Packaging Innovation

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Keith Baechle

By: Keith Baechle, Regional Sales Manager

Innovation: Webster defines innovation as the act or process of inventing or introducing something new.  Innovation as a new idea or method is what has set ACH Foam Technologies apart.  We are constantly adding new product lines to our list.  DuraTherm® insulated shipping containers, WineLoc® wine shippers, and Foam-Control® custom molded or fabricated packaging to name a few.

These aren’t new foam types, but are new ways and uses for our Expanded Polystyrene(EPS).  Creating new innovative uses for EPS satisfies 2 needs in the industry.  First, it fills a demand for something which was not there before.  Second, it creates products which are more profitable for the company.  Companies that INNOVATE, especially innovation that utilizes their core products, are companies that excel and experience growth over their competitors when times are tough.  ACH Foam Technologies is growing, excelling, and innovating.

Contact us to learn more about our innovative EPS packaging solutions.

 

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New R-Value Requirements

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Jim Nugent

By:  Jim Nugent, Sales Representative – Architectural Products

With both ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers) and IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) updating their R value requirements and setting new standards for continuous insulation (ci), building owners and their managers, architects, engineers and contractors all have new requirements that need to be followed in order to meet codes.

I won’t claim that in this brief blog post I can succinctly communicate all the new standards for the various climate zones in the US, but I can offer a very simple way to find that information. Go to www.achfoam.com and search for tech bulletin eps1020 (ASHRAE standards) and tech bulletin eps1021 (IECC standards). These two documents will give you all the up-to-date R-value requirements for all the US climate zones in all forms of construction. How easy is that!

Now I can’t just stop there and not take a few paragraphs to explain how rigid EPS insulation is the right solution for meeting these new standards….

One thing you will notice with these new insulation standards is that R-value requirements are increasing. EPS has always offered the best value proposition of the three primary rigid insulations (EPS, XPS and Polyiso), so as R-value requirements increase so does the cost effectiveness of EPS. For below-grade, under slab, cavity wall and perimeter wall insulation, Foam Control Plus+ rigid EPS insulation offers the same compressive resistance and in-service R value as extruded polystyrene at a lower cost.

Another aspect of these new R-Value standards are requirements for certain minimums for continuous insulation or different R-values for out bound or in bound insulation.  Architects now have all new R-values to design with and these new R-value requirements will not be easily met with current “off the shelf” extruded polystyrene products found in local distribution.

One of the long standing benefits of EPS has been our ability to easily vary thickness and compressive strength to meet target R Values.

ACH Foam can be your single source for below-grade and perimeter insulation and your resource for understanding the new code requirements.

Posted in Insulation, Sheathing, Below-Grade & Wall Applications, Perimeter & Below-Grade Insulation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Time to Get in Shape!

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Dale Mullikin

By: Dale Mullikin, Sales Representative – Architectural Products

Across the country people are getting in shape by running, riding bikes, taking fitness and nutrition classes, or eating better. All those methods solve health problems. Expanded Polystyrene solves problems as well. When designers want architectural designs and shapes on buildings they turn to EPS for architectural shapes and designs.

ACH Foam Technologies EPS solves many construction and design challenges, in addition to adding beauty to residential and commercial buildings. ACH EPS has unlimited design possibilities, making it the perfect insulation for Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS), Stucco Exterior Wall Systems, and Architectural Shapes.

EPS meets or exceeds tough exterior wall specifications and has been used in the construction industry for over 40 years. ACH Foam Technologies EPS is manufactured with a flat, smooth and square structure to meet ASTM E2430, resulting in reduced labor needed to install and prepare a wall for the coatings applications. ACH Foam Technologies can provide Perform Guard® EPS, a proven and safe additive that effectively resists termites.

ACH simplifies the design and estimating process for Wall Specification Grade EPS by utilizing innovative computerized technology to accurately design and fabricate shapes for your project.

The next time you think about designing shapes for your project, consider using EPS from ACH Foam Technologies. It will be a lot easier than the workout that will get you into shape.

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ACH has you covered for the Summer shipping season!

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Chris Benson

By:  Chris Benson, Packaging Specialist

ACH Foam Technologies is here to help you this summer with shipping your temperature sensitive product.  Duratherm insulated shipping containers, Duratherm gel packs, and Wineloc product is available to ease any concerns your company might have for shipping in the summer season.

