Weatherchem - News and Innovations

Mold-Rite | Stull | Weatherchem team honored by the National Association of Container Distributors

Mon, 27 May 2013 14:45:30 GMT

The National Association of Container Distributors (NACD) recently named Mold-Rite Plastics | Stull Technologies | Weatherchem as the Supplier of the Year at its annual convention in Austin, Texas. This marks an uncharacteristic second year in a row that the Mold-Rite team has earned this honor.

The NACD Supplier of the Year Award is given to the supplier who has most effectively supported distribution within the container industry. It is one of the industry’s most coveted recognitions and is NACD’s way of honoring a supplier who has made valuable contributions to the distribution channel.

The Mold-Rite | Stull | Weatherchem team received the NACD Supplier of the Year Award from Berlin Packaging's Glenn Scott, acting NACD President. Pictured from left: Troy Rinke, Vice-President of Sales; Kevin Stevens, Executive Vice-President of Sales; Jason Stull, Vice-President of Sales; Brian Bauerbach, President and CEO; Glenn Scott, acting NACD President; and Rick McKenna, Sr. Vice-President of Sales.

“We are pleased that Mold-Rite heavily relies on the NACD membership channel to supply its’ products to the market. Mold-Rite’s quality, service and on-time delivery performance has been outstanding and we are pleased to give them the Outstanding Supplier Award,” notes Berlin Packaging’s Glenn Scott, NACD Acting President. The Supplier of the Year is a prestigious honor recognizing supply partners who best exemplify support of NACD distributors. Distributor members rate suppliers on the following categories: Leadership, Marketing, Training, Technology, Legislative and Regulatory, Communication, Policies, Product Shipment and Product Support.

“Our goal is not to be among the best, it is to be the best,” notes Brian Bauerbach, president and CEO of Mold-Rite Plastics | Stull Technologies | Weatherchem. “Being recognized by the NACD, an organization that represents the highest standards in the packaging industry, brings great pride to our entire team and validates our progress toward our goal of excellence,” Bauerbach said.

In November of 2012, Mold-Rite Plastics acquired both Stull Technologies and Weatherchem Corporation. “Combining these three companies gives us even more opportunity to not only provide great services, but also expanded product offerings. With additional operating locations and an expanded focus on innovation, we look forward to delivering even greater value in 2013 and beyond,” adds Bauerbach.

New Lightweight 110mm Flapper Closure

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:42:10 GMT

Mold-Rite, Stull, Weatherchem is making a splash with their new Lightweight Flapper Closure. This solution caters to many facets of and necessities in the lawn and garden sector. For companies it is energy efficient, yet has a large surface that is perfect for branding and customization, and for end-users it is a well-constructed and attractive dispenser.

The Lightweight 110mm Flapper Closure has been created for lawn and garden use, perfect for products such as grass seed, plant food, and bird food. The cap is easy to use, features controlled dispensing, secure storage, and an audible snap upon closing making it a very handy tool in the garden. The packaging's wide range of color and branding options also help lawn chemicals and other outdoor products stand out.

Commitment to safety and sustainability is one of Mold-Rite, Stull, Weatherchem's primary initiatives, something that has very much been carried through into the development of the Lightweight 110m Flapper Closure. This solution has specifically been designed with the environment in mind, using less energy and consuming less plastic. New stacking machinery has led to better freight efficiencies with more caps per pallet.

For more details contact Mold-Rite, Stull, Weatherchem here.

Unlimited packaging solutions begin with an expanded product portfolio

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

As three of the packaging industry’s most trusted closure manufacturers are now joined together to deliver greater value for customers, this also means Mold-Rite | Stull | Weatherchem has expanded their product portfolio, offering a single source for the broadest range of closures ideal for a wide variety of markets, offering all new desgins, child resistance technology, and light-weight options.

A vast CT Closure selection, Child Resistant Closures, Dispensing Closures including:

Back- and top-hinged disktops
Turret-style
Twist-open
Strap caps
Push-pulls

Jars, Vials, and Fitments
As the group kicks off 2013, the Mold-Rite | Stull | Weatherchem team introduces an array of new products offering customers even more innovative choices for your next packaging project. First, the new EZSafe™ and StullGUARDII™ caps will add to the full line of child-resistant closures that the company already offers for the Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical markets. For vitamins, supplements and OTC packages,the EZGrip™ closure is now available while the M-Gen cap will begin production soon. All of these closueres offer consumer-friendly functionality that continues the tradition of delivering the best in consumer convenience.

