Many businesses see smarter material sourcing, greener equipment, and operational changes as their gateway to a lower carbon footprint. All these play a valuable role, but what if the key to lowering your environmental impact is simply by keeping existing machinery on the production floor for as long as possible?
In a world of increasingly aggressive green initiatives, Best Packaging stays ahead of the curve because, “green” is built right into our business model. In 2020 alone, Best Packaging redirected 79,725 lbs (over 39 tons!) of steel away from scrappers, and back into the warehouses that keep America going. We are not, however, indiscriminate about which machines get salvaged. Best Packaging is diligent in our evaluations and repairs to ensure all equipment we sell, regardless of previous use, operates at peak performance when it arrives at the customer.
Quality refurbishment, worthy of the manufacturer’s endorsement, starts with an evaluation. Whether the machine in question is coming from a trusted customer (We offer a buyback program for our customers’ old machines.) or an auctioneer across the country, we perform our due diligence to find machines that really can be returned to their former glory. Sadly, not all machines are worthy of the T.L.C. we offer. Some would require too many parts, scarce parts, or simply too much time to repair. Before Best Packaging chooses to purchase machinery, it receives a top to bottom inspection.
The Best Packaging Acquisitions Team has a robust pre-evaluation that we put machinery through prior to purchase. It receives a compatibility screening, via the model and serial number, to ensure that parts will be available, not only for the refurbishment process, but for the future end user as well! Then, if possible, a seasoned technician will perform an evaluation onsite, at the previous owner’s location. Our onsite evaluation consists of two parts, 1) a comprehensive visual inspection process; then 2) a thorough performance test. Barring any glaring issues such as requiring too many parts to get back to optimal operation status, or requiring too much time to refurbish, the machinery receives the “green light.”
Once a piece of equipment arrives at our facility, one of our service technicians conducts a thorough condition audit. The Service Technician goes over the machine with a fine-toothed comb to assess all the high-use wear components as well as any componentry key to the machine’s essential functions. Stretch wrappers, for example, have rubber-coated gripping components, like the tread on your tires. Much like your tires, these will need replacing after continued use. That’s why we perform a complete rebuild of the pre-stretch carriage for every stretch wrapper refurbished. In keeping with our car metaphor, dents and dings may not be critical to “the drive” but our technicians do their best to buff them out whenever possible.
From that audit, a complete parts list is inventoried and ordered. Often, the most time-consuming part of the refurbishment process is finding the parts and waiting for them to arrive. While that is in process, years of dust, grease and mysterious goo(?) gets scrubbed away, even peeling back layers of paint when necessary. It’s truly amazing how a thorough cleaning can transform even the most gently used packaging equipment, but our process doesn’t end there.
Once parts arrive, the true fun happens. Our Service Technician(s) then execute all repairs and replacements, bringing the machine back to like-new functional condition. Once the machine’s function is restored, we address any final cosmetic issues. While amateurs carelessly slather house paint without even a primer underneath (yes, we’ve seen it), we work diligently to match the manufacturer’s original paint colors, reinforcing the like-new look.
Before we call each machinery makeover complete, we test it to confirm optimal function. A quality assurance video is emailed to the customer. Upon their approval, the unit gets packaged and palletized for shipment.
Due to the quality of our work, we have many return customers. Some customers even purchase used equipment they encounter with the intention of contracting our team for refurbishment. View our current fleet of certified refurbished equipment, or Contact Us to learn more.
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This week, one of our long term customers experienced a $2500 service repair that could’ve been avoided all by a simple PM program. However, after many recommendations, it was something that he said, “his maintenance guys would get around to.”
Our customer wraps many oversized, heavy loads per day that has their machines working extra hard. When we received the call, they explained that the film carriage was not working. Upon inspection, we realized that the chain and bearings locked up, which destroyed the carriage in the process. Had we serviced these machines every six months, these items would’ve been greased every 6 months to keep things running smoothly.
The customer has decided to forego the $2.5K repair and buy a new machine that will cost approx. $10K. Of course, we hope he decides to change his mind about a preventative maintenance program for his other machines. Whether you are a machine or a human, we all need maintenance from time to time, because without it, you’re looking at a short shelf life.
Ready to start a program for your machines? Give us a call at 888-930-BEST for a quote. You’ll be happy you did.
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The success of your operation often relies on the quality of your service technicians to keep your business operating when production volumes are high. It’s important to consider the following points when choosing a service provider that will keep your machines running.
