Archive for August 2012

Logistics Solutions for China

B2C or Business-To-Consumer is a transaction that occurs between a company and a consumer, as opposed to a transaction between companies (called B2B). The term may also describe a company that provides goods or services for consumers.

B2C e-commerce requires a logistic system that is capable of distribution to wide scattered customers. However, providing this service may bring higher set-up and management costs of the distribution center, as well as some other costs. One example would be the costs of returning or repairing of unqualified products, the duplicated packaging costs, etc.

An automatic packaging and taping machine system combined with specially formulated carton sealing tape is what you need to optimize your company's operational efficiency and reduce production costs. BestPack is the total tape sealing solution with specially formulated lines of carton sealing tape, as well as eighty different models of taping machines: carton sealers, case formers and case erectors.

SooBest is a retail company that has sought to provide a solution for the logistics concern for China’s B2C transactions. Currently it has two logistics models that can be explored by fellow B2C actors.

The first model is the Self-logistics Model in which the ownership of distribution channels is a prerequisite, perhaps even including their own manpower and specialized equipment such as taping machines. This distribution system has more cost advantages; fewer funds are taken up; as well as the self-logistics system can enhance the liquidity and reduce the cost of capital.

Third-party Logistics Model is the second model. This presupposes that most B2C businesses are run in small scales, with limited economic strength, and thus not able to build a self-logistics system. Besides, usually dealing with small and scattered markets, these B2C enterprises can hardly bear the generally high costs of self-distribution. It is difficult even to those B2C companies who already own a self-logistics system. When their business involves a larger area, working with a third-party logistics company will be necessary, due to the following cost advantages: First, storage costs are decreased. The cooperation with a third-party logistics entity enables the B2C enterprise to minimize inventory and even achieve zero inventory, and meanwhile ensures the security of supply. Thus the storage costs will be reduced.

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Basic Information On Tuckpointing

The process of repairing a mortar joint in a brick wall is traditionally called "tuckpointing." The term comes from the process of tucking mortar into the damaged mortar joint. Tuckpointing is a critical maintenance task and keeps water from entering the brick wall cavity. If water is allowed to get past the mortar and into the wall, brick failure may occur such as cracking or spalling (popping off of the brick face).

Diamond blades for tuckpointing are primarily used for the removal of deteriorated mortar joints for the preparation of masonry surfaces such as concrete, brick, block and stone. Whether you are looking for a triple sandwich blade or a laser crack chaser blade, Gila Tools has the right diamond blade to match your specific needs. All our diamond blades are composed of a heat-treated steel core with premium quality diamonds on its periphery to give you fast cutting speeds, faster cooling and a longer blade life for optimum performance.

Repairing a mortar joint is more common than having to replace a brick. The mortar joint plays a significant role in the structure and structural integrity of the wall. It holds the bricks together, it bears the compressive weight of the wall just as the bricks, and it keeps water out of the wall. It is also the weak link in the brick wall system because if water is allowed to get past the mortar and into the wall, brick failure may occur such as cracking or popping.

Tuckpointing is a way of using two contrasting colors of mortar in brickwork, one colour matching the bricks themselves, to give an artificial impression that very fine joints have been made. In some parts of the United States and Canada, some confusion may result as the term is often used interchangeably with "pointing" (to correct defects or finish off joints in newly laid masonry) and "repointing" (to place wet mortar into cut or raked joints to repair weathered joints in old masonry).

Repointing is the process of renewing the pointing (the external part of mortar joints) in masonry construction. Over time, weathering and decay cause voids in the joints between masonry units (usually bricks), allowing the undesirable entrance of water. Water entering through these voids can cause significant damage through frost weathering and from salt dissolution and deposition. Repointing is also called pointing, or pointing up, although these terms more properly refer to the finishing step in new construction.

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Logistics Support for the Panama Fashion and Apparel Sector

Asia, the Colon Free Zone (CFZ) and Latin American destinations will be the benefitting regions of the partnership forged by the Panamanian company Exclusive Brands Logistics Corp (EBL) and Damco Panama. The logistics deal between the two companies aims to promote imports and re-exports of apparel and fashion among and within the aforementioned regions.