The Health & Beauty/Personal Care markets have some new options available as well. From the stackable, lightweight Hollow Wall Jars and the Wave™ Disc Top Closure, to the newly designed Personal Care Flip-Top, health and beauty products can gain enhanced functionality, a customized look, and improved sustainability with these new packaging solutions.

The latest innovations in the Food industry also highlight sustainability with improved functionality. The Ultra Light 38-400 Flip-Top for condiments, the VersaFlap™ for snack foods, and the expanded family of LiquiFlapper® closures all offer new, convenient dispensing options.

Finally, our new MegaFlap™ system has attracted much attention since we first introduced the concept. This 120mm closure offers the convenience of flip-top dispensing, and features a scoop-retention mechanism. Perfect for nutritional powders, snacks, lawn care, pet food and dry household products, the MegaFlap is slated to begin production this fall.

Stull launches the Ultra Light 38/400 Flip Top

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:36:51 GMT

Stull Technologies, a world leader in providing customers with closures and packaging components, has launched the Ultra Light 38/400 Flip Top. This cap has a light-weight "green" design for improved sustainability - up to 25% material savings.

The 38/400 Flip Top also has an updated look that improves shelf appeal and product differentiation. It is designed to be "senior and consumer friendly," with easy opening from any position. Its orifice is positioned to provide improved directional dispensing.

Additional technical improvements have been made to the cap, making it the ideal solution for condiments and household products. A syneresis and vinegar trap has been incorporated to help prevent liquid from dripping out before the product, which improves "suck back" for cleaner dispensing. This dispenser provides ideal stability and sealing for inverted packaging. It comes in .250, .300, and .500 orifice sizes with liner being option.

Mold-Rite Plastics acquires Weatherchem Corporation and Stull Technologies

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:25:26 GMT

The news is out and all have probably heard - three of the packaging industry’s most trusted closure manufacturers have joined together to deliver greater value for customers. Through the acquisitions, these companies are now united to provide an expanded product portfolio, multiple manufacturing locations, the benefits of in-house tooling capabilities and outstanding innovation combined with unmatched flexibility and responsiveness.

What can customers expect during the transition? “Expect that you will continue to work with the same packaging experts that you have come to know and trust,” promises Brian Bauerbach, President and CEO of Mold-Rite Plastics. No services or orders will be interrupted at any of the three locations and all employees will remain to ensure a seamless integration. Additionally, the Weatherchem and Stull brands will be retained.

Weatherchem President Jennifer Altstadt notes, “Throughout the organization, there is an uplifting spirit of limitless opportunity.” Jason Stull, EVP Sales & Marketing at Stull Technologies agrees, “We are looking forward to combining the enthusiasm and expertise of all three companies to enhance our customers’ experience.”

Together, Mold-Rite, Stull and Weatherchem now offer one of the most diverse product assortments in the packaging industry. Customers can rely on this combined robust portfolio for all their closure needs including:

Standard CT closures in a multitude of sizes and colors
Continuous thread closures with easy grip
More dispensing closure choices: back-hinged flip-tops, top-hinged flip-tops, disk-tops, turret-style, twist-open tops, strap caps, push-pulls
Child resistant closures
Expanded liner options
Jars
Full range of custom solutions

As the companies make progress toward integrating their expertise, services and products, they want to keep customers updated every step of the way

The industry leaders in flexible services

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:46:34 GMT

Providing customers with great, flexible services – it is the Weatherchem promise. What does that mean for customers? It means that the company's focus is and will always be on customers, and how Weatherchem can best serve their needs. This is a shared philosophy among the teams at Mold-Rite, Stull and Weatherchem and it enables them to continue to seamlessly unite their three companies to provide customers even greater value.

Many may wonder how this can be achieved. Simply put, Weatherchem makes a promise and then delivers on it. No matter if it is a promise of a return phone call or to provide customers with an on-time delivery.

Meet the Team
Get to know the dedicated, talented, expert customer service team. Chances are, some of these friendly faces are already known. However, since individual customer service professionals are assigned to all clients, some may not have had the opportunity to introduce themselves. Their flexibility, knowledge and responsiveness are unmatched in the industry and ensure Weatherchem's commitment to never letting the client down. This starts with the belief that the inside sales team is an extension of both, the company and the customer.