Experience
A qualified technician will be able to repair a variety of makes and models of various machines. Best Packaging, for example, employs only the most experienced and qualified technicians. Our techs have 30+ years of combined experience in the field troubleshooting and repairing end of line packaging equipment.
Value
It’s much more cost effective to maintain than it is to repair. Postponing the maintenance of your equipment could result in a sudden breakdown, forcing you to pay for a more expensive repair. Furthermore, when machines are down this interrupts your ability to do business. A good service technician knows that regular maintenance can make a line last for years. Best Packaging understands the value in preserving your machines. We can create a proper maintenance schedule based on the condition of your equipment to keep you operating optimally. We’ll set up a schedule that best fits around your production and advise when your next PM service comes due. Be weary of companies that don’t offer this service.
Quality Service
A good technician takes the time to do things right and has the customer’s best interest in mind. At Best Packaging, customer satisfaction is our driving force. It is our goal is to provide you with the highest quality service that is going to make your machines more productive and efficient. We are also a leader in innovative designs and we can tailor solutions to meet your specific needs. We’re not attached to one brand, so we won’t force products on you that don’t fit your needs. In fact, our knowledge of numerous brands helps us come up with solutions not conceived by many manufacturers. Choosing the right service provider can help prevent costly repairs and can increase your equipment’s life expectancy.
At Best Packaging, we do more than just repairs. We offer programming and electrical services, as well as retrofits and upgrades to enhance your packaging line while decreasing costs. We service all types of equipment, including stretch wrappers, shrink wrap machines, case tape machines, banding machines, strapping machines, case erectors, and conveyors. If you’re in need of end of line packaging service, call (888) 930 BEST to speak with a tech today.
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An automated stretch wrapper can often be the bottleneck in a plants production line, especially when it goes down. Such is the case with this month’s repair.
This particular plant has twenty different production lines running 24/7 all feeding into one stretch wrapper- making it imperative that the wrapper runs around the clock without issue. While on site for an unrelated repair, one of the Best Packaging technicians noticed something odd with the conveyor running through the stretch wrapper. After removing some rollers, we were able to get a better look and discovered the drive shaft was sitting crooked and the drive chain was eating into the gearbox. To address this issue, we had parts expedited and were back out for repair shortly after. After taking another look at the problem, we discovered the bearings which support the drive shaft had locked up and were worn almost all the way through the shaft. Had the issue not been spotted by our technician, this would have caused a major production delay for the plant.
Thanks to our technicians, the entire drive assembly was rebuilt and the conveyor is now running good as new. Proof once again that a qualified technician and preventative maintenance can save you from costly down time in the future.
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Whether you need a consultation on your machines, a preventative maintenance program or a reliable emergency service team, Best Packaging is here to help! Last month, we were called on by a customer who had purchased a used Priority One Depalletizer. Initially, the plant planned on utilizing their in-house technicians to assemble the machine; however when the machine arrived, the task proved to be beyond what they could handle. When the Best Packaging technicians arrived, they discovered the machine had been carelessly disassembled. All the wires had been cut from control panel and no parts were labeled proving this would be a challenging repair both mechanically and electrically. The Best Packaging technicians managed to trace all of the wiring, rewire the control panel and bring the machine to life. Once our technicians managed to turn on the machine, it required extensive troubleshooting and debugging. After a bit of fine tuning, the Best Packaging technicians had the equipment is working good as new, and all problems were resolved. If you’re experiencing issues with your packaging equipment, give us a call at (888) 930 BEST.
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At Best Packaging we maintain and repair some of the most complex packaging lines. Since 1997, we have been consulting, designing, and implementing packaging solutions to offer the best for your operations. In order to deliver our customers the greatest return on their investment, we represent a variety of different brands of end-of-line packaging equipment to ensure we’re matching the right solution for your customer needs.
There’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution.
Rather than discover that a particular solution doesn’t fit your application, our knowledge of numerous brands can help you come up with solutions not conceived by many manufacturers. In order to arrive at the appropriate solution, you need someone who isn’t attached to one brand and won’t force products on you that don’t fit your needs. When seeking assistance from a particular manufacturer, they typically recommend a solution suitable to their business model. You also run the risk of the manufacturer being unqualified to support your operations on a large scale because of the limited knowledge of machinery outside their own. For instance, a common situation we come across is that after a technician makes an initial repair, other machines in the same production line stop running correctly. The reason being is that most manufacturer technicians don’t have the know-how to recalibrate a whole production line. You need someone who’s going to understand the bigger picture. At Best Packaging, we have the expertise to reprogram your entire production line to achieve maximum efficiency. You don’t have to worry if your brand is serviceable. We specialize in a wide range of packaging equipment and can direct you to the solution that will ensure your business improves in material handling, and supply chain performance.
