Millstone Medical Tour

Thursday, April 27^th at 4:00pm

580 Commerce Drive, Fall River, MA 02720.

 

IoPP members and guests received an exclusive tour from our Millstone Medical hosts that showed how one of the industry’s leading contract assemblers and contract packages balances verified sterile packaging solutions with the time requirements of medical device manufacturers to get products to market faster.

The tour started in the Receiving/Inspection building and walked through their process for segregating product based on inspection status. We then walked to the Main building to view the management and organization of products through all the required service steps including processing, lot division, packaging and shipment. Including how they perform their sealing validations, distribution testing, accelerated aging, cleaning validation, critical inspections and how they handle traceability.    We also we able to view their 15,000 square feet of class 10,000/ISO 7 clean room space with real-time particulate monitoring systems.  

Following the tour, attendees met at 5:30PM at The Cove Restaurant and Marina located at 392 Davol Street in Fall River, MA   for a buffet-style dinner and networking. 

 

 

 

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Tour of  U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center Thursday, October 6, 2016 starts at  3:30pm (please be at security at 3pm) 15 General Greene Avenue, Natick MA 01760

Join us for a tour of Combat Feeding Directorate (CFD), The Center of Advanced Materials and Polymers (CAMP) at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC).   The integrated laboratories within CFD provide the unique capability of developing novel and innovative materials through polymer compounding and film extrusion at the laboratory and pilot scale level.  This enhances rapid scale up of optimized designs and structures into prototype packages. The tour will highlight:

• CFD’s “Pellets to Pallets^” capabilities which offer unique life-cycle management of materials development and characterization, package design and product testing,
• Participants will better understand the importance of food packaging, the performance criteria for military rations, the extrusion film process and characterization of films
• Meal, Ready-to-Eat ration packaging projects will be showcased to demonstrate how the Army is developing lighter weight packaging to reduce the waste and weight for the military. 
• ASTM and ISTA testing will be highlighted for food packaging pouches and containers.  
• The tour will conclude at the Warfighter Historical Café for an open forum and discussions on food packaging.
• NSRDEC promotes partnerships and collaboration with government, industry and/or academia.

Following Tour: Dinner at the Morse Tavern at 5:30pm, 85 East Central St. Natick, MA 01760 508-655-7878.

Buffet Style Dinner Includes: The Tavern Caesar Salad, Chicken Marsala and Pasta Alfredo. Coffee/tea is included. Any drinks from the bar are extra. Please note if any dietary or other restrictions.

IoPP Members and invited Guests - $30.00 per person (yes, same price, please bring a guest and/or perspective member). UMass Lowell MA – School of Plastics Engineering Students/Professors $20.00 per person. This is one event you would not want to miss!

Make it easy to pay via PayPal. Just go to our website www.ioppne.org . If you would like to pay via check please bring it to the event and make out to IoPP – New England Chapter. You still need to register (RSVP) for the event so we have a head count (see below). Great opportunity to meet and network with your fellow IoPP members and guests!

Please RSVP via email or call to: Co-facilitators of the event: Jo Ann Ratto joann.r.ross.civ@mail.mil; Office 508-233-5315; Cell 508-314-0913 or Jean Feldkamp jfeldkamp@randwhitney.com Office 508-929-3487; Cell: 508-450-0404. Please list your name/company name/ email address/ IoPP member (Yes or No) and any invited guests (name) with respective person  *Also provide at that time the needed IMPORTANT ARMY SECURITY information listed below on all members and invited guests. This is important if you want to attend the tour. Please get there early to clear security and get to the tour!

 Deadline for reservations is: October 1, 2016. Please RSVP ASAP for us to get a baseline count and then pay via PayPal on our website or check when you attend. Must call or email to reserve early as there may be a limited amount of spaces.

*Important Army Security:  Jo Ann Ratto (host at NSRDEC) must have the following information from you 48 hours within the tour: name, telephone, address, states you lived in during the past last five years, birthday, license number and state of license. If any questions, please contact Jo Ann, 508-233-5315, cell 508-314-0913  joann.r.ross.civ@mail.mil. If any foreign nationals, please contact Jo Ann one week in advance.  

 

 

 

Tour of EDS Group, Inc.   Thursday, May 19th starts at 4:00pm

Join us for a tour of EDS Group, Inc. a global leader in creative engineering, distribution, and a state of the art ISTA Certified Package Testing Lab. Speed to market is a key competitive advantage of this manufacturing services company. Over twenty-five years of mold engineering experience gives EDS Group Inc. the ability to develop conceptual 3D solid models and quickly convert to prototype tooling for testing and evaluation. EDS Group, Inc. has been named in a patented plastic incubator to grow human skin, created an automated packaging tray that eliminated 14 individual packages, designed polymers that allow plastics to biodegrade enzymatically and assisted in the concept for Rescue Alive™ Ice rescue sled. The Rescue Alive™, with 600 pound buoyancy, has assisted in the prevention of many tragic drownings around the world. EDS has also partnered to create an anti-static, conductive, and dissipative material made of recycled material for packaging costly and sensitive products. EDS Group, Inc. strives for true collaboration in developing custom designed products and packaging.