“We work with everyone on our team to meet every request, exploring all of the options available to delight our customers,” notes Virginia Smith, Sr. Manager Inside Sales & Distribution at Stull Technologies. "We pride ourselves in the relationships we develop with our customers," adds Smith.

Excellence in Action
Great relationships with customers are only half of what makes this a great team. Throughout the organization, these team members are known for their focus not only on customer needs, but also on how their decisions may affect others. One recent example occurred when an order that had been placed on November 20th for two cases of lined caps had to be shipped more urgently than originally planned. With only four days to complete the order, the Inside Sales Representative worked in collaboration with the Production Manager and the request was accommodated. More importantly, no other orders were delayed in the process. Kerry Bushey, Inside Sales Manager at Mold-Rite Plastics notes, “We have the flexibility to get orders processed and out the door.”

Saying "Yes"
Weatherchem takes great pride in the fact that they can say "yes" to customer requests when many others may not. They approach all that we do with integrity, creativity, and knowledge and make sure that they do this in a fun and safe way. This approach lead to recognition of Weatherchem as one of the 99 Best Places to Work in Northeast Ohio three times in the past four years as named by the Employers Resource Council. “Knowing that we’ve exceeded our customers’ expectations fuels our drive for excellence,” adds Matt Baker, Customer Service Manager at Weatherchem.

In 2013 the Weatherchem promise to its customers remains unchanged –unlimited packaging solutions combined with unparalleled flexible services.

Mold-Rite Plastics acquires Weatherchem Corporation

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:35:30 GMT

Mold-Rite Plastics – a leading manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging products – has acquired Weatherchem Corporation, an Ohio-based maker of plastic dispensing closures.

The announcement comes just weeks after Mold-Rite acquired Stull Technologies, a New Jersey-based manufacturer of dispensing closures, caps, lids, and packaging components. Both transactions serve to broaden Mold-Rite Plastics’ product line, geographic reach and manufacturing capabilities while adding talented personnel to its organization.

Founded in 1971, Weatherchem established itself in the packaging industry with its creative line of plastic dispensing closures for containers and bottles. Mold-Rite Plastics, which is owned by private equity firm Irving Place Capital, will retain the Weatherchem name to leverage the company’s substantial brand equity as they have done with Stull Technologies.

For Mold-Rite, the acquisition of Weatherchem is part of a larger expansion plan that includes both organic growth and acquisitions, and builds upon the company’s standards of providing customers with reliability, a superior customer experience and innovation.

“Our mission is to enhance our customers’ experience through superior packaging solutions delivered with unprecedented flexibility and responsiveness, and bringing Weatherchem into our family exemplifies our commitment to that goal,” said Brian Bauerbach, President and CEO of Mold-Rite Plastics. “Joining with an innovative company such as Weatherchem further adds to our high level of customer-focused value, and we are excited to be able to provide these new products and capabilities to our customers.”

“Uniting with Mold-Rite Plastics will allow us to improve the overall value we bring to our customers through an expanded company reach and products that naturally complement one another,” said Jennifer Altstadt, President of Weatherchem Corporation.

P&M Corporate Finance (PMCF) served as financial advisor to Weatherchem.

PACKstory: The MegaFlap Closure

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 08:34:10 GMT

Sometimes, it's not easy getting to what you need. We often find ourselves struggling with packaging that doesn't seem to cooperate because the aperture provided to get at the product just doesn't seem to be big enough.

Weatherchem believes that consumers should be able to get to what they need without wasting time and feeling frustrated, so the company has created the MegaFlap, one of the largest and most secure flip top closures on the market, perfect for nutritional powders, snacks, pet foods, and more!

The MegaFlap shares its name with several Weatherchem product families, including the LiquiFlapper, the NutraFlapper, and the FlapMate. All the company's closures are designed to be opened quickly and easily while providing an audible snap upon closing that ensures the container won't pop open. The difference between the MegaFlap and its cousins is its size - at 120mm wide, it's one of the largest closures available, with a full open orifice for easy access, and a clean, contemporary look for maximum shelf impact.

Further, the closure provides an under-the-lid, scoop retention feature, which means consumers can always have their scoops ready to be used instead of having them burrow down into the product. Nobody likes digging scoops out of food or powders, it's unsanitary and tends to get hands dirty.

Combining the scoop retention feature with easy access to the product inside, not to mention the fact that the closure can be opened one-handed, ensures a much improved consumer experience.