Not all stretch wrappers are created equally.
We only align ourselves with quality brands to make sure we are delivering the best value. It is our goal is to provide you with the high quality service that is going to eliminate failures to make your job not only more productive, but hopefully easier. Most end-of-line equipment brands offer different capabilities in terms of ease, automation, integration, and performance. With our extensive analysis of packaging machinery, we understand the strengths and weaknesses of various equipment. Representing a variety of different brands enables us to match the best systems based on your customer needs and the versatility of the job. For more information on our machinery philosophy, visit bestpackaging.com or contact us at (888) 930 BEST.
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At Best Packaging Inc., we work hard to provide you customized solutions that best fit your needs. Last month, we got a call from a customer to reconfigure their plant’s main conveyor line in order to accommodate seven new plastic mold injection machines. With our techs on site, Best Packaging helped install over 100 feet of new conveyor equipment. The conveyor extension was complete with loading stations and pneumatic pop up sections. The Best Packaging technicians also replaced the out-dated stretch wrapper with a state-of-the-art fully automatic Lantech® stretch wrapper integrated into the conveyor. To top it off, we installed a new control panel, two Polychem® strapping machines, and a bar code scanner to notify the system on which pallets to wrap and which to strap. Our technicians are trained on all packaging brands and equipment. Whether you need a consultation on your machines, a Preventative Maintenance program or a reliable emergency service team, be sure to give us a call at (888) 930 BEST.
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With over 20 years of business, Best Packaging is a leader in innovative designs and has capability to customize equipment based on the customer’s needs. We understand that with the correct PLC, HMI programming or other engineering services, your control panels and integrated machines could be more efficient. For this reason, Best Packaging now offers engineering services for the integration and control of production machinery. We can program PLC-based controls and HMI control systems on complete production lines or individual machines to improve packaging, material handling, and supply chain performance. At Best Packaging, our creative engineers assess and modify the systems specifications necessary for your plant’s particular needs in order to achieve maximum production line efficiency. When your controls become obsolete, or a touch screen wears out, we have the ability to reprogram these touch screens, rebuild an old panel or an entirely new panel.
When a packaging line becomes faulty or fails, Best Packaging understands the urgency in fixing the problem immediately. That is why we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergency service. We specialize in the repair and maintenance of end of line packaging equipment including: Stretch Wrappers, Shrink Wrappers, Case Tapers, Case Sealers, Conveyors, and Strappers. Our expert technicians will get your equipment back to running efficiently and effective to enhance your company’s production line. It’s what we do BEST!
In many industries, when you call a manufacturer’s service tech, they only know how to fix their machines. They may even recommend a solution that fits their business model, however it’s usualy not the BEST solution for your specific needs. At Best Packaging, we service all end of line packaging equipment brands. We work with our clients to deliver customized solutions by consulting and designing based on the customer’s business goals and unique needs. Our in-depth understanding of complex packaging lines combined with our ability to recognize efficiencies for customers not conceived by many manufacturers is what makes us unique. We won’t force products on you that don’t fit your needs.
At Best Packaging, we make it a priority to assist you with anything from installation to performance optimization to ensure each company is implementing the BEST solution. Whether you are looking to build a new control system, or update an existing system, Best Packaging’s programmers have the application knowledge required to implement the design. To learn more about how we can get your control panels to run more efficiently, give us a call at (888) 930 BEST!
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“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Or in this case, 1600 lbs of steel. Our customer was the proud owner of a Synergy 4 high profile stretch wrapper by Highlight Industries. This state-of-the-art pallet wrap machine features a Fast Film Feed for quick film change, and electronically controlled pre-stretch for ultimate flexibility.
Unfortunately, even the smartest packaging equipment can encounter issues when environmental factors, and inconsistent maintenance, create a harmful compound. This highly efficient machine was debased when its turntable refused to turn. Material handlers had resorted to placing pallets onto the stationary turntable, then manually rotating the base as the pre-stretch carriage dispensed film. This movement caused a rather grating metal-on-metal grinding sound, but the operations team had no choice if they wanted to continue shipping their product.