During this informative tour you will better understand the importance of package testing which create innovations that prove to be less costly as we strive to minimize over-design and excess use of material. Regulations and requirements are also becoming more stringent. Clients will expect you, the industry expert, to be aware of package testing specifications.  In addition, we will be focusing on ISTA and ASTM Testing Protocols. Attendees will follow the ISTA 2A Cycle with actual Lab Equipment Representatives. The testing cycle will include: Compression testing to assess stack and load; shock testing to assess handling; drop and impact; vibration testing to assess vibration during transport; atmospheric testing to assess environmental effects (temperature, humidity, and pressure); leak detection; submersion tanks to assess a sealed package’s integrity; tensile testing to allow for validation of sealing processes and/or assess a failure mode and much more!

 

“EDS Group Inc. lab is open to our clients to visit, experiment, and discover. We have found every test is a learning experience that expands our knowledge as to how materials react. With this understanding we can offer our packaging clients useful engineering solutions that typically save costs and reduce waste.”

~Stephen Conley, EDS Group, Inc. President (www.edsgroup.com)

 

EDS Group, Inc. is located at 241 Francis Avenue, Mansfield MA 02048. Phone: (508) 337-5900.

 

Following Tour: Dinner at Jimmy’s Pub at 5:30pm, located at 141 North Main Street in Mansfield, MA 02048.

Buffet Style Dinner Includes: Mixed Green Salad; Chicken Broccoli Romano; Pub Steak Tips; Assorted Vegetable; Roasted Potatoes; Selection of Desserts and Assorted Soft Drinks and Coffee/Tea. Provisions can be made for vegetarians or special diet – please note with facilitator (below). Jimmy’s Pub also offers a wide range of Craft, Imported, and Domestic beers and wine (separate charge).

IoPP Members and invited Guests - $30.00 per person (yes, same price, please bring a guest and/or perspective member). UMass Lowell MA – School of Plastics Engineering Students/Professors $20.00 per person. This is one event you would not want to miss!

Make it easy to pay via PayPal. Just go to our website www.ioppne.org . If you would like to pay via check please bring it to the event and make out to IoPP – New England Chapter. You still need to register (RSVP) for the event so we have a head count (see below). Great opportunity to meet and network with your fellow IoPP members and guests!

Please RSVP via email or call to: Facilitator of event: IoPP - New England Chapter Secretary Jose Amado JoseA@BoutwellOwens.com or 978-407-5127 x 252. Call with any questions. Also Co/facilitator: Jason Gardner JasonG@BoutwellOwens.com or 978-343-3067 x 128 List your name/company name/ email address/ IoPP member (Yes or No) and any invited guests (name) with respective person.

Deadline for reservations is: Friday, May 13^th, 2016. Please RSVP ASAP for us to get a baseline count and then pay via PayPal on our website or check when you attend. Must call or email to reserve early as there may be a limited amount of spaces. We regret that competitors will not be allowed to attend the tour.

 

 

 

 

Photos of the SencorpWhite and Cape Cod Brewery Tour

 

 

 

 

 *Tour of SencorpWhite, Hyannis MA   Thursday, March 24th starts at 4:00 pm

Join us for a tour of SencorpWhite, a global leader of customized unique end-to-end solutions for the packaging and management of high-value inventory. The company’s products and services – which range from innovative thermoformers and other packaging technologies to automated storage and retrieval systems and inventory management software – cover the entire supply chain spectrum, from the point-of manufacture through distribution and to the point-of-use. 

 

During this tour we will be focusing on several new machines. Their state-of-the-art technologies can automatically singulate a pouch, load product, verify seal integrity and label completed packages, eliminating operator intervention and enabling product-specific customization.

 

“Human error is the weak point in the packaging process, and most packaging-related recalls can be traced back to mistakes made by operators involved with packaging, labeling and/or inspection,” SencorpWhite’s CEO Brian Urban said. “However, in the past, sterile packaging of devices, implants, single use instruments, etc. was not typically high-volume enough to warrant full automation. The FDA’s new track-and-trace requirements, coupled with ongoing concerns for package integrity, have completely changed that landscape. Now, we’re excited to offer manufacturers an innovative solution that is more automated than a manual sealer, and more cost effective, smaller, quicker to change-over, and flexible than a traditional form/fill/seal system.”

SencorpWhite is located at: 400 Kidd's Hill Rd, Hyannis, MA 02601   Phone: (508) 771-9400

The Cape Cod Brewery (brew tour) at 5:30pm.  www.capecodbeer.com

Located at: 1336 Phinneys Ln. Hyannis, MA 02601

A tour of the plant (and tasting) with a light dinner provided by: The Black Cat Restaurant of Hyannis, MA.