Clearly, the MegaFlap provides a better solution for consumers, while also offering valuable product differentiation for brands.

Mold-Rite Plastics acquires Stull Technologies

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 08:16:53 GMT

Mold-Rite Plastics – a leading manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging products – has acquired Stull Technologies, a New Jersey-based manufacturer of dispensing closures, caps, lids, and packaging components. The acquisition serves to broaden Mold-Rite Plastics’ product line, geographic reach and manufacturing capabilities while adding talented personnel to its organization.

A well-established, family-owned company, Stull Technologies has a reputation within the packaging industry for innovative caps and closures. Mold-Rite Plastics, which is owned by private equity firm Irving Place Capital, will retain the Stull name to leverage the substantial brand equity that the company has built over decades of service to the market.

For Mold-Rite, the acquisition of Stull is part of a larger expansion plan that includes both organic growth and acquisitions, and builds upon the company’s standards of providing customers with reliability, superior responsiveness and innovation. New product launches such as the recently introduced EZ-Safe and EZ Grip line of closures – a range of ergonomically ribbed closures designed to enhance shelf impact and customer comfort – is one such example. The company seeks to expand this model through continued capital investment and strategic acquisitions.

“Combining Stull Technologies with the Mold-Rite Plastics family is another example of our commitment to superior service, flexibility and overall customer-focused value,” said Brian Bauerbach, President and CEO of Mold-Rite Plastics. “We are very excited to work with the outstanding people at Stull to continue our mission of enhancing our customers’ products through superior packaging solutions,” said Bauerbach.

“Joining forces with Mold-Rite Plastics will further improve the high quality of products, services, and overall value that Stull brings to its customers,” said Jason Stull, EVP Sales & Marketing of Stull Technologies. “We are confident that combining our organization with Mold-Rite Plastics’ resources will enhance Stull’s strengths and our commitment to delivering market-leading innovation and exceptional customer service.”

Weatherchem honored with Smart Business Magazine’s Innovation in Business Award

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:27:16 GMT

Each year, Smart Business magazine recognizes Northeast Ohio’s most forward-thinking, visionary organizations. Weatherchem is pleased to be among the honorees with President Jennifer Altstadt selected as a winner in the Visionary category.

The Visionary Award acknowledges business leaders and organizations that have demonstrated a history of innovative ideas throughout their careers or business lifespans, or have developed cutting-edge processes or products. Weatherchem has been an innovator in the packaging industry since 1971. Under Altstadt’s leadership, Weatherchem launched several new product lines, entered new markets with one-of-a-kind solutions, renewed its commitment to innovation, focused on packaging solutions that differentiate products, and enhanced the customer experience for extended brand loyalty.

With significant growth in revenues and employment, 2011 was the most successful year in Weatherchem’s 40-year history. In addition, Weatherchem’s sustainability initiatives further its commitment to always leading its industry in new ways. With a focus on waste reduction and energy efficiency, Weatherchem has sought out ways to reduce its environmental impact. These initiatives, among others, make Weatherchem a pioneer in both packaging and sustainability solutions.

Altstadt received her award during the recent Smart Business Innovation in Business Conference. Smart Business publisher and vice president of operations Dustin Klein observed that this year’s winners represent some of the most innovative businesses in the region. He notes that their stories are rousing, their ideas are fresh and their perspectives on business are unique. Smart Business Network, Inc. is a multimedia company with more than 20 years of experience producing quality news, marketing content and events.

Weatherchem Corporation is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of convenient plastic dispensing closures and controlled access packaging. As the creators of the original Flapper® dispensing closure, Weatherchem now offers one of the industry's most innovative closure product lines. In addition to Flapper these include: LiquiFlapper®, NutraFlapper®, NutraGen II®, FlapMate® and Grinder NR®. Whether designing or selecting packaging for a new product or revamping the design of an existing product, Weatherchem has the closures that consumers love.

Weatherchem and Selig celebrate 30 years

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:14:12 GMT

B.J. Radek, Selig Sealing Products Inc. Sales Manager recently presented the Weatherchem team with an award recognizing three decades of partnership. The strength and longevity of this relationship brings with it a great sense of pride and stands as an example of the commitment that Weatherchem makes to its partners, customers and consumers. Strong relationships help Weatherchem develop and produce innovative, high quality products while providing the best possible service.

