Founded in 1946 as a personal care products manufacturer, Northern Labs, Manitowoc, WI, has grown significantly throughout the years, adding multiple consumer packaged goods companies as contract manufacturing customers.
A major customer, S.C. Johnson Wax, was once owner of the company. During their ownership, wax and polish products were added to the company's expanding personal care business. KIT and FORMULA 1 Car Cleaners are still packaged at Northern. With distribution in the U.S. and over 40 countries, packaging must be dependable. When problems with their previous induction sealing equipment arose, Maintenance Manager, Terry Raduenz grew frustrated with the lack of answers for his maintenance questions from his equipment supplier.
Raduenz began to call other equipment manufactures. "When I started talking to Brad (Budde) at Pillar he made the most logical sense," Raduenz comments. "He then sent me a cap sealing unit to try. When it arrived, everyone loved it!" He continued, "When Brad told me the cost of the new unit I was very surprised that the price was less than our previous brand."
Northern Labs now utilizes three Pillar 2k sealers and transports them between their 12 lines. They seal flat, flip top and squirt type caps, ranging in size from 24-38 mm at line speeds of 125 feet per minute (50-70 bottles per min.).
"Pillar is the first choice of our set up technicians," Raduenz states. "When moving machinery from line to line, the power available is sometimes low. But, with Pillar's buck- and-boost transformer built into the unit, we solve the problems we experienced with other brands."
Raduenz concludes, "As our customers continue to increase, the demand for induction sealing will grow as well. Pillar is our first choice for all of our growing induction sealing needs!"
For more information on Northern Labs, their products and capabilities, visit www.northernlabs.com. Follow the link below for more information on induction cap sealing systems.