Their award winning clam chowder/ chili served right at the Cape Cod Brewery. What is better than a brew tour/tasting and a bowl of chowder/ chili to start the Spring! Some of the attendees may be going to The Black Cat restaurant afterwards (CCB beer served there)… www.blackcattavern.com

IoPP Members and invited Guests - $30.00 per person (yes, same price, please bring a friend and/or perspective member) UMass Lowell MA – School of Plastics Engineering Students/Professors $20.00 per person

Make it easy to pay via PayPal.  Just go to our website www.ioppne.org . If you would like to pay via check please bring it to the event and make out to IoPP – New England Chapter. You still need to register (RSVP) for the event so we have a head count (see below). Great opportunity to meet and network with your fellow IoPP members and guests!

Please RSVP to: Facilitator of event: IoPP NE President: Joe Iannone jai442sls@aol.com List your name/company name/ email address/ IoPP member (Yes or No) and any invited guests (name) with respective person. Call with any questions: 781-974-2545. Co/facilitator: Jason Gardner JasonG@BoutwellOwens.com and 978-343-3067 x 128

Deadline for reservations is Monday, March 21^st, 2016. Please RSVP ASAP for us to get a baseline count and pay via PayPal on our website or check when you attend. Reserve early as there may be a limited amount of spaces.

*We regret that competitors will not be allowed to attend the tour.

 

 

 

Tour of Taylor Box / Dinner Photos

 

 

 

 

                       

 

 

 

Tour of Taylor Box Company

Thursday, November 12^th, 2015 at 3:00 pm

 

 

Join us for a tour of the Taylor Box Company. Here’s a little flavor of the company in their own words. The TBC Special Sauce: We combine the exacting craft of box making with the world’s most advanced manufacturing equipment; mix in an uncompromising commitment to creating client packaging that is a focused expression of both the strategic purpose behind the package and the essence of their brand.

 

Dan Shedd (President) will be our host with his elite team members. Did you ever want to know the magic behind designing and making chocolate and confection gift boxes, Titleist golf ball boxes, specialty perfumes boxes and so many other items we see every day and especially during the Holidays.

 

With the tour of the Taylor Box Company you will not only be entertained and educated, but Dan has some surprises up his designer sleeve!

Located at: 293 Child St, Warren, RI 02885 (800) 304-6361

Dinner will follow the tour at: Jack’s Family Restaurant at 5pm.  Located at: 294 Child St, Warren, Rhode Island 02885 (401) 245-4052

Dinner Includes:

• Antipasto  
• Pasta with Red Sauce
• Pasta with Clam Sauce
• Sausages & Meatballs
• Assorted soda
• Any other drinks are per individual. Great meal – family-style!

*If any special food considerations let us know.

 

IoPP Members and invited Guests - $30.00 per person (yes, same price, please bring a friend and/or perspective member)

UMass Lowell MA – School of Plastics Engineering Students/Professors - $20.00 per person

 

Great opportunity to meet and network with your fellow IoPP members and guests!

 

Please RSVP to: Jason Gardner JasonG@BoutwellOwens.com List your name/company name/IoPP member (Y or N)and guest. Call with any questions: 978-343-3067 x 128

 

Deadline for reservations is Monday, November 9^th, 2015. Please RSVP ASAP for us to get a baseline count. Reserve early as there may be a limited amount of spaces.

*We regret that competitors will not be allowed to attend the tour.

 

 

JUNE 2014

 

June Luncheon Meeting
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Veritiv Package Design & EngineeringSM Center
Featuring Guest Speaker, Chairman and
Co-Founder of Lantech, Pat Lancaster
“The Hidden Problems of Product Shipping
Damage – and How to Address Them”
urltbd.com • (978) 988-8522
Luncheon • Equipment Demonstrations • Q&A

 

 

 

Annual Ryan - Samuels March Brew Tour

Mercury Brewing Company; Home of Ipswich Ales

 

Named one of the World's Ten Best Beers by Wine Spectator Magazine
Ipswich Ale has satisfied discerning craft beer drinkers since 1991.
A North Shore classic, Ipswich Ale is a medium-bodied, unfiltered English style.

Tuesday, March 26th @ 3 P.M.

Host: Pat Degnan pdegnan@macaran.com

 

 

 

Date: October 18th, 2012 - Time: 2:30 pm – 8:00pm

The Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineer Center (NSRDEC) is located in Natick, Massachusetts and is the last active Army installation in New England.  NSRDEC’s primary mission is focused on optimizing capabilities for the Soldier and the Small Combat Unit through world-class Research, Development and Systems Engineering.

The tour highlighted the Combat Feeding Directorate's (CFD’s) Pellets to Pallets^TM capabilities which offer unique life-cycle management of materials development, package design, product testing, and integration of advanced systems, specifically engineered to meet the ever-changing needs of the Warfighter. 

The integrated labs within CFD provide the unique capability of developing new materials through polymer compounding, film extrusion and rapidly scaling up optimized designs into finished packaged goods, giving CFD full control over the materials development and product design process.

A tour of the Combat Feeding Directorate will be provided and include a visit to:

The Polymer Film Center of Excellence

Food Pilot Laboratory

Home of the “MRE”

 

DINNER AFTER:  John Harvard’s Brew House

John Harvard’s Brew House

In Shoppers World Plaza

 

Number ONE Meal Choice!

WAS: BOURBON AND ALE SALMON