Through this partnership, Weatherchem offers liner solutions for all packaging needs including materials for packaging liquids, dry foods, chemicals, drugs and many other product applications. Liners keep products fresh, prevent sifting, and provide tamper evidence to the package. Weatherchem provides a broad variety of liners from lift 'n' peel, and pressure-sensitive to a simpler paper disk. We offer a wide selection of liner and closure systems to meet packaging requirements.

Weatherchem Corporation is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of convenient plastic dispensing closures and controlled access packaging. As the creators of the original Flapper® dispensing closure, Weatherchem now offers one of the industry's most innovative closure product lines. In addition to Flapper these include: LiquiFlapper®, NutraFlapper®, NutraGen II®, FlapMate® and Grinder NR®.

Whether designing or selecting packaging for a new product or revamping the design of an existing product, Weatherchem has the closures that consumers love.

Weatherchem invests in sustainability

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 10:54:51 GMT

At Weatherchem, sustainability initiatives start with their products and represent a corporate-wide commitment from employees to the community and the environment. Product design and production processes consider solutions that are both business-friendly and environmentally-friendly. Recent investments that reflect this commitment are poised to create a considerable impact as production begins on the lighter 110mm Flapper® caps.

How much impact can one cap have? Following the cap from the initial ordering, through the production process and all the way to the cap’s delivery to the customer, the savings adds up quickly.

When an order is placed, what used to be printed on paper to create this order is now accomplished entirely electronically via Weatherchem’s ERP system. Through paperless purchasing and order processing, letter-size paper consumption decreased 10% through the first half of the year at Weatherchem.

When this order makes its way to the production floor, it will be produced on a new press in which Weatherchem recently invested. This press consumes 30% less electricity.

Beause of the new lightweight 110mm design, 20% less plastic will be used compared to the previous design. Using less plastic also requires smaller amounts of color to be added to the resin while reduced cycle times for this process contribute additional energy savings.

Another investment made by Weatherchem includes machinery to stack the finished caps and automate the packaging process. Adding this equipment enables 80 more pieces to fit in each box of 110mm Flapper caps – an increase of 40% over the previous packaging method.

The amount of packing material needed to securely fill the box is reduced. More caps per box, pallet and truckload mean that the freight to transport these caps to the customer is also reduced. On average, to transport Weatherchem’s annual volume of 110mm caps will now require 11 fewer truckloads.

Combining the savings on paper, transportation, energy and raw materials, the new 110mm lightweight cap proves to be a convenient dispensing closure that both consumers and the environment value.

Weatherchem Corporation is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of convenient plastic dispensing closures and controlled access packaging. As the creators of the original Flapper® dispensing closure, Weatherchem now offers one of the industry's most innovative closure product lines. In addition to Flapper these include: LiquiFlapper®, NutraFlapper®, NutraGen II®, FlapMate® and Grinder NR®.

Whether designing or selecting packaging for a new product or revamping the design of an existing product, Weatherchem has the closures that consumers love.

Weatherchem named among Northeast Ohio’s best places to work

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:14:42 GMT

Weatherchem has been selected as a winner of this year’s NorthCoast 99 award. The Employer’s Resource Council annually honors the 99 great workplaces for top talent in Northeast Ohio. This year marks the third time that Weatherchem has received the prestigious honor.

"Creating an environment where each of our employees can be top performers is a key to our continued business success,” notes Weatherchem President Jennifer Altstadt. “As we foster the ongoing development of our great team, we are able to achieve the spirit of innovation and service for which Weatherchem is known throughout the packaging industry.”

“Congratulations to all of this year’s winners for leading by example,” said ERC President, Pat Perry. “NorthCoast 99 organizations have re-defined the Northeast Ohio workplace in good and tough times. They have crafted a strategy and put initiatives in place designed to compete locally, nationally and globally through top performer attraction and retention”

Since 1999, hundreds of organizations have been nominated and applied for the NorthCoast 99 award, and the program has recognized nearly 400 organizations for their ability to maintain workplaces that support the attraction, retention and motivation of top performers.

NorthCoast 99 is an annual recognition program that honors 99 great workplaces for top talent in Northeast Ohio. The program was developed and is presented by ERC. ERC is Northeast Ohio’s leading and largest professional organization dedicated to HR practices, programs and services. For more information, please go to: www.northcoast99.org.

