Storopack is an international, family-run, leading system supplier and service provider for flexible, tailored in-the-box protective packaging. Offering ranges made from renewable and responsibly sourced products. Storopack’s comprehensive service, individual consulting, in-depth product knowledge, and industry know-how helps the customer to optimise their packaging processes and develop the protective packaging solution best suited to their individual needs.
Richard Pulfrey – Managing Director of Storopack, speaks to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What are your best-known products/solutions/services?
Storopack is a global specialist in protective packaging, with a core product offering comprising Loose Fill chips, plus packaging systems for air cushions, paper and foam pads. Our aim is to help customers to optimise their packaging processes with protective packaging solutions designed to fit their requirements.
Which industry sectors are your customers in and which ones are growing fastest?
Fastest growing sector is e-commerce covering industries such as pharmaceutical, food, home furnishings, and DIY, pet supplies and so on. However, we also have a strong portfolio of industrial customers.
What are your most recent product innovations?
In 2019 we launched our latest innovation, Track, part of our PAPERplus® paper pads range. This is a flexible system whereby the user can adjust the machine’s crimp factor to produce pads for medium to heavy products, without having to change the paper. This is unique in the protective packaging market. The system is fast, versatile and designed to help customers save time and improve their cost efficiencies.
What are the major trends and developments affecting your category and your customers, and how are you responding?
As a manufacturer and distributor of plastic packaging, the environment has been a key focus for us and our customer base. Subsequently we have made our AIRplus® range of packaging films available with recycled material to address environmental concerns and give users a head start to avoid the imminent Plastic Tax. This ecological choice does not compromise the quality of our products, as the manufacturing technology uses the same coextruded process as with virgin films.
Can you tell us about any recent customer contracts and how you helped the customer meet their challenges?
We recently supported a major cosmetics company by using the Storopack Working Comfort® process, we were asked to identify areas for improvement and to review their use of plastics in the working environment. Final recommendations included a simplified optimal packaging strategy, and an elimination of all plastic packaging. We also reduced the packing time by two thirds, by designing a bespoke ergonomic machine application. Worker comfort was also increased and space previously unutilised was maximised. This resulted in significant labour savings from day one of installation, the streamlined new solution only took a matter of hours to improve desired packing rates, compared to several days required before for new starters. Creating an easily scalable operation, which is now far more sustainable in both economic and environmental terms.
How does business in 2019 compare to previous years? What’s your strategy for succeeding in the current climate?
Due to the economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit, 2019 was a challenging year as retail came under serious pressure. However, with the increase of e-commerce business, our volumes were not severely affected and we successfully achieved our targets. We’ll continue to invest heavily in R&D in order to adapt to the ever-changing business climate, and look forward to bringing further innovations to the market in 2020.
What’s the latest news from your company?
Storopack is part of the global initiative “Alliance to End Plastic Waste”, which seeks to save the planet from the scourge of plastic pollution. Plastic waste in the environment, especially in the world’s oceans, is a huge problem. Together with some 40 other companies, we have signed up to the mission of allowing no plastic waste to enter the environment and cleaning up existing plastic pollution.
We are also an exclusive sponsor of the Big Blue Ocean Cleanup program, one of the world’s leading nonprofit organisations for cleaning the oceans. We’ve been working together since 2018 and are committed to a long-term partnership. Big Blue Ocean Cleanup makes an active effort to raise awareness of the current state of the world’s oceans and is dedicated to protecting marine life and sustainability for clean oceans and coastlines. With initiatives dedicated to cleaning beaches, removing plastic from the ocean, offering training courses, and informing partners and the general public.
Can you tell us about any areas where you’re currently making technical advances?
Sustainability encompasses many aspects. Whether environmental, economic, or social issues, the underlying principle is the same, i.e. to live in a way that enables future generations to have a life that is just as good as – or even better than – our own. As a family-run company, we take these principles extremely seriously and they guide our decisions and day-to-day activities. Storopack already generates more than 25% of its revenue with products made from sustainable or recycled raw materials available across the AIRplus®, PAPERplus®, FOAMplus® and Loose Fill range. This will continue to increase as the environment is at the forefront of all future innovations aimed at helping to boost the productivity of customers’ protective packaging processes.
Are you investing in staff training and skills development?
Through our Vision & Guidelines, which aim to promote the same key values and standards throughout all Storopack entities, development of employees is critical, as they are the key to our success. Storopack promotes a continuous improvement process through the investment in training and development of our employees, which is highlighted by the longevity of service of team members throughout the Storopack Group.
Are you taking part in any major trade shows? Can you tell us what you’ll be exhibiting there?
In normal circumstances Storopack showcases at many exhibitions across the globe which include, IMHX, EMPACK, PTC ASIA, PackExpo, and IWF. As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic several packaging shows have been postponed recently, so we’re unsure when we’ll next be exhibiting. However, we are always seeking to support our distributors in trade shows, and have our own exhibition centre in our location in Brackley, which is available to existing and potential customers.
Storopack
t: 0114 249 2004
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