Packaging
Media Packaging Leader NEXPAK Participates in Frankfurt 2008 Media-Tech Expo
Friday 09. May 2008 - STACKpak addresses the need for eco-friendly multiple-disc packaging
NEXPAK, a leader in eco-friendly media packaging, participated in the Media-Tech Expo May 6-8 in Frankfurt, Germany. The premier event for the media packaging industry covered emerging trends and challenges in media manufacturing, with a focus on green packaging.
Participating in the May 7 Green Packaging session was Vincent Leesberg, NEXPAK Director, Europe & Sr. VP Global Sales. “We are committed to Design for Environment (DfE) and the manufacture of environmentally-sustainable products,” he says. “Green products are especially important in the packaging world, and producers are searching for economically-feasible ways to reduce packaging materials and material weight.”
“NEXPAK is focusing on smart design to reduce material weight and volume and use of non-traditional materials to boost recyclability while maintaining durability,” says Chuck Hoar, NEXPAK EVP. “We are also committed to environmentally-responsible supply chain management, which includes cutting shipping and transportation costs, standardizing inventory and minimizing material disposal.”
As an example, NEXPAK has designed its new STACKpak multiple disc packaging to handle the growing catalog of releases of current and classic TV show seasons, DVD collector editions and video games. With the eco-friendly multiple disc media packaging product, use of a 15mm STACKpak with four discs reduces product weight by up to 63% over four industry-standard single-disc 14mm cases and cuts the number of plastic DVD cases — and ink, paper and other materials — by as much as 75%. “Use of STACKpak would reduce the number of cases for the top 25 multiple-DVD sets sold in 2007 from a whopping 123 million to an estimated 26 million units,” notes Leesberg.
Current STACKpak cases can accommodate up to ten discs and feature a proprietary, patented locking hub design that ensures that the discs are held on the hub for optimal protection. STACKpak reduces packaging and transportation costs, maximizes shelf space and even eases product handling and administration by reducing the number of SKUs needed and minimizing the handling of returns.
Full automated assembly for STACKpak ensures optimum accuracy and cost-savings. In the US, automated STACKpak GIMA packaging cells are in operation with three major replicators of optical discs (CDs and DVDs): JVC, Sonopress and KPO (Kentucky Pack-out). A STACKpak 27mm case can run up to 70 pieces per minute in GIMA’s model 899 DVD packaging machine. “Because STACKpak production is automated — including manufacture of the patented locking hub design — we can offer significant cost efficiencies over conventional manual operations for eco-friendly products. Green doesn’t have to come at a price,” says Hoar.