Shepherd Wins Business from Off-shore Competitor (update)
You may recall this topic from a couple months ago. Recent events have triggered this update on the project.
We completed the first production run and the customer assembled the boots only to discover cracking at some of the fastening points of the boots. Our staff worked with the customer understanding how they were fastening and adhering the accessories to the boot to better understand the problem. After working with our suppliers and the client it was discovered that the client was using an incompatible adhesive with the material we were forming. Our suppliers suggested compatible adhesives that ended up solving the problem.
Another good reason to keep products close to home, trying to solve a problem like this with an overseas suppliers could prove to be challenging.
Previous blog below:
At Shepherd we specialize in Custom Thermoforming, and we get extremely excited when faced with unique and technically challenging projects like the design shown here.
This medical application, fits perfectly with Shepherd Thermoforming, due to a request from our customer for a high amount of part detail and precision. Something they were struggling with for the previous supplier from China. We were able to not only solve the quality issues but also add some value by doing in-house trimming that saved the customer assembly time.
This Design, another example of the Shepherd Technical/Engineering team working closely with our customers to deliver high quality precision parts.
Paypal now Accepted
It`s important for Shepherd to remain leading edge on every front. Last year we introduced MasterCard or Visa as a means to receive payment. In an effort to accommodate customer needs we now accept payment through your PayPal account. If your interested in finding out more on how to do this contact Debbie at dedwards@shepherd.ca or at 905-459-4545 ext. 226.
Another Re-shored Customer for a Robotics WIP Tray
Bearing tray for robotics
We recently engineered a WIP (work in process) tray for a global bearing company. The trays had previously been produced in Japan, however the customer wanted a local supplier with the technical accuracy needed to interface with their robotics. The customer also needed 6 different trays for the project. Combine all these concerns and you come up with the best solution; face to face, hands on dealings between the supplier and customer. That’s what we did, our sales team took an engineer on site to the customer in order to learn all the transitions and robotic interface requirements to ensure the customer would have a viable solution. With the customer knowing we understood their process we created a plan and solution that won the business.
Interested in seeing more material handling trays, check out this link to our website.
Shepherd Community Contribution with Seminar/Tour for Humber Students
Last week Chris Cook put on a seminar (Thermoforming 101) and a plant tour for some local students at Humber College. The students brought in samples of projects they had been working on. It was great to see what they had created with the lab equipment and limited tools available to them. Thermoforming often looks simple but presents challenges with even the simplest projects. Seeing the students try to form some complex parts was intriguing and we encouraged the students to continue their efforts. Too often we industry experts get focused on trying to fit projects into the neat box and could be missing opportunities. The students projects certainly do not get held back by this aspect.
The students were engaged by Chris’s discussion and had some interesting questions about materials and, as expected, the recycling issues faced by the industry. We discussed the future of the industry and recycling before touring the engineering and production departments, and taking the time to interact with the students line side and discuss what the equipment or employees were doing along the way.
Shepherd Thermoforming and Packaging Inc. thanks professor Bert Bobrovniczky and the students of Humber for taking the time to learn about the thermoforming industry.
SPI & NAPCOR Start Recycling Programs for Thermoformed Materials
Recycling bottles
I read recently that SPI and the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) announced that three United States recycling operators have been selected to receive grants toward establishing model programs for collection and intermediate processing of PET thermoformed packaging. This is a great start and something desperately needed by the plastics industry.
It’s discouraging to see the plastic bottles and thermoforms treated as worthless garbage knowing that there is a growing need in the plastics industry to recycle them. In the past the economics were difficult for recycling plastics like these, however in the last year the growing uses for recycled PET has greatly increased demand and pricing.
Ground up pop bottles mixing with virgin flake
As the recycling stream for pulp becomes more and more sparse due to diminishing print media, the need to re-use resources such as thermoformed packaging will gain momentum……especially now that the economics are starting to make sense.
Interested in knowing how many bottles we saved from the land fill? Then visit our Materials Page of our website.
Guaranteed Automated Feed-ability
Sample of a heat sealing machine
Heat sealed blister pack example
After a recent visit to a client who purchased a heat sealing machine, I was reminded of a rarely discussed solution that we offer. When customers purchase blisters and heat seal tooling from Shepherd we guarantee feed-ability of those blisters on the clients equipment.
Shepherd has a history in contract packaging and sales of heat sealing machines. Some Shepherd staff are still with the company that supported this type of equipment. Although blisters have taken a back seat to clamshell’s, Shepherd Thermoforming and Packaging Inc. still offers a guarantee to the markets still using the technology. A solution that is not mentioned often to our clients.
If you have a need for this see our contact page for how to get in touch.
Shepherd keeps business after local customer moves production to the Czech Republic
Dust Cover
For years we have supplied a local customer thermoformed dust covers. These covers have some nasty undercuts that were required in order to fit the clients product and its intended use. Shepherd struggled with the job at production start up but eventually overcame the unique learning curve that this project mandated.
When we learned that the production was moving to the Czech Republic our immediate thoughts were how do we retain the business. We should not have worried. After the customer moved production we continued to ship the dust covers and switched the material to a ROHS friendly clear RPET. We also worked with the customer to achieve price discounts with this material and a new purchasing pattern. Shipping to the Czech Republic has been a seamless transition, further solidifying the projects long term potential.
Shepherd Employees awarded the NOS, Thermoforming certificate in Canada
CPSC awards Nitin, Cornel & Scot
Shepherd employees Nitin (left side of the picture) and Scot (right side of the picture) were awarded the National Occupation Standards (Thermoforming Standard) by obtaining their level 1 thermoforming certificates from the Canadian Plastic Sector Council. We congratulate them on this achievement and the roll they will play mentoring fellow employees. If you are interested in learning more about the CPSC’s NOS standards, contact Cornel Toader (middle of picture) at cornel@shepherd.ca.
5s Embraced by Shepherd Employees
CNC Router Tool Box (before)
CNC Router Shadow Board (After)
Back in November of 2009, Shepherd Thermoforming and Packaging Inc. invested in Lean training for the majority of its employees. The training was found through the companies membership with EMC (Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium). Value Stream Solutions Inc. provided the training for a number of Lean techniques including 5s.
Machine set up tools 5s shadow board
Tool build bolts cart 5s solution
After a year of the management team encouraging employees to adapt 5s techniques, it has been embraced by employees without management direction. The monthly meetings went from discussing what could be implemented to “look what we implemented”. In our monthly checks of 5s projects, we have seen noticeable improvements in organization and efficiency’s.
Tool build parts 5s solution
Congratulations to the all staff that now understand how 5s works and taking the initiative to continually improve it. Working smarter, not harder!
The picture to the upper left of the page is before and to the right is the after. The other pictures on the post are the employee initiated and implemented 5s solutions.
SPE membership drive
Shepherd has a number of SPE - Thermoforming Division members and we are proud to promote the association. SPE (Society of Plastics Engineers) is currently on a membership drive. If you are in the plastics industry we encourage readers to sign up.