EBL is a leading provider of value-added services, including packing and labeling—which involves the use of sophisticated techniques and equipment such as automatic taping machines—to the fashion and apparel industry in the CFZ.

According to an article published by Fibre2Fashion, the agreement states that EBL will provide specialized services for luxury fashion brands while Damco, the logistics arm of A.P. Moller–Maersk Group and one of the world’s leading 3PLs, will provide supply chain, transportation and freight forwarding services from source (where goods are packed using taping machines) to final destination. Together, EBL and Damco will promote Panama as the logistics service centre to regional and global businesses looking for strategic, cost–competitive solutions to bring products to the Americas.

EBL Managing Director Alfredo Maduro mentioned in an interview that, “In this partnership there are three key points: the origin of the purchase (where the goods will be packed using taping machines), the CFZ, and the final destination of the goods.  EBL does the value added logistics service in our Panama facilities and Damco does the transportation and international supply chain, allowing customers to focus on their purchasing and sales.”

The current evolution in Panama’s logistics infrastructure will be a game-changer for inbound supply chains from Asia to the Americas. Customers looking to develop transformational hub and distribution solutions will be able to move decision-making much closer to the final markets and react more quickly to changes in supply and demand, ultimately providing better service to their end customers, according to Alison Clafin, Chief Commercial Officer in Latin America for Damco.

The CFZ the commercial distribution centre located at the Atlantic gateway of the Panama Canal.

EBL is a logistics company of the Maduro family with over 40 years of experience with lifestyle business and activities in the CFZ.

Damco is one of the world’s leading third party logistics providers specializing in customized freight forwarding and supply chain solutions.

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Packaging of Hazardous Materials

It is recommended that manufacturers and distributers who engage in businesses involving the transport of hazardous materials to purchase high-quality taping machines to ensure that the hazardous materials are packaged in a container that is strong enough that the contents will not spill or leak under normal conditions of transport.

The Hazardous Material Regulations (HMR) specify that shipping containers must be UN performance packaging meaning that hazardous materials cannot be packed into any old box, jug or drum and that an appropriate taping machine was used to securely seal the package.

accetable packaging box
Whether the package is a carton, bottle, tote or carboy, and whether it is made of glass, plastic, metal or cardboard, its design must have been tested and found compliant with the applicable standard for that type of package. Some of the tests include dropping and stacking, as well as subjecting the packaging to moisture and vibration.

The UN mark on the outside of the package indicates that the package conforms to the standard. The numbers and letters after the UN mark are a code that identifies the type of packaging, its construction materials, and the manufacturer. The shipper is responsible for checking the mark and ensuring that appropriate packaging has been used for a shipment.

There are many ways to categorize a package. First, there are bulk and non-bulk packaging. Imaging labs receive and ship hazardous materials in non-bulk packaging. Fuel trucks, rail cars and intermediate bulk containers are all considered to be bulk packaging. Bulk packaging is not subject to UN performance packaging requirements.



Non-bulk packaging has three basic types:

• Single packaging - is a stand-alone packaging with no other components

• Combination packaging - has at least two components including an outer and an inner package

• Composite packaging - has an inner and outer packaging, which are not separate, and have a single enclosure

By using proper packaging, occurrences of spills and leaks are lessened when transporting hazardous materials. The UN mark and code on a package indicate the packaging meets a performance standard, and will provide protection for the contents of the package during regular transport conditions.

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Basic Earthquake Rescue Techniques & Tools

Following are basic earthquake rescue techniques and tools to help us understand how rescue operations are conducted and what we can do to help; like providing rescue tools such as diamond saw blades like the 911 Demolition Blades (Gilatools) and supporting rescue teams by giving them important information regarding the affected areas.

rescuing using diamond tools


1. Work with the Locals. Local people often know the best locations to begin the search for survivors. After speaking to them rescue workers can quickly select the most promising place to begin their work.