Anxious to get back to the grind… that is to say, back to normal operations, the plant manager dialed Best Packaging’s toll-free number: (888) 930-BEST. Best Packaging was able to send a service technician to the Northern Illinois facility within a week. The professional repairman effortlessly diagnosed the issue once onsite. The central shaft that causes the turntable to rotate was mangled beyond repair, likely due to challenging warehouse conditions and/or lackluster maintenance. This had caused the center bearing to lock up and the shaft had seized onto the bearing. Since the existing system literally came to a grinding halt, the bearings were beyond economical repair (BER). The only option was to replace the high-profile turntable, shaft, and central bearing.
Since Best Packaging is a licensed dealer of Highlight equipment, the customer service team ensured the right parts were ordered at the best possible price. While the customer awaited the shipment of the new turntable, a service technician began the Herculean task of removing the old table. Since components had seized up underneath the old turntable, extraction was executed with precision in to minimize further damage. The above photo depicts Best Packaging’s technician severing the old shaft to free the turntable above it.
A new turntable, shaft, and center bearing from the original manufacturer were installed by Best Packaging’s factory certified team. The turntable now spins smoothly, with hardly a sound.
If you want to ensure your high caliber stretch wrap machine is a smooth operator, we recommend enrolling in a Preventative Maintenance Program from Best Packaging. The service technicians maintain a detailed log of machine condition, services performed, and potential issues to watch out for in the future. Best Packaging calls for appointment reminders and service is scheduled when the customer agrees to an appointment time. Best Packaging can be reached at (888) 930-BEST or by following the link below.
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Faulty machinery is a real pain in the back! That was certainly the case for a Chicago-area canned food manufacturer whose inline pallet strapper broke down. Material handlers had resorted to manually palletizing and banding layers upon layers of heavy cans. As a result of the broken strapper, production at this facility was reduced by 50%.
That was when the discomforted cannery called the toll-free number for Best Packaging and scheduled a diagnostic appointment for the same day. When the technician arrived, he received background information from the support engineer and immediately began troubleshooting. He noticed the feed module’s motor was spinning, but the module was not feeding.
Usually, the most obvious answer is the correct one, but this was the exception that proves the rule. Typically, when technicians receive a feed error, it indicates a faulty feed module. The support engineer certainly suspected so and was surprised when Best Packaging discovered the real issue. What couldn’t be seen with the naked eye, was that the motor was not fast enough and could not pick up enough torque to feed properly. The feed module itself worked fine, but the board supplying current to the feed module was at fault. The feed module was not receiving enough current.
New parts for their board were required to remedy the inline strapper and alleviate the employees. With Best Packaging’s expertise, the right part was quickly identified, and they coordinated the order directly from the equipment manufacturer. The strapper was transported to Best Packaging’s workshop at the request of the customer to streamline their production area in the interim. The support engineer, line supervisor, and all the laborers at the cannery grew eager for the new parts to arrive as their team began to experience ergonomic constraints from manually pushing pallets.
Finally, new parts for the board arrived at Best Packaging’s workshop. Because the machine was already there, technicians could complete the installation of new parts quickly, without having to schedule a service visit.
With Best Packaging’s help, this purveyor of canned goods regained 100% productivity and put an end to their sciatic saga. Malfunctioning equipment is not always what it appears to be, so next time faulty packaging equipment has you puzzled (or even pained) call the packaging equipment specialists at Best Packaging: 888-930-BEST
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Picture this … It’s 3rd shift and your line goes down. Time is of the essence and to leave it until the morning could impact the bottom line and important shipments. That is where our 20+ years of combined experience and training on all brands and types of machinery can come to the rescue.
When a packaging line becomes faulty or fails, Best Packaging understands the urgency in fixing the problem immediately. That is why we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergency service. While some manufacturers recommend solutions that match their own personal business model, we recognize the BEST solution that fits each customer unique repair needs. If you find yourself in situation where you need one of your packaging machine parts repaired, you can count on our certified technicians to offer you on-site service or step by step instructions so that your staff can safely operate the machine. It is also highly recommended that you keep spare equipment parts on hand just in case. Therefore, Best Packaging works with trusted, reliable packaging equipment manufacturers to access the right parts for you. These are just a few examples of Best Packaging going above and beyond to save our clients time and money.
At Best Packaging, we make it a priority assist you with anything from installation to performance optimization. We offer spare packaging equipment parts and customized maintenance plans that will keep your equipment functioning at top performance levels. For more information on how Best Packaging can help with your packaging equipment repair needs, contact us at (888) 930 BEST
What’s your take? We welcome guest bloggers! E-mail socialmedia@bestpackaging.com if you’d ever like to collaborate.