Duratherm Coolers:

Stock items are available at many of the ACH facilities across the country. Custom coolers are an option as well! ACH’s Duratherm coolers will provide the best combination of product protection and thermal value.

You have the cooler, now you need something to keep the product cold….

Duratherm Gel Packs:

ACH has gel pack sizes ranging from 8 oz up to 48 oz to cover your temperature needs. Duratherm gel packs are specially developed, non-toxic, gel refrigerant that is cost effective and ready to use.

Product has shipped, now its time to kick back with some wine…

Wineloc Wine Packaging:

Nobody wants to drink hot wine, so make sure your wine is shipping in ACH’s Summer Wine Shipper! ACH has a 2 pack & 6 pack Summer Wine Shipper that will keep your wine from getting to hot during transit. These shippers will last 72 hours and have passed ISTA 7E temperature lab test along with ISTA 3A drop tests. Your wine will arrive in temperature and protected from damage when you us ACH’s Wineloc shippers!

Please contact your local ACH sales representative for more information on any of these temperature related products.

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TUG 2013 National Conference (April 16-19)

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Dennis Smith

By: Dennis Smith, Packaging Specialist

TUG (The United Group) is a member-owned nationwide marketing and sales organization of members and suppliers that work together to provide opportunities to develop relationships between members and a variety of suppliers in packaging, packaging design and restaurant equipment and supplies.

Benefits to Members:

Marketing Allowances – Through the United Group, Preferred Suppliers are initially considered and then monitored in order to provide products to membership through both long-lasting business and personal relationships.  There are currently over 185 vendor partners that participate as Preferred Suppliers that provide a wide variety of products from several manufacturers and suppliers.

Benefits to Preferred Suppliers:

There are over 400 companies throughout the country that form a network of independent distributors and are motivated to purchase from TUG Preferred Suppliers.

TUG 2013 National Conference (JW Marriott – San Antonio, TX)

ACH was represented at the National Conference by Ryan Olson (Washington, IA) and Dennis Smith (Denver, CO).  They in turn represented Keith Baechle (Kansas City, KS), Bill Hill (McCarren, NV), Chris Benson (Kansas City, KS), Greg Aron (Fond du Lac, WI) and Joe Kurz (Gainesville, GA)

Tuesday, April 16 – arrival JW Marriott-San Antonio – TUG (The United Group)

Wednesday, April 17:

  • Registration and supplier set-up
  • Supplier Welcome: 4-5 PM
  • Welcome Reception: 6:30 – 8 PM

Thursday, April 18

  • Table Top Meetings: 8 AM – 5 PM (15-minute rotating ‘on the clock’ meetings) with potential future customers. Ryan and Dennis were extremely busy from early morning to late afternoon meeting with a wide variety of potential customers from all around the country. There were a total of 56 companies from throughout the country that we spoke with from early Thursday and to late afternoon on Friday.

As a new supplier and attending our first National Conference, we were made to feel very welcome and more than one Industrial Packaging Board Member stated that ACH was spoken of very highly and they were looking forward to our relationship with TUG. They informed us we were the only EPS manufacturer and a welcome addition to their list of suppliers.

Awards Dinner: 7 PM – 9 PM – The presentation of awards was impressive and something both Ryan and I agree would be nice to see ACH be a part of in future years. They actually give TUG Boats as awards; very impressive!

Friday, April 19 (Table Top Meetings: 7 AM – 3 PM)

During our presentation, we provide potential customers with a brief history of ACH, our locations, the sales representative in their region and of course the manufacturing capabilities and products in fabricated, and stock and custom molded applications as well as both EPS Loose-Fill and Biodegradable Loose-Fill in three of our nine locations.

We ended the show feeling very good about relationships we established and were informed by TUG management that they like to see the same representation return in the future as it builds continuity and familiar faces are what members are anxious to see at future meetings.

Tobie F. McKown, TUG President: “Team TUG” is more than just our 2013 Conference theme.  Teamwork can be an effective and inspiring approach to business and life.  Our Conference provides opportunities to spark and reinforce relationships between Members, face time for building dynamic and productive partnerships between Suppliers and Members, and a chance to have fun while doing business.”

Next years meeting is in San Diego.

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