2. Shifting Rubble. Heavy-lifting equipment is often in short supply, leaving some rescuers little option but to shift rubble by hand or with pick-axes and shovels. Other tools used by rescuers include chainsaws, disc-cutters, diamond blades, and rebar cutters - which can be used to tackle the metal bars in reinforced concrete.

3. Lifting Equipment. Diggers (here pictured in India) and hydraulic jacks are among the heavy machinery that rescue workers employ to shift rubble. Large concrete slabs on the outside of buildings can be pulled aside by diggers, enabling rescuers to get a view of any people still trapped inside.

4. Rescue Dogs. Dogs are extremely effective at using their sense of smell to pick up on signs of life that human rescuers cannot. They are also able to cover large areas quickly, speeding up the search and rescue process.

5. Looking In Strong Buildings. Rescue workers need to be swift to assess where they are most likely to find survivors inside collapsed buildings. Stairwells or the spaces under large concrete beams can provide what rescue workers call 'voids'. It is in places like these that the living can be found.

6. Checking Weak Buildings. Many of the buildings in Haiti are made of flimsy materials. Buildings like these are quick to collapse in an earthquake but their lightweight and low height can give people a relatively good chance of getting out.

7. Listening for Survivors. Specialist sound equipment can detect the faintest of noises to within a few metres. Silence on the site is needed while a member of the rescue team bangs three times and hopes to hear a response. Carbon dioxide detectors can be used to find survivors rendered unconscious. They work best in confined spaces where they detect the greater CO2 concentration in the air exhaled by those still breathing.

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Disaster Preparedness: Flood-Proofing Your Home

Global Warming has dramatically redefined the world’s climate conditions. Traditional forecasting methods have become decreasingly reliable as warning alarms come only minutes before natural disasters strike, with little or no time to properly respond and evacuate.

It is therefore wise to invest on prevention rather than repair. Make budget allocations for construction tools such as core bit drills and wood blades in order to make improvements in drainage efficiency and construct flood-proofing structures.

Improving drainage efficiency needs a good Heavy Duty Wet Concrete Core Bit for constructing pumping stations, water gates, and tunnels. Make sure that gullies work. Road gullies should be checked and cleaned frequently to ensure that they are not blocked or collapsed. Where there is a large area feeling towards a low spot, this area should be checked to ensure that there are adequate gullies and that they are effectively taking the water.

Construction of structures like Timber or Wooden deflectors, removable driveway barriers, and engineered walls are also excellent options for flood preparedness. For this you would want to have an excellent Wood Cutting Carbide Saw Blade or a Plywood Cutting Steel Saw Blade to make sure parts are properly made and put together.

Wooden Deflectors are used outside a structure to deflect debris or water to the best overland escape. Use low grade lumber and overlap sections with protruding face downstream. Drive stakes to at least one half their length to ensure proper anchorage and pace deflectors on solid level soil to reduce the hazard of undercutting. Don’t attempt to use the lumber as a dam. Earth packed behind the deflector will provide needed additional strength. If the deflector required is more than three feet in height, the house or structure will have to be protected with sandbags and used as a deflector.

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Boxing Your Way Into the Fruit Business

fruits packing machine
Big Picture Agriculture is an independent agricultural research blog that provides useful information that can serve as guidelines when considering going into the agricultural business.

For the small business that is saving on manpower budget, a good option would be an adjustable fully automatic taping machine. This type of taping machine is a perfect solution for those needing to seal the same size box without an operator. These machines will automatically space, feed machines into the machine, fold the flaps of box, and finally seal the carton with a consistent seal.

Going back to the field of agriculture, studies show that California is the largest producer of grapes, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, kiwifruit, prunes, and plums. California is also a major producer of a variety of other non-citrus fruit like apples, pears, and sweet cherries; and ranks second in citrus production. Its fruit-friendly climate gives it an advantage over other fruit-producing States. Florida’s primary fruit crop is citrus. Washington is the largest producer of apples and sweet cherries and an important producer of grapes and pears. In fact, if you live in or are considering moving into any of the following states: California, Florida, Washington, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas—you would be living in one of the top fruit-producing states in the country—together accounting for over one-tenth of the Nation’s fruit acreage.

