Intermediate Bulk Containers for Edible Oils

Most of the producers, distributors and wholesalers that we work with in the edible oils industry, tell us that moving their product from tank to customer, or tank to freight truck, can be an incredibly challenging and frustrating job. Since your product is rarely sold a tanker at a time, your challenge is to break it up into smaller shipments that can be moved between warehouses or dropped off on a customer's loading dock. In the past this task has been performed by using small tanks, metal drums or specialized rigid containers. While these methods "work," each also lacks flexibility and creates as many problems as it solves, including chronic issues with storage, reuse, cleaning and disposal. Also, your end users require flexible and movable storage containers that can integrate easily with their available warehouse space and production methodology. Some users have production facilities with limited space. Others require a top down or a bottom up evacuation method. Many are dedicated to environmental consciousness which requires a focus on waste disposal.

The bottom line - metal drums and tanks just don't cut it in the 21st Century.

The Complete Solution - on paper, using paper

As you work hard to meet the varied needs of all of your customers, we want to make things easier for you - by offering you the unparalleled flexibility, durability and ease of use of intermediate bulk containers (IBC).

These packaging systems will also help you maintain profitability in a tough economy - as pennies get squeezed from every element of the value chain, Intermediate Semi-Bulk Containers will save you money without skimping on quality.

Intermediate bulk containers (IBC) are easier for your customers to handle, evacuation is a snap, and they can be stacked efficiently in the warehouse. IBC liners are also food safe and strong - once the product is drained from the bulk container, disposal is fast and easy. How easy? IBC tears down to 1/10 th its original size! Or the package can be reused up to 30 times simply by adding a fresh liner. Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC) also have a much smaller environmental footprint, as they can be reused multiple times or broken down to fit any recycle bin.

Case Study:

Edible Oils Intermediate Bulk Container Case Study

Edible Oils, Inc. Boosts Productivity and Efficiency

Steve Berkowski, operations manager of Edible Oils, Inc had a problem.

Berkowski - who is a third generation owner - is part of a family company that's been servicing the needs of clients in the bakery and industrial food industry for over 70 years. Since 1937, Edible Oils has provided olive oils, cooking oils, and bakery oils to their customers in 1 gallon cans, 5 gallon pails, and 55 gallon drums.

The problem: business had continued to grow, but they were stuck in their old facility, which has limited warehouse space. That meant a chronic lack of space for storing their current drums plus not having enough space to expand for more oil storage.

Ultimately drums stopped coming in on a timely basis - they could not store more than 200 drums on the warehouse floor at any given time - which led to critical down time within their plant's production line.

"I was out of space and our sales continued to grow," said Berkowski. "We are at an exciting time of growth within our company, but we were facing the typical growing pains when dealing with a 70 year old building and trying to maximize existing production equipment." The problem became costly with having to keep three people on staff, who constantly were in charge of monitoring, managing, cleaning and filling drums.

The solution - a quick response, an EZ resolution

Steve had heard of EZ-BULK in the market, but had not experienced it first hand. "A friend in the paint industry recommended EZ-BULK liquid container," he said. So Berkowski went to the internet, googled EZ-BULK, immediately found Paper Systems' web site (www.paper-systems.com) contacted the toll-free number - and was stunned by the quickness of the response. "Most companies, I get voice mail and have to wait a week or two to get a response," said Berkowski, "but with Paper Systems, I couldn't believe it - I got answers on my first phone call!" Ê

Within 24 hours, Steve had all the information he needed to make a decision - and it was an easy one. "I saw initial cost savings versus drums plus the ability to ship the equivalent of 5 drums on 1 skid," said Berkowski. "Combine these two benefits with the incredible space savings of 1 skid of empty EZ-BULK's has the same shipping capacity of 210 drums while reducing my warehouse space from drums by over 70% - I had to give EZ-BULK liquid container a try!"

The Proof is in the System

Getting marketing and management on board would take a bit more convincing.