Weatherchem Corporation is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of convenient plastic dispensing closures and controlled access packaging. As the creators of the original Flapper® dispensing closure, Weatherchem now offers one of the industry's most innovative closure product lines. In addition to Flapper these include: LiquiFlapper®, NutraFlapper®, NutraGen II®, FlapMate® and Grinder NR®.

Whether designing or selecting packaging for a new product or revamping the design of an existing product, Weatherchem has the closures that consumers love.

Weatherchem welcomes product application engineer

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 08:55:49 GMT

Weatherchem has announced a new addition to its team. Kristin Springer joins Weatherchem as its new Product Application Engineer. In this role, Kristin will be supporting customers with technical expertise beginning with the closure selection process and continuing through the filling line. “Kristin brings a wealth of engineering experience to this position and will be a great resource for our customers as well as our internal team,” states Barry Daggett, director of engineering and product development.

For customers just beginning their packaging selection, Kristin will provide guidance on appropriate bottle, closure and liner options and will participate in product line validation, so that you can be assured a package will meet all established requirements. Kristin is available for technical support visiting customer filling lines where she can provide suggestions and actionable steps to help ensure a smooth production process. Kristin will make sure our customers receive accurate and up-to-date product drawings, as well as regulatory and compliance documentation supporting a closed loop sales system.

Kristin brings more than 15 years of engineering experience to Weatherchem. She worked for Little Tikes in positions that included Industrial/Mechanical Engineer and New Product Manufacturing Engineer. Most recently Kristin worked for Swagelok where she held several engineering positions. Kristin holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Akron and an MBA from Kent State University. As customer needs are identified, Kristin will also be involved in seeking out new products and solutions to best meet packaging challenges. “We are very excited to have Kristin on our team,” adds Daggett. “And, we know our customers will appreciate having this additional resource available to them."

Weatherchem Corporation is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of convenient plastic dispensing closures and controlled access packaging. As the creators of the original Flapper® dispensing closure, Weatherchem now offers one of the industry's most innovative closure product lines. In addition to Flapper these include: LiquiFlapper®, NutraFlapper®, NutraGen II®, FlapMate® and Grinder NR®.

Spring cleaning made easier by Weatherchem

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 07:28:45 GMT

It’s that time of year. The flowers are blooming, the grass is growing and the spring cleaning awaits. Today’s consumers have a heightened awareness of bacteria and germs and want their homes to be fresh and clean. However between work, family, and calendars bursting with appointments, a thorough spring cleaning is often at the bottom of the To-Do List. Trending within the industry are products that can make cleaning easier for the time-starved consumer. Not only do they want to find these products on their store shelves, they are willing to spend more for this convenience so long as the product is effective.

The American Cleaning Institute® has some suggestions for those products that can help make the task of spring cleaning easier. In their recently released spring newsletter, the Institute suggests investing in these essential cleaning supplies: an all-purpose powder or liquid cleaner, an abrasive cleaner, a non-abrasive cleaner, chlorine bleach, glass cleaner, furniture polish, and trash bags.

For many of these cleaning essentials, Weatherchem has closures to help these products achieve the ease-of-use desired by consumers. The LiquiFlapper® and Flapper® caps offer ideal solutions for the indoor chemical products market. Regulated more than many other industries, chemical products must be packaged in materials that can withstand harsh liquids and other substances, provide excellent barrier properties to prevent leakage, and dispense without glugging, spilling, or creating a mess. Weatherchem's LiquiFlapper closures are a perfect complement to any packaging concept for household liquid chemicals, while the variety of sizes and dispensing options available for the original Flapper® closure can handle just about any requirement imaginable for dry chemicals.

Additionally, when it comes to cleaning products, sustainability of both the cleaning agents and their packages have received increased attention from today’s consumers. Naturally derived ingredients, highlighted promotion of eco-friendly features on the package and use of cleaning product refills all testify to the augmented environmental awareness of today’s consumer. Weatherchem’s LiquiFlapper is a perfect solution for brand packagers responsible for household refill containers, since it provides controlled directional dispensing into smaller packages. Because refill containers use less packaging material than primary containers, consumers can feel good about their contribution to sustainability when utilizing these packages.

No matter if your objective is to help consumers save time while using your product or improve the environment, Weatherchem closures can impact your household chemical package performance. Combined with ergonomic contemporary look of both the Flapper and LiquiFlapper closures, your package can have a positive brand impact on the shelf.

