Cardboard (or corrugated)?

Corrugated Board

Cardboard or corrugated - is there a difference? To most people, these two terms mean the exact same thing. However, in packaging engineering, they are distinctly different. In fact, most packaging engineers or designers cringe when they hear the word cardboard used in the wrong context.

Many people use the word "cardboard" to refer to any type of paper packaging substrate. The truth is, most of the time, they should be using "corrugated."

Corrugated material is easy to identify.
 It is made up of three layers of paper:

Paperboard

an inside liner, an outside liner, and fluting which runs in between. The material gets its name from the corrugated medium which helps provide it's strength. The most typical applications of corrugated are in shipping boxes, retail displays, pizza boxes and retail packaging.

"Cardboard" typically refers to a thick paper stock known as paperboard or folding carton material. Examples of those applications are cereal boxes and other smaller consumer
goods packages.

Folding Cartons

Understanding the difference between these materials helps speed up the process of estimating as we identify the proper product for you from the start!
 

Professional Packaging Design

Packaging ideas and options are very important for any company that is producing products, reselling products, or storing products. "Custom" or "stock" packaging is an integral part of company marketing and the materials also help reduce product loss.

When determining packaging options, a professional packaging designer or consultant should certainly be considered. A good packaging designer is an excellent option to assist in marketing & packaging profitability efforts. Additionally, professional packaging design will allow products to stand out on the shelves and help build brand recognition. A packaging consultant is also an all-in-one packaging adviser - they will help with efficiency, materials, machines, as well as a host of other values.

Many businesses do not have the option of hiring professionals due to budget constraints. With that in mind, Pioneer Direct Supply has a variety of options that we will recommend as we apply our knowledge to your application and satisfy the needs of your company. In most cases, our design services are free of charge. All that we kindly ask and hope to gain in return is a business relationship that we can grow together.

For an exceptional packaging design consultation, please call our staff at 602-507-4355.

Wine Shippers

Made with light weight expanded polystyrene (EPS), our wine shippers here at PDS offer unparalleled protection and durability. These kits also offer the additional benefit of shielding wine from temperature changes during shipment to ensure your product arrives safely.

Our 12 pack shippers do not require a manufacturing lead time as they are a stock item in our warehouse.


Contact us today to help you provide fast and efficient delivery of your wine bottles!

Online Ordering

From corporate buying to individual purchases, online ordering is growing by leaps and bounds. People are constantly connected to the Internet through their laptops, tablets and smartphones. This type of greater access makes online transactions an increasingly popular option for customers as they become more comfortable with the process.

To keep up with the technology demands, Pioneer Direct Supply will be introducing a shopping cart website. This exciting new website will provide an exceptional purchasing experience while allowing 24/7 access to following features:

• User ID & Password Settings
• Detailed Product Information
• Search & Advanced Search Capabilities
• Quick Order Feature
• Custom Item Data
• Invoice & Previous Order Records

In addition to the user friendly features, customers will have peace of mind knowing our website will be secure with VeriSign 128 bit Encryption Security as well as McAfee SECURE protection. 

Look for our official website launch this fall!

Gatorade & Sqwincher Hydration Products

For employees in many industries, hot, humid and hard-working conditions are a fact of life. The average person has 2.6 million sweat glands. These glands are activated when a portion of the brain determines that the body needs to be cooled down. Sweat evaporates off our skin which allows for heat loss and cooling. However, when we sweat, we also lose water and electrolytes. Drinking enough water and having enough electrolytes is necessary for our bodies to function properly. When workers are properly hydrated, they are healthier, safer and more productive.

The products listed below are the two most popular name brand electrolyte re-hydration beverages on the market and are distributed here at Pioneer Direct Supply.

 
Gatorade Product Details:

The Gatorade® 2-1/2 gallon powder mix includes 32 low-sodium Gatorade® packets featuring electrolytes that help employees battle dehydration. Employees need only mix a packet with water for a quick, tasty drink that quenches any thirst. Flavors included in 32 count case pack are as follows:

• Fruit Punch
• Grape-Riptide Rush
• Lemon-Lime
• Orange

Sqwincher Product Details:

Great tasting, scientifically formulated electrolyte replacement drink is designed to restore important mineral salts and fluids lost through dehydration, physical exertion and heat stress. Sqwincher is more satisfying than water or soft drinks because the body absorbs it more quickly and restores it to its proper electrolyte and fluid balance. Powder Pack^™ mixes quickly and easily with water. Sqwincher is the natural recovery source for dehydration. The 32 count 2-1/2 gallon Sqwincher packets are available in the following great tasting flavors:

• Tropical Cooler
• Mixed Berry
• Cherry
• Grape
• Tea
• Lemon Lime
• Fruit Punch
• Orange
• Lemonade

Rehydrate your hard-working employees with these great products available through PDS!

 

The Importance of Plastic Recycling Codes

The numbers found on plastic containers inside the recycling symbol are a coding system for plastic containers to assist recyclers in sorting plastic containers. The symbol is designed to be imprinted on the bottom of the plastic containers. The numerical code appears inside the recycling symbol, a three-sided triangular arrow. Here is a guide to what the numbers mean as well as examples of each number: 

Code	Material	Examples
1	Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)	Soft drink bottles
2	High-density polyethylene (HDPE)	Milk and water jugs
3	Vinyl	Shampoo bottles
4	Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)	Ketchup bottles
5	Polypropylene	Squeeze bottles
6	Polystyrene	Fast-food packaging
7	Other

Below is a in-depth look at the numbers and the end result of what they are recycled into
1 - Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, (occasionally) new containers. PET plastic is the most common for single-use bottled beverages, because it is inexpensive, lightweight and easy to recycle.

