Yamato Americas

Commercial and Industrial Weighing Scales and Systems

Reduce Packaging Waste Within Your Company

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The need for more packaging seems to always be rising, but it’s important to think about the impact we have on our environment and continue to find ways to reduce packaging waste. Many companies are now making the switch to sustainable packaging materials to reduce their footprint. Consider the following tips when contemplating reducing packaging waste.

1. Packaging Materials

Using packaging materials that are reusable or recyclable is a great way to reduce waste.  Furthermore, think about the size of your packaging. Is the width of film you’re using necessary for a proper seal? Even reducing your packaging width by a small amount can make all the difference. Not only will this reduce your waste, but it will also cut costs.

Consider whether you can reuse the packaging waste you have left over after production. If you can make use of it in and around the office, great! If not, see if you can recycle this waste. There are many items you use on a daily basis that you may not even realize are recyclable.

2. Minimal Packaging

The largest driver of your material costs is the shape and sizing of your packaging. Of course, packages are necessary and key to your product’s success. Find a package design that is sustainable and recyclable. This will not only help the environment, but you will also become a leader in the industry.

Minimalistic packaging means less waste and reduced product cost for you and your company. Less energy will be used to manufacture the product and its packaging, saving you even more. You can even save money on transportation costs, because less fuel is needed to transport smaller items.

Minimal designs do not have to be boring by any means. Being creative in your minimalist packaging will increase your visibility as an eco-friendly company. Consider also dropping additional packaging on your goods to promote sustainability.

3. Training

An often overlooked way to increase your company’s sustainability is simply to make sure your employees are properly trained. Your staff should be made aware of the importance of using proper sized and recyclable materials.  Teach your staff ways to increase efficiencies, save costs, and protect the environment.

Your mission to reduce waste should be clear. Consider posting signage around your facility stating your mission or including it in a company newsletter. Waste reduction is a great topic for a staff meeting. Your staff may even provide new eco-friendly ideas.

Take the initiative to serve as an example for your staff when it comes to reducing waste. You can do this by providing examples of how everyone can reduce their waste and following these examples yourself. Make sure recycling bins are visible around your entire facility.

Making moves toward sustainability and reducing packaging waste will set your company apart and leave a positive impression on your customers, and the environment will thank you. For more ways on optimizing your packaging systems, reach out to our team at Yamato.

How to Choose the Right Platform Scale for Your Business

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One of the most important, and one of the most overlooked, parts of any successful warehouse is its scale. Since warehouses typically handle oversized items, they need scales that can withstand the immense weight. At the same time, warehouses need scales that simplify the weighing process.

The entire packing industry is built on people trying to be as efficient as possible. That’s what makes the platform scale such a powerful solution for packers.

With platform scales, warehouses can streamline the record-keeping and packing process. Recording a package and ensuring it contains the correct items is as simple as placing it on a platform.

However, platform scales can also vary. Some are better suited for larger items than others. Other scales can handle more weight. Sometimes warehouses need to find an ultra-precise scale to suit their needs.

Keep reading for tips on finding the perfect platform scale that won’t weigh down your company!

Does the Platform Scale with Your Business?

The first step when deciding on a platform scale is to figure out how big you need it to be. If you normally load crates larger than the size of a person, then you will want to opt for a larger platform. You also need to check and make sure you have room to place it in your warehouse.

Even if you do have the room right now, you should also try and predict if you’ll have room in the future. The whole point of purchasing a platform scale is to streamline the packing process. It makes businesses more efficient.

More efficiency means more growth, which means you’ll need to take up more space. So purchase as big as you need, but not too big.

It Should Have the Capacity to Do Its Job

If you pack heavy, large packages, then you should pay attention to the scale’s maximum weight. It would be worse than a hassle to purchase a scale only to realize that it isn’t reading how much your items weigh. It could result in a huge loss of money.

So start the purchase with an idea of what you will routinely place on the scale. An elephant can weigh up to 14,000 lbs. Imagine trying to weigh one on your platform scale and see if it can work.

Measure Your Measurements – How Precise Do You Need It?

If you load a lot of the same items, it can be useful to have a precise scale. One that tells you whether an item is .1 lb. different from another of the same kind can save you a lot of hardship. By getting a precise scale, you can measure differences between the same products.

You will also be able to tell if something may be wrong with a particular package. If you’re used to a particular item weighing one amount, but a package containing it weighs another, then you should know to check it. A precise scale can help you make sure you’re delivering what you need to without any issues.

Scales Should Help Scale up Your Business

With a platform scale, your business should be more streamlined, efficient, and just grow faster. Having one makes your life easier since records can be written quicker and with more detail. It also makes your employees lives easier since they just load a package onto the platform to weigh something.

However, picking the right one can be difficult. Costs can vary, and different platform scales are suited for different kinds of businesses. A good way to start thinking about which scale to purchase is by browsing what’s available.

Yet, nothing beats talking with a person for help on your purchase. Contact us, and one of our experts will discuss your unique situation with you so that you get the scale you need. It’s the first step in creating a more efficient and growing business.

Case Study: Northwest Seafood Processors

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The Client

Northwest Seafood Processors, or NWSP, is a division of Odyssey Enterprises based out of Seattle. The company specializes in custom processing, private label packaging, and product development for frozen seafood and vegetables. The operations at NWSP include a vast range of equipment options and packaging solutions. The equipment must accommodate retail and foodservice vacuum-packed, tray-packed, bagged, and boxed product runs ranging from 5 oz to 10 lb.

The Challenge

NWSP had been hand-scaling all of its frozen seafood products, a method that is both labor-intensive and time-consuming. NWSP needed a better solution and decided to enlist the help of Yamato in the summer of 2015. After considering and evaluating a variety of automated options, NWSP decided to go with two Model TSDW-205W semi-automatic combination weighers. The units measure 28.9″ wide x 61.1″ deep by 31.9″ – 35.1″ high.

NWSP found the TSDW to be the perfect solution because the weighers are engineered to gently handle and belt-convey food products of a fixed weight for combination scaling. The equipment features easy to wash down and is also compact, making it perfect for conserving plant floor space. The high speed is up to 1800 weighments per hour, and the equipment boasts high accuracy, reducing the costs associated with product giveaway and damage. NWSP knew these weighers would improve their overall packaging line efficiency.

Benefits of a Semi-Auto Combination Weigher

Ted Hadley is the CFO and GM for Odyssey Enterprises, Inc. He says that the purchase of the TSDW weighers was a low investment when compared with the many overall benefits to his operations. Hadley said that “We installed this equipment for several reasons. The price is significantly less than a full-size combination scale, and the installation costs were zero. The programmability is straightforward, and the compact weighers can be moved from line to line as needed. Also, we like the gentle handling belt conveyor, the easy cleaning capability, and the overall simplicity and flexibility of the weighers. We use the system to feed tray-pack and pre-made pouch lines. Labor costs have been reduced because each weigher can automatically do the work of four hand scale workers in the equivalent amount of time.”

Hadley and the team over at NWSP were delighted by what Yamato was able to do for them. The dependable Yamato combination weighers helped the company meet its goals, and Yamato can do the same for you. Read our other case studies to learn more about how our equipment can lower your production costs and increase your efficiency.

(Quote Source – Packaging World)