overall navigation of the site has been streamlined, making it easier to find the product that best suits your needs. Thanks to these seemingly small changes, our customers will be able to access much more information about our products, in a much more efficient way.

October was a busy month for us here at BloApCo, bookended by two of the industry’s largest trade shows  starting off with SuperCorrExpo in Atlanta, Georgia, and then PackExpo at the end of the month in Chicago, Illinois. We exhibited our scrap and waste handling systems at both conferences.

SuperCorrExpo brought in approximately 300 exhibitors, presenting cutting-edge technologies and opportunities to leverage in the global corrugated industry. As always, it’s a great time for us to meet colleagues, learn, and ultimately display our one-of-a-kind shredder products for old corrugated containers (OCCs). Our popular horizontal floor shredder is unrivaled for performance and reliability. Our piggyback shredder comes in a range of types, sizes, and configurations. We also have warehouse shredders, made larger to lower our customers’ haul-away costs. We were able to present both the operational benefits and cost-savings that our range of products achieves in distribution.

At PackExpo, attendees were particularly interested in our trim removal and trim cutter products. We have over 80 years of experience working with the converting and packaging industries, so over time we’ve adapted our components to provide an integrated scrap and trim removal system that our customers love. Precision trim cutters, material handling fans and shredders operate together for maximum efficiency. Our scrap removal systems are suitable for paper, plastic, film, and corrugated materials. Conveying systems (bale transfer units, diverters, materials separators) and dust collectors can be incorporated as well.

And, speaking of our years of experience, watch this space for news of our 80th anniversary celebration, and more industry updates to come!

Of all the things the general public takes for granted, we think it’s safe to assume the cardboard box may fit into that category of not getting a second thought, right? However, what may at first seem like a mundane topic actually has a rich history of development and growth; the history of paper-based packaging was influenced by a number of sectors, including commercial, transportation, government, and military developments, and has been instrumental in mass marketing and distribution. At BloApCo, we’re aware and appreciative as we’ve grown alongside the corrugated box that launched the packaging industry and now accounts for more than 90% of mass shipping material.