Boosting Manufacturing Efficiency with IBC Container Bins: A Case Study

There’s nothing magic about the date “January 1st.” It will be a Friday, so it has that going for it. But, collectively, we have decided that it’s a day for a new beginning. A day to start resolutions. A commitment to make 2021 better than 2020 (not a high bar to clear, but still). The real magic day is December 31. For many businesses, that’s the last day to make an investment in your company before the I.R.S. taxes those dollars. And in the spirit of resolutions, Custom Powder is going to help you lose weight, get organized, and be happier in 2021. In addition to the tax advantages, place an order before 2020 runs out and receive a 2% discount on any payments made by year end. Lose Weight Provident Nutraceutical—a Division of Ortho Molecular Products realized one of their manufacturing plants could use some extra space and turned to us for ideas. Large, clunky industrial barrels were replaced with IBC Container Bins as a way to “trim down” the space that was being used up. Eric Peterson, Maintenance Supervisor for Provident, says this was done without losing capacity. The IBC Container Bins have “larger capacity, but with a smaller footprint,” says Peterson. “Previously, we were using barrels with double-lined bags…the reusability of the new bins makes things much more efficient with less waste.” Get Organized The bins also provided better organization for Provident. Brad Clary, Midwest Sales Executive for Custom Powder, was able to help Provident’s operation run smoother. “We had already developed the EZ-Down machinery, but this was going to be one of the largest drops we’ve designed,” says Clary. “It had to hit its destination, and still stay blended.” Eric Peterson also notes how this helped the operators on Provident’s fill line. “We had an auger system that would feed from the bottom, getting the room quite messy. With the EZ-Down System, it’s all contained and it’s made a huge difference on the cleanliness of the room.” Be Happier Provident was also aware that their previous process was presenting ergonomic difficulties. “There’s a certain size hopper on the machine and the operators would have to scoop it full. As the machine runs through the powder, they would have to scoop it to keep it full so the machine would keep running,” said Peterson. “So there was a time-wasting issue here, and with Custom Powder we got to figure out a better way to do this.” The process, like everything we do, was customized for Provident. Custom Powder’s Brad Clary says, “we had already created solutions for Provident, so we had a bit of a head start. We knew what their processes were, and how they operate, so it was an advantage in helping them with this solution.” Peterson and his team from Provident were able to come to Custom Powder for the F.A.T. and watch the new process in action before it was ever put in place at their operation. “That was huge,” says Peterson. “The previous exposure we had to it was at the PACK Expo, so to actually see our product go through the system and actually talk to the guys who built it was key.” (Side note: We’ve gotten pretty darn good at virtual F.A.T.s this year, giving our customers the same experience from thousands of miles away) When you put it all together, Provident ended up with a custom system that helped them lose weight (and gaining more floor space at their plant), get organized (by finding a cleaner, more efficient way to store their product, and they’re happier (because their operators can save time and use their skills more effectively). Before 2020 runs out, place an order and receive a 2% discount on any payments made by year end. Let’s resolve to make 2021 a great year together! Get in touch by using our contact form, or call Custom Powder at (417) 868-8002.