Weatherchem honored for community impact and packaging design

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:41:53 GMT

It’s always exciting to receive awards, and the two most recently earned by Weatherchem exemplify the company's dedication to innovative packaging as well as a commitment to the community.

First, Weatherchem was selected as a recipient of the 2012 Leading EDGE Award. Presented by the Entrepreneur's Edge, an organization focused on fostering economic development through education, innovation and relationships in Northeast Ohio, the award recognizes mid-sized companies in the region for the value they contribute to the local community. Companies who receive this award excel in the areas of job creation, civic engagement, economic impact and innovation. Weatherchem has been a continued supporter of the EDGE organization, working with their experiential learning programs for local students and participating in their professional development and networking opportunities.

"It is quite an honor to be recognized for the value that we bring to our local community," notes Weatherchem President Jennifer Altstadt. “To receive this recognition demonstrates how we live our values of integrity, learning, creativity, a passion for excellence, and fun,” adds Altstadt.

By remaining true to these values, Weatherchem can design, develop and deliver the most innovative dispensing closures on the market. This was most recently acknowledged by the National Association of Container Distributors (NACD) who announced their 2012 Packages of the Year Awards. This year’s awards were presented at the NACD Annual Convention where the Bronze Award for the food category was awarded to IHOP Syrup which is topped with Weatherchem's LiquiFlapper® cap. This closure provides no mess, drip-free pouring for the product. Judges evaluated packages’ innovation, sustainability, graphics, decoration, shape, closure, texture, ease-of-use, consumer appeal, and technical merit.

"We are honored to receive each of these awards, and will remain dedicated to providing value, service and innovative products to our customers," said Altstadt.

Weatherchem Corporation is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of convenient plastic dispensing closures and controlled access packaging. As the creators of the original Flapper® dispensing closure, Weatherchem now offers one of the industry's most innovative closure product lines. In addition to Flapper these include: LiquiFlapper®, NutraFlapper®, NutraGen II®, FlapMate® and Grinder NR®.

Whether designing or selecting packaging for a new product or revamping the design of an existing product, Weatherchem has the closures that consumers love.

PACKstory: The Three Pillars of Excellent Packaging Design

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:43:51 GMT

Most consumers don't communicate their dissatisfaction with a product's packaging because they're busy worrying about mortgages, picking up their kids after school, getting ahead at work, and other more important issues. However, good packaging is one of the primary reasons a consumer will choose to purchase a product a second time - if the packaging is easy to open, perceived to be durable and sturdy, and easy to control the product pour, they’ll be far more satisfied with the overall consumer experience.

So, if one of the aims of package design is to create this positive experience for the consumer, are there common characteristics that can be found in some of the industry’s most successful packaging concepts?

Weatherchem believes so. As the company works with dozens of companies using packaging to boost shelf impact and consumer convenience, Weatherchem sees the best designs revolving around three pillars of excellent packaging design: User Convenience, Safety, and Shelf Impact.

Nothing is more convenient than a product that simply does what it should, and Weatherchem's wide array of dispensing closures ensures both liquids and solids pour smoothly, food is kept fresh long after the container has been opened, and products are easy to open, close and dispense by consumers both young and old.

In terms of security, all of Weatherchem’s closures bear in mind the needs of a wide range of consumers. Integrated liners, overwraps and Weatherchem’s “audible snap” are all techniques used to preserve freshness and provide tamper-resistance reassurance. The trick is to keep the closure simple and functional while ensuring safe, repeated usage.

Last and certainly not least is the package’s shelf impact, the ultimate objective of every consumer good marketer. A dispensing closure must play an important role in boosting package appeal, and should be designed to be sleek, elegant, eye-catching and even include custom colors or logos, ensuring it stands apart and gets noticed.

Always bearing in mind these three pillars of excellent packaging design (convenience, safety, and shelf impact), Weatherchem strives to innovate within its self-imposed and very high quality level of design and implementation…

Innovation or shelf impact: Package designers share their priorities for package design

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:36:44 GMT

What makes a great package? And what are some of the most important criteria package designers use when thinking about their next great design? And do purchasing executives have priorities that differ from brand managers?

Those were some of the questions Weatherchem posted to its database of package industry decision-makers in a survey conducted to understand key drivers in the package and closure markets. And in some respects, their opinions were surprising.