Now with potential like that, an excellent taping machine comes in as a key investment because it is important to consider the impact of your product as a whole, especially when it comes to preserving the quality of goods for transit and export to distributors and market outlets. We offer a competitive line of taping machines or carton sealers that can fit the needs of most fruit production packaging operations.

Bestpack's ATFUX Fruitbox Sealers have revolutionized the fruit packaging industry. The uniquely designed four station sealing process indexes the box, lifts the outer sleeve, shakes the box, and seals the top and bottom flaps. With a combination of quick throughput and efficient sealing, these specially designed sealers have made the packaging of oranges, apples, and potatoes in HSC type boxes more reliable and cost-efficient.

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Relief In A Box

relief packs using taping machine
Do you want to know how a simple taping machine can go a long, long way? Donating a taping machine to the UNHCR can help them pack and provide relief assistance to their response efforts for refugees. On-ground volunteers are valuable and necessary to the operations of UNHCR; however, the steady stream of volunteers needed to facilitate the quick processing of relief goods to distressed and displaced people, is not an easy resource. If you have a desire to help the agency but are unable to physically volunteer or you have convictions regarding donating in cash; providing material donations—such as a taping machine—is an equally relevant contribution.

An excellent taping machine to consider for the purposes of providing aid to UNHCR operations is the Bestpack MSD 6" Series Semi-Automatic Uniform Tape Carton Sealer. This taping machine is operator-fed so volunteers can still have a hands-on experience and can monitor the packing of goods. This taping machine is perfect for UNHCR purposes because it has features for tamper protection since pilferage is an issue when transporting relief goods to affected areas.

UNHCR is the UN agency for refugees, formally known as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. They protect and assist refugees—people who are forced to flee their homes because of war, persecution, and natural disasters—in more than 100 countries worldwide. Refugees are provided food, shelter, water, medical attention, sanitation and security, while the agency finds ways to find more permanent solutions to reestablish them.

The agency is non-political and is unbiased in the help it extends to refugees—regardless of race, religion, political opinion or gender—focusing on their humanitarian needs and rights, especially those of women and children.

UNHCR is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions, with 93 percent coming from governments. A further 4 percent comes from inter-governmental organizations and pooled funding mechanisms, while the remaining 3 percent is from the private sector, including foundations, corporations and the general public. In addition, the agency receives a limited subsidy from the UN regular budget for administrative costs, and accepts so called "in-kind" contributions, including relief items such as tents, medicines, trucks and air transport.

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Roles of the Food Packaging Industry

Food packaging industry can functionally be subdivided into five parts, which are containment, protection, communication, functionality, environmental and safety issues. Containment is concerned with activities relating to prevention and reliability of the food products. Food products are packaged in such a way that no moisture will pass through and are made hardwearing to reliably deliver it to the customers. One way to ensure this is through the use of taping machines with four-corners sealing mechanism and pilferage proof technology. Protection has to do with the covering of food products to protect them from damage by any biological, chemical or physical means. Functionality guarantees that the consumers and the manufacturers conveniently use the packaged food products. Communication covers the text and graphic of the package. This includes size, shape, color and content details of the packet. Environmental and Safety Issues deal with the environmental aspect of the package, including recycling of the packet and safety of the products.

Packaging plays a central role in ensuring that what we eat reaches our table in an edible state, that we know what it contains, that it bears branding to identify it is from a trusted source, and that we are assured that proper taping was done to seal it so that it is tamper-proof during transit and distribution. To guarantee these things, sophisticated machines and technology exist to preserve and track the food items and beverages we consume.

The traditional role of packaging is to ensure that food is preserved and protected during its journey so that it arrives safely and ready for consumption; primarily addressed by effective sealing through quality taping machines. The specific objectives that packaging supports are to:

• Contain, transport and preserve food quality, freshness and palatability

• Extend the product’s shelf life

• Prevent tampering and improve the microbiological safety of the food

• Reduce losses in distribution

• Track the item from source to consumer, including monitoring transport conditions

• Inform consumers of the nutritional value, portion management and preparation of the food

• Promote the brand of the company

• Reduce environmental impact, food wastage and cost

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