Discover your next big idea for life sciences at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
Experience a breakthrough in life sciences packaging—explore solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries, all in one place this September

'Job shop' takes hands-on approach to skin packaging

Semi-automatic skin packaging machine improves protection of shipments of stainless-steel components and saves money.

Dutch (left) and Don LaJeunesse hold a skin-packed pad of stainless-steel components in front of their company's new skin packag
Dutch (left) and Don LaJeunesse hold a skin-packed pad of stainless-steel components in front of their company's new skin packag

Until early this year, Process Pipe & Valve (PPV) manually packed stainless-steel components in newspapers and premade 5-mil polyethylene bags. It then placed the wrapped components into corrugated cases, using cut pieces of corrugated both as dividers between components in the case and along case sidewalls for added protection during shipping. But that process was labor intensive for the Kenosha, WI-based company.

In March, PPV installed a Model 405 T semi-automatic skin packaging machine from Hannan Products (Corona, CA). The machine is currently used 10 to 12 hours per week in a low-volume operation. “We’re a ‘job shop’ that fabricates, welds, and polishes custom stainless-steel components,” explains Don LaJeunesse, who co-owns PPV along with his father, Donald “Dutch” LaJeunesse. PPV functions like a subcontractor, finishing components that it ships back to the component supplier. The finished components are eventually used by machine manufacturers that build processing equipment used in pharmaceutical, food, dairy, and beverage applications.

“We were struggling to get parts out the door during some of our busier periods,” says Don LaJeunesse. “Last summer, we added a full-time person to do all our packaging, and other tasks. But he had a tough time keeping up because we often had to cut dividers out of cases my dad would procure from local stores.”

Distributor plays role

PPV looked to upgrade its packaging process, but without overspending. Initially, the company sought used equipment through a vendor it learned of through last fall’s Pack Expo show. While researching machine options, LaJeunesse also investigated materials. His search led him to the New Berlin, WI, location of distributor Unisource (Norcross, GA).

Not only did Unisource find appropriate materials, it also steered PPV to “a brand-new skin packaging machine, complete with a warranty, for $5ꯠ, about the same price we almost paid for a used machine,” he says with satisfaction. Unisource represents Hannan equipment.

Unisource and Hannan helped PPV set up the machine, and both companies provided training and follow-up service. About an hour after the machine was set up, PPV was running it.

The machine uses a 20”-wide, 10-mil roll of Surlyn® film from DuPont (Wilmington, DE). The film is placed on the unwind of the Hannan and pulled through the top portion of the machine’s frame so that it runs parallel to an 18” x 24” platen located about 12” beneath the film.

An operator places a 200#, B-flute corrugated pad onto the platen. The pad is printed white on its top side, which also carries a surface coating of Surlyn that creates a good seal with the film. Same-sized pads are used for all skin-packaged components. The number of parts that are manually placed onto each pad depends on part size.

“We use a custom-sized pad because it’s more cost effective than having to order a custom-sized case,” notes Dutch LaJeunesse. “These pads have to be customized anyway because they are perforated.” The perforations enable vacuum to be pulled from the platen through the pad. Vacuum is not drawn, however, until machine operator Matt Mollman loads the appropriate number of stainless-steel components onto the pad. That process, Don LaJeunesse points out, requires care.

FDA warning letters surge - is your team prepared?
New guide reveals expert strategies to prevent regulatory issues and respond effectively to FDA enforcement actions in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing.
Read More
FDA warning letters surge - is your team prepared?
Break out of the ordinary: see what’s new in life sciences packaging
<strong>At PACK EXPO Las Vegas, you’ll see machinery in action and new tech from 2,300 suppliers, collaborate with experts and explore transformative solutions. Join us in September to experience a breakthrough for life sciences products.</strong>
REGISTER NOW & SAVE!
Break out of the ordinary: see what’s new in life sciences packaging