Priorities for brand managers and purchasing executives were actually closely aligned, despite what many might have assumed. When asked to rank company performance attributes that are most critical to purchase decisions of caps and closures, “Most Reliable Supplier” and “Most Cost Efficient” were first and second, respectively, in terms of company priorities, with nearly equal scores received from both brand managers and purchasing executives. “Best Delivery” was the third most important criteria, followed by “Vendor Reputation and Integrity.”

“It seems that trust in the supplier’s performance is of paramount importance,” noted Weatherchem’s Vice President of Marketing Anna Frolova-Levi. “In an age when many organizations and institutions haven’t acted in ways that were ‘trustworthy,’ buyers are seeking true partners they can depend upon to provide quality products, on time, and in a cost-effective manner.” Design of the closure itself was a top criteria for selecting a closure supplier, according to the survey. “Better closure design” received a 4.1 (out of 5.0) score as the top factor to influence choosing one closure over another.

Weatherchem Corporation is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of convenient plastic dispensing closures and controlled access packaging. As the creators of the original Flapper® dispensing closure, Weatherchem now offers one of the industry's most innovative closure product lines. In addition to Flapper these include: LiquiFlapper®, NutraFlapper®, NutraGen II®, FlapMate® and Grinder NR®.

Whether designing or selecting packaging for a new product or revamping the design of an existing product, Weatherchem has the closures that consumers love.

Weatherchem's sustainability initiatives continue during 2012

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:58:10 GMT

For some companies, sustainability initiatives have been a popular “fad” of the last few years, launched with great fanfare but rapidly devolving to little more than taglines on a poster displayed by a recycling bin. Weatherchem has always taken the environment far more seriously, and has invested significantly – and made significant progress – toward its eventual goal of becoming “landfill-free.”

The campaign began several years ago with a focus on reducing the company’s energy consumption and scrap. Even during the downturn, Weatherchem resisted the impulse to pause its investment in sustainability by installing new electric presses that consumed 30 percent less energy and consumed 800,000 fewer gallons of water annually, and a new “chiller” to cool interior spaces that used 40-45 percent less energy.

Weatherchem employees led an initiative to reduce scrap, and initially cut levels by 50 percent with efforts that were expanded during 2011. The company began recycling pallets, shrink wrap and corrugated paper to reduce landfill content, to the point that actually very little is going into the trash now. In fact, Weatherchem created 24 tons less trash in 2011 compared to 2007, even though the company’s business volume doubled during that time period!

Efforts will continue during 2012, with a focus on reducing weight of the closures themselves, which are already recyclable. Less weight, of course, consumes less material, but also saves on shipping/fuel costs for Weatherchem and its customers. One closure in particular will use 20 percent less plastic, with production cycle times also cut by 25 percent in order to save electricity.

Flapper provides seed manufacturer with the controlled pour desired by consumers

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:57:09 GMT

User convenience is the cornerstone of good packaging and controlled dispensing. Pour too quickly, and the consumer’s frustrated with wasting the product. Pour too slowly, and today’s impatient consumers are equally unhappy.

Mountain View Seeds understood this, which is why they were so pleased with Weatherchem’s Flapper® closure used on its wild flower seed package. “The seeds were packaged in a large container, which by its very size and weight makes it hard for consumers to hold and control pouring,” explained Troy Weidenbach, VP of the company’s retail division. “The Flapper, however, allows the product to flow evenly out of the bottle. Even though the top was open, it lets you shake out the seeds so they spread evenly over the ground.”

Weidenbach used Flapper’s 89mm and 110mm size and found the cap the ideal solution for his packaging application. Flapper’s hinge design means the lid stays open while pouring, so it doesn’t annoy consumers by getting in the way of the pellet’s flow.

The Flapper closure is a one-piece system. It doesn't need to be unscrewed, and it doesn't need to be set down on the counter where it may roll off and disappear under the sink. It flips open and snaps closed with an audible snap – nothing could be simpler, and the audible snap assures the consumer they have a tight seal. That audible “safety” snap is also important for packages containing harsh or hazardous outdoor chemicals. It can be opened with one hand when required, providing the convenience that’s so very important to consumers.

Flapper comes in a variety of sizes, from 38mm to 110 mm, with a single-flap option or double-flap design with a variety of pouring openings, such as a tear-drop directional pour or full open pour for controlled dispensing. The cap’s ergonomic contemporary look for creates a positive brand impact on the shelf.