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Zip-Pak’s business thrives on long-term relationships with its customers, and Peruplast is one client with which Zip-Pak enjoys a close relationship. Based in Lima, Peru, Peruplast supplies a vast customer base and diverse industries with cartons, labels and other containers for a range of frozen food, personal care, cleaning and chemical products. Director of Zip-Pak South America Alejandro Grauer explains Peruplast stands out in the Zip-Pak operation due to the way Peruplast partners with its vendors.

“There is good chemistry between the management of both companies,” he says. “That breeds open trust and it allows us to freely exchange technology, equipment, information and applications with them. They have an exceptional team, which trusts that we will provide them with the top equipment and competitive pricing. We are very proud of this relationship, and Peruplast should be commended for their dedication to treating customers and suppliers so well.”

Consumers might not immediately recognize the impact of Zip-Pak’s many innovations, but many markets understand the company’s contributions to the packaging of luncheon meats, pet foods, cheese, snacks, frozen foods, cereal and confections. Zip-Pak, for example, helped Arctic Glacier differentiate its product from other providers, increase retail distribution and increase market share; used its patented in-line zipper technology to help Morinaga Confectionery increase sales and realize up to 20 percent savings in material costs; and aided Nestle Purina in cost-effectively differentiating its products, lock in product freshness and lock out permeating food scents, and improve Nestle Purina’s merchandising opportunities.

Zip-Pak takes pride in its continued innovation, but what it values most is “collaborative innovation” with its diverse customer base. This collaboration yields the greatest level of success for its clients and itself, and helps Zip-Pak reach one of its main goals – maintaining long-term relationships with its customers.

“We truly value our partnerships with our customers,” Grauer stresses. “We foster that by having local offices in every country in Latin America, staffed with local people. We train our people in each market to ensure they uphold our values. We are not really a supplier – we’re more of a consultant – and we’re always looking for long-term relationships with our clients.”

Ongoing Innovation

Peruplast and many of Zip-Pak’s other customers – as well as consumers throughout Latin America and North America – have benefited from Zip-Pak’s many recent innovations. For example, Latin American customers will soon benefit from the launch of Zip-Pak’s Slider Select in their region.

Slider Select is Zip-Pak’s smallest and lightest-weight slider option, and offers cost savings by reducing the mass of the system. The company notes it also enhances consumer usability through its ergonomic design. This technology is ideal for pre-made pouches and form/fill/seal applications, Zip-Pak says, and can run on virtually all packaging formats and machinery configurations.

“The smaller slider offers unprecedented manufacturing performance, boasting speeds of over 150 closures per minute,” the company says. “In addition to production benefits, the new slider also features advanced leak resistance to help keep food products fresh and seal in flavor. Unlike other slider options, which rely on an area of pre-activation, the Slider Select does not require a small opening or a protruding finger for the clip to work properly.”

The Latin American region also will benefit from the introduction of Zip-Pak’s Zip360 technology, which is the first resealable side-gusseted pouch with a wide-mouth opening. The construction of Zip360 also allows for graphics around the entire surface area of the pouch to maximize shelf impact at the point of purchase, Zip-Pak says.

“The zip closes on itself and allows the package to have a full-mouth opening,” Grauer explains. “We’ve found that it is particularly good for powders.” The style of the pouch allows consumers to easily scoop or pour contents, he notes, also making it useful for snacks, frozen foods and pet foods and treats.

Zipbox is another technology that will be launched soon in Mexico and Brazil, after a successful launch in the United States. The Zipbox combines a folding carton and resealable pouch, which allows consumers to close the top of the container instead of using traditional box flaps.

A poly-coated paperboard carton, Zipbox incorporates an attached flexible film header containing a Zip-Pak Press-to-Close system. The company explains Zipbox is designed to facilitate direct-filling of products without the need for an inner liner. By removing the liner, the package can hold up to 40 percent more product, maximizing the product-to-package ratio and cube utilization to reduce transportation costs.

“Zipbox is a major development,” Grauer stresses. “It is a hybrid product – a box with a zipper – and it’s been very successful in the United States, so we are bringing it to Latin America. Zip-Pak will have an important showing at Fispal in Sao Paulo, Brazil, next June. New technology and innovations are something we’re always working on, they are part of our effort in bringing value to our customers and developing long-term relationships with them.”