IJR, Inc Anti-Theft Thief New Packaging

Ben Wang compiled reports: Ink cartridge remanufacturing IJR, Inc., purchased only one machine, it makes its packaging automation, reducing the theft losses, and this has confused its customers, vendors for a long time.

IJR, Inc., is a leading supplier of remanufactured inkjet cartridges, mainly to office supplies retailers, club stores, and OEM inkjet printer manufacturers. As a major supplier, Phoenix has the right to change the way things are done, including the packaging of everything.

Typically, ink jet cartridges are packaged in cardboard cartons with hanging labels for ease of display. Its light weight and small size make it convenient for shippers and retailers. However, such pocket-sized packaging also provides convenience for shoplifters. Retailers find small packages with a price of $35 or more are the easiest targets for theft.

An anti-theft thief can choose to use the electronic anti-theft system (EAS), but the electronic anti-theft system (EAS) can be easily defeated by removing the outer carton of the inkjet box. Another option is to place cartons in a closed area and rely on store employees to distribute them, but this increases labor costs and reduces the chance of improvisation.

Therefore, in January 2005, IJR began to provide a different, more practical package, mainly related to the theft problem of retailers: Inkjet cartridges are packaged in plastic bubble wrappers, which are too bulky to fit into pockets. , and cannot open in store. The product can be seen through a clear bubble, and if the retailer likes it, for added security, the attached cardboard card can carry a pre-applied EAS tag.

Larger pedestals that are newly packaged may require more display space and more frequent restocking, but reducing labor costs and eliminating petty theft, these potential benefits can easily compensate for these increased costs.

Automated process

IJR's new bubble packaging system was consulted on the results of SCA packaging, consumer products (formerly Alloyd Co.), a leading customer-designed foam packaging and automated foam packaging equipment supplier.

"This is a change we need to make," said Bob Allen, president of IJR, Inc. "Giving our customers safer packaging and helping us deal with faster and faster production capacity." Over the past few years, companies have manually packaged inkjet cartridges, which is a labor-intensive task.

In late 2004, SCA introduced the bubble packaging process to Bob Allen, president of IJR, Inc., and began to do the tools and molds that will form the first bubble of IJR. In January 2005, a new automated bubble packaging system was installed at IJR.

This system, the Alloyd Aergo. 8 Double Bubble Packer, automatically puts a custom-formed bottom blister into a specially crafted tool that holds its shape. The machine first passes the three product loading stations where the ink cartridges are placed manually, prepares the blister material, and then goes to an already printed card station, which is to be placed on the blister and then to a blister-filled station. At the seventh site, the package was heat-sealed to the eighth station and the heat was removed from the sealed package to avoid deformation, brittleness, or discoloration before the package popped out.

The "DUO" name reflects the fact that Alloyd Aergo 8 can simultaneously pack and seal foam vs. bubble and bubble vs. card packaging. Currently, IJR only uses the bubble-bubble function.

The Aergo 8 operates at 20 cycles/minute, providing 20 blister packs when sealing a pack, and more when filling and sealing two or more bubbly packs at a time. It can run at a slow speed of 4 bubbles per minute to accommodate more time for placement of multiple products. Typical IJR's two black ink cartridges are packaged in sizes of 8" long x 7" wide x 2" deep - More "spacious" than necessary - Provides full theft deterrence. For office supplies customers, there is a range of double and/or one cartridge size to choose from. Club store, typically packaging is multiple cartridges packed in each "economy "Packages, sometimes requiring multiple packaging - are soaked in foam.

"Now," Allen said, "We alternately run three sets of processing tools on the machine, and another set for the club store is made by SCA. When we produce more products, we add more processing tools. The advantage of a single source of tools, tools, and bubbles is that everything is ready for use, and there is no misunderstanding between multiple vendors and the process of resignation is slow.

The top and bottom polyvinyl chloride foams used by SCA are supplied by Kl5ockner Pentaplast.

By placing a processing tool that holds the bottom of the foam inside the machine, converting to a new package is simple and efficient. Tools are not needed. The touch screen controller stores 100 groups of packaging parameters, features, English and Spanish operating tips, allowing the operator to quickly select the appropriate parameters.

Comfort and safety

SCA designed its Aergo line Aergo 8 DUO and other machines that provide operators with a comfortable working environment and high productivity. Ergonomic design features include a 36" turntable that allows the operator to sit or stand while filling. Also, the edge of the turntable is stuffed with a footrest beneath it, covered with a non-slip mat. "These comfortable features are a selling point," Bob Allen said. "Our workers are very important to us. "He also mentioned that workers who were replaced by this automated operation were rearranged elsewhere in the company.

From early January, the Aergo 8 DUO began operation at IJR, bringing with it the excellent results described by Bob Allen. "We have no practical problems," he stated. "Previously we had 6 to 8 individual cartridges to cartons. Now we have only 2 operators to be able to produce many blister packs faster."-- Pat Reynolds

Zhang Lianqi