Tag: Machines

Our Customers Don’t Want Machines

Written on by frain-sales

Today, more and more people are tapping the Uber or Lyft app on their smartphones.  They’re not doing this because they want a car.  They’re doing it because they’re taking a trip – and need a vehicle to get from point A to point B.

Similarly, Frain customers don’t ultimately want a machine, even though some are amazing to watch during product cycling.  Instead, want to reach their business goals, their point B.  Our customers want to produce new or incremental revenue as quickly, reliably, and inexpensively as possible.

In September, Frain Integration hosted the Uber Revolution Packaging Summit, an event sponsored by the Contract Packaging Association.  One big take away from this event was that yesterday’s owned assets are being replaced by shared assets today. Keynote speaker, Ron Sasine of Hudson Windsor pointed out that, “Yesterday’s way of doing things seemed to work pretty well if you owned assets, but today’s market devalues asset ownership in favor of service providers.”

Endless variety and sense of urgency pushes for Uber-esque elements within today’s CPG supply chain.  For example, an Uber-style of packaging machinery supply will not only provide equipment when needed, as needed, for as long as it’s needed, it will:

  • reduce capital costs
  • decrease downtime
  • boost production
  • increase speed to market
  • supply services to facilitate success

Frain’s business model has evolved to match this approach.  Our ready-to-deploy inventory, which is the largest in North America, helps customers get to point B quickly and reliably.  We allow our customers to borrow (rent) and return individual machines or complete packaging lines as needed and re-deploy to the next customer tapping onto our site and requesting our help to get their business to its next destination.

Ace of Machinery

Written on by Frain Blogger

You’ve heard the saying:

“Jack of all trades, master of none.”  Basically, it refers to someone possessing many skills, but mastery of no particular one skill.

The opposite could be said about Frain Industries.  Frain has successfully modified machinery spanning hundreds of packaging and processing categories to meet the needs and timelines of thousands of customers and projects.  The knowledge and skill sets of our engineers and technicians are as diverse as the inventory we hold in over 1.5 MM square feet of inventory.  Click here for a tour.

Regardless of the category we’ll meet your equipment specifications and timeline.

Here are some of recent case studies:

  • Global Confectionary Manufacturer Gets Millions of Incremental Revenue with Speed to Market
  • Luciano Introduces Manufacturers to Used Packaging Solutions
  • As Hurricane Relief Needs Heat Up, Heatermeals Responds with Self-Heating Meals
  • Leading Yogurt Company is Up and Running 75% Faster

Ultimately, our expertise and speed to market capabilities become your ace in the hole.

Machines From 3 to Z

Written on by frain-sales

While recently showing customers the breadth and depth of our packaging and processing inventory, they pointed out that Frain has everything “from 3 to Z.”  More specifically, our inventory of packaging and processing equipment spans from 3M to Zero Manufacturing Co.

Over three decades ago, Frain set out to provide the greatest inventory options available to industries like food, beverage, and candy.  Today, our inventory spans over 1,300 machine manufacturers and over 9,000 machines in four warehouses covering 1.5 million square feet.

We are equipment brand agnostic. We understood decades ago that loyalty to one manufacturer does not benefit our customers. Here is why:

  • Time: Spending time waiting for equipment or machine parts can cost more in lost opportunity than the equipment itself.
  • Complexity: Many customers rent or purchase a variety of machines and brands depending on the need, including existing or new product line integration.  Frain customers gain a competitive advantage of not only getting any piece of machine needed for any project, but also the ability to integrate any machine together regardless of the manufacturer.
  • Simplicity: Some projects may include coordination of internal/external payments, procedures, training, timeframes, etc.  With increased inventory and variety, our customers can get whatever they need – quickly.  In fact, 50% of our customers agree that one of the best features they like most about Frain is our inventory.

Browse all of Frain’s manufacturers and inventory online or contact us to schedule a tour of our facility. You won’t be disappointed.

Making music, Banging heads

Written on by Rich Frain

The New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chicago Bears have two things in common:

First they both pretty much have the “best of the best” musicians and players.

Second, having the “best of the best”, by itself does them no good.

No matter how good either group is, unless they are matched with each other and working in synchronization they will be pretty horrible.

Your packaging line is much the same. You may have the best available machines but unless they are matched and working in harmony, they will likely be inefficient troublemakers. When buying a new line it is easy to see each machine in isolation. The folks that fabricate the fillers generally do not construct case packers. This can lead to a collection of individual machinery rather than a single tightly integrated packaging line.

Not much can be done about multiple vendors. They are a fact of life and you have to deal with them. What can be done is to approach lines as systems rather than collections. You must think about what will be upstream and downstream of each machine. Intermittent motion filler are great machines. So are continuous motion rotary capper are also great machines. But they might not be the best combination for your line.

Bottles leave the filler and arrive at the capper in groups. If filler and capper are not perfectly balanced, this can result in the capper starting and stopping excessively, in some cases beating itself to death. An inline friction wheel capper might be better here since it can better handle the intermittent infeed.

It doesn’t end when the right machines are chosen. They need to be integrated together into a line. Some of this is mechanical such as connecting conveyors and making transfers. Other integration is electrical/electronic to make sure that the various machines talk to each other. Still other integration is aesthetic such as running ducts under, over or behind the line to manage all the wiring and tubing to each machine. A good looking line will run better than an ugly one all things being equal.

There is a lot more I don’t have space to mention here. The main point is to think of the line as a single system or “machine” rather than a collection of machines. Do this and you will be well on your way to building a better line.

At Frain we know about integration. We have over 8,000 machines in inventory buy new machines as needed. This lets us provide you with not just the proper machine but the proper combination of machines for your needs. Then our team of mechanics, electricians, programmers and engineers build a line that meets all your needs. Since we build the entire line, we can test and demonstrate the line as a system to your satisfaction before they leave our plant.

At Frain, we make it work for you.

How do you define expense?

Written on by frain-sales

Paying different prices is a part of life.  Some prices are more obvious than others.  For example, the price of gas and time is not something you typically think about when you drive further to a certain grocery store to make a purchase.

Likewise, the price of a packaging or processing machine may not be apparent in the initial price tag of a given machine. The true price of the machine becomes clearer over time and many times too late.

For example, if you don’t get the machine on time, there’s likely an expense to your business in terms of market share, productivity, etc.

Furthermore, waiting months to receive a machine or replacement parts can also add to expenses in terms of downtime.  And, purchasing a machine that isn’t supported by an installation and/or servicing staff can also add time, frustration, loss of labor, and lost revenue.

In our 3rd Quarter 2016 Survey, 64% of our customers rated “time” as the number one factor for choosing Frain.  Our customers see time as an expense that Frain helps offset.  You’ve know the saying: time is money.  Our customers understand and appreciate this simple fact.

Frain is built to deliver our equipment faster than anyone else with the largest inventory of machines in North America.  Plus, we have over 40 engineers and technicians to ensure you get the right machine the first time.

Frain also has over two million parts to support our certified pre-owned machines and provide a 6-month warranty on all replaced components.  We back our equipment with 100% Guarantee.

All of our equipment goes thru Factory Acceptance Testing and approval from you before they ship.  And, if for whatever reason it doesn’t work for you – you may return it within two weeks from the order, no questions asked.

We like to think our machines and services are provided at a very fair price for what you ultimately get and avoid. Another saying you know: you get what pay for.

Contact a Frain Engineer today to get matched with the best packaging or processing equipment to match your project, timeline, and budget with flexible payment options.