Berkowski got a couple EZ-BULK 48x40 Series 275 gallon units and put them through their paces right in his plant, under the watchful eyes of company managers and staff. "Being a third generation family operation, any change is thoroughly evaluated before we make a move," said Berkowski. "When we got the EZ-BULK liquid containers, they looked big and heavy - but any of our production staff who could handle a drum, were quite surprised with how light the EZ-BULK liquid container was." Berkowski explained that "The white container was a big hit with our marketing guys, to be able to show our customers they would continue to get the cleanest food grade package possible." Berkowski says that EZ-BULK's "proprietary manufacturing process allows for the lightest tareweight in the market while having 50% stronger hoopstrength (sidewall strength) than any of the competition." Berkowski was particularly impressed with the IMS dairy and kosher-certified inner bag liners. "They would assure all of our customers certifications and continuing guarantees are met and exceeding. As a matter of fact, one EZ-BULK 275 gallon tote weighs the same as two drums, so we would cut our packaging tare weight 60%!"

Seeing is Believing - But How Fast?

Berkowski says that once sales saw they could increase their numbers and gain a competitive edge in the market by reducing their customers inbound freight and their per gallon packaging cost, they wanted to know how soon the change could be implemented.

"Upper management crunched the numbers and saw overall cost savings of over 35% off initial packaging costs of drums, while increasing production by 30% to meet the growing sales - that allowed them to sign off on the project as well," said Berkowski. Having a 2" fill, Berkowski says, was "an easy conversion for production" as they were used to filling through the 2 inch opening in drums already. The benefits all lined up - it was an easy decision for Berkowski to make.

Green Light from the End User

Expected resistance from end users was overcome quickly by Edible Oils as their customers saw they could connect into 5 drums and have a food grade oil product that would be delivered cleaner, faster, and take up less warehouse space. Not having to wait for drum disposal or drums getting picked up was one less headache too. Combine these factors with a reduction in their overall oil price - and it allowed the program to sail through with flying colors. "We improved our margins and the customer picks up cost savings as well - everybody wins," said Berkowski. "The 2 inch bottom side discharge allows for easy gravity evacuation through the reusable food grade valve system so family bakeries can draw off product as needed without having to wrestle a 55 gallon drum into draining position."

Expectations Exceeded - Sales Growing

Now with a full conversion in place going on over 10 years, Berkowski is very pleased. "My warehouse - that was once littered with 55 gallon drums is now cleaned up and replaced with two storage silos. This modification has improved our production capacity and and reduced waste. None of this would have been possible with 55 gallon drums. Thank you EZ-BULK." Berkowski says they've also "expanded [their] product line and are now offering a wider range of oil products to customers with the space we have now. We have reduced our labor costs and don't need extra staff to manage drum inventory. We have also drastically reduced the waste water generated for cleaning formally used on 55 gallon drums." Berkowski also likes the fact that there is no clean out associated with EZ-BULK. "Every package is clean and ready to go right away, which saves us big time on labor and internal documentation."

As for Getting Rid of Drums Entirely?

"We will always have a segment of customers in drums," said Berkowski, "but over 80% of our customers are using EZ-BULK liquid container. This change has allowed us to increase our profits and expand our product line. EZ-BULK liquid container has also created cost savings, waste reduction, and convenience for our valued customers."

This one's easy — less in, less out. Our source reductive packaging makes it easier for you to recycle, dispose or incinerate after use. Our bag liners use over 90% less plastic than polyethylene drums and our corrugated systems use 50% less corrugated material than the competition.

One person, one minute. That's all it takes to assemble EZ-BULK and EZ-DRAIN products. And our light-weight and OSHA approved designs make assembly worker-friendly for all production personnel.

EZ-BULK totes have the lightest tare weight in the industry. Less weight equals less shipping costs. And because our products ship flat, more units can be delivered per truckload, further reducing your freight costs. And our disposable, recyclable totes completely eliminates return freight costs.

EZ-BULK gives you space, Our products arrive flat, and will take up to 90% less space than drums or rigid packaging.

Fewer raw materials means less cost to you and your customers. EZ-BULK is source reductive, meaning we use fewer raw materials in our product designs, reducing costs making Paper Systems less susceptible to the ever changing pricing of raw materials. This means more green for everyone — the environment wins and our customers keep money in their pockets.

When you call Paper Systems, you talk to a person. If you send an email you get a response within 12 hours or less. Our customer service is not out-sourced. We have customer service representatives ready to help you with your EZ-BULK solutions.