Provides molded fiber for Grafcor Packaging - supplier to vineyards
UFP Technologies opens molded fiber packaging plant in Texas
The site expands UFP’s US footprint with its 10th manufacturing facility and allows the company to meet a growing demand for 100% recyclable molded fiber packaging in Mexico, the Southwest, and the Western United States.
Staying ahead of the competition
Steve McLaughlin, director, sales and marketing, Molded Fiber, UFP Technologies, told FoodProductionDaily.com its decision to locate in Texas was to increase capacity and better serve current and prospective customers in that region.
“Our expansion to El Paso was a big move as far as staying ahead of the competition," he said.
"It provides our customers with redundant manufacturing options and geographic reach that no other molded fiber company can match.
‘Molded pulp’ and ‘molded paper’
“We need to continue developing processes and materials that will meet the needs of the market, which is hungry for packaging that are recyclable and sustainable. All this while continuing to deliver on the basics of supplying quality parts on time to our customers.”
UFP designs and manufactures interior protective packaging using 100% recycled molded fiber (which is also known as ‘molded pulp’ and ‘molded paper’).
The two largest markets it serves in molded fiber are consumer products and consumer electronics.
In the consumer products area, UFP provides molded fiber for Grafcor Packaging based in Rockford, Illinois. Grafcor is a supplier to vineyards and wine clubs across the country.
“UFP will not only make molded fiber packaging in El Paso,” added McLaughlin.
“The company has been serving the Southwest, Western US and Mexico markets from El Paso for the past 12 years with polyurethane and polyethylene foam fabrication.
“Our El Paso facility also serves customers in the medical market with ISO Class 7 and ISO Class 8 clean room facilities, clean room laundering, and die-cutting. The facility will continue to feature these capabilities.”
Iowa molded fiber plant
The factory has two-line molded fiber machines and in January an additional high-speed, high-capacity machine will go online. Both machines have been proven at the company’s Iowa molded fiber plant where identical equipment was installed in late 2012.
McLaughlin said UFP will continue to grow in the molded fiber market by investing in marketing, sales and engineering resources in both the Iowa and El Paso locations.
He said the trend towards using sustainable and environmentally-friendly packaging continues and as a manufacturer of custom designed molded fiber in North America, UFP was well-placed to provide 100% recycled molded pulp packaging to the market.