2 - Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing. HDPE is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially for packaging. It is recyclable into many goods.

3 - Decks, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats.
PVC is tough and weathers well, so it is commonly used for piping, siding and similar applications. PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don't let the plastic touch food. Also never burn PVC, because it releases toxins.

4 - Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile. LDPE is a flexible plastic with many applications.

5 - Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays. Polypropylene has a high melting point, and is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid.

6 - Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers. Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products. It is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam.

7 - Plastic lumber, custom-made products. A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into number 7.

As a packaging distributor, it is easy for us to want to sell plastic products - these items are an important part of our revenue. The fact that this versatile material is not only in our packaging products but also in in our cars, toys, clothing and home goods makes it that much more important in understanding the significance of plastic recycling codes. 

We will continue to do our part in the education of recycling the products we supply. Please do your part in making sure plastic products are disposed of properly.

 

Steel & Poly Strapping

Strapping is used to secure product typically for shipping and storage.  Strapping your inventory not only extends the life of the product by keeping it safe and protected during shipping or storage, but will also free up space by keeping like materials together for easy location and retrieval. Strapping products together is also a safety precaution when the materials are stored on racks.

Below are general guidelines that can be helpful when choosing the proper strapping for your application. 

STEEL STRAPPING

Steel strapping comes in two tensile strengths: Regular Duty and High Tensile. 

STEEL

Regular Duty (RD): A low carbon steel strapping produced for low to medium duty applications such as package reinforcement, unitizing, palletizing and crate closure.

High Tensile (HT): A high carbon steel strapping that is heat treated to produce a product which combines high strength and elongation (stretch) for shock resistance. High Tensile strapping provides more footage per coil than heavy duty sizes of comparable break strength.

POLYESTER STRAPPING

POLYESTER

Polyester strapping is the strongest plastic strapping material of the two in the poly category (polyester vs. polypropylene). The highest tension can be applied and retained over a longer period of time compared to other plastic strapping materials. Polyester is also available in machine grade and is very easy to recycle.

POLYPROPYLENE STRAPPING

POLYPROPYLENE

Polypropylene strapping is the most economical type of plastic strap and is adequate in many applications.  It has a break strength up to 2000# and comes in many different colors. This type of strapping material is generally used in corrugated carton package reinforcement. Polypropylene Strapping is half the weight of steel strapping, less expensive and safer & easier to use.

Flexible Packaging

Company's in the U.S. and the world are increasing their flexible packaging usage because the durable and limber properties of the materials makes it easier to offer more product variety. These flexible packaging products can be filled with a liquid, solid or semi-solid making it a suitable packaging solution for a wide variety of industries. Film, foil and paper materials can be used to make different types of flexible packaging and its air tight seal is great for protecting products that you want to further protect from spoiling or tampering.

Here are some of the most popular types of flexible packaging products produced for the vitamin, pharmaceutical, beauty, food and beverage industries:

• Bags
• Stick Packs
• Pillow Pouches
• Flexible Trays
• Envelopes

In the coming years, the flexible packaging segment will continue to expand and grow because more and more businesses want their product’s packaging to serve multiple purposes. Flexible packaging provides various markets a way to reduce packaging costs while catching the consumers eye with its design and function.

Flexible packaging is here to stay and will continue to grow in popularity across all industries that require packaging - especially those with high consumer demand.

Authorized Distributor of Better Packages Inc.

Pioneer Direct Supply is now an Authorized Distributor of the Better Packages line!

Since 1917, Better Packages' exceptional products have made them the world's leading manufacturer of water-activated tape (WAT) dispensers and carton-sealing systems. With millions of WAT dispensers and carton sealers sold and expertly serviced by a global certified distributor network, the Better Packages name has become synonymous with unmatched innovation, design, quality and reliability.

Better Packages products provide simple, straightforward solutions for packaging applications across a multitude of industries. The FBI, Frito Lay, Tiffany & Co., Microsoft, Danbury Mint, Unilever, Eli Lilly and L.L. Bean, are among the many companies and government agencies that rely on Better Packages' quality. As package tampering and theft increase, so do the package security demands of today's businesses, government agencies and consumers. One of the easiest, most cost effective ways to increase package security is to use a tamper-evident seal. Water-activated tape is one of the best sealing methods for doing just that.Below is a tutorial video that offers quick education on the Better Packages products.

Die-Cut Custom Products

Pioneer Direct Supply offers an extensive selection of stock packaging products.We also offer "Die-Cut" custom packaging allowing us to suit particular needs when stock products just won't do the job. This type of production requires elaborate "die cutting" during the process of manufacturing.

Here are some examples of die-cut products:

• Counter and floor displays (Point of Purchase)
• Corrugated Mailers
• Open top Bin Boxes
• File Storage Boxes
• Self-locking Trays

The video below will show you a CAD table similar to our in house machine that digitally creates pre-production samples with precision.