Sev-Rend focuses on high-performance products
Sev-Rend focuses on high-performance products
With a plethora of packaging options and distributors in the produce industry, Sev-Rend Corp., a St. Louis-based manufacturer of tags, labels and flexible packaging applications, is counting on its reputation for providing quality, high-performance products to help it stand out in the crowd.
Rob Williams, president of Sev-Rend, said that "high-performance packaging" has become something of a motto for his company, and it is to the benefit of his customers. "We use higher-gauge materials that perform better [than cheaper alternatives], and it really helps with production because of the machinability of the product. The production speed is increased, and there are fewer jams. It means a quicker turnaround time for the finished product."
Sev-Rend is now the exclusive distributor for Hellasnet, a Greek company that manufactures knitted tubular polyethylene soft net used for bagging. He said that the high-quality material is used for citrus, apples, onions, potatoes and avocados, which is beneficial for those products because it allows better respiration. In general, Mr. Williams said that there has been a move toward mesh bagging over poly due to the respiration factor and also because consumers prefer mesh because they can see and feel the products better.
Another trend is the use of automatic bagging machines, which require less labor. "More companies are getting away from labor and are going toward automatic because labor is in short supply these days," said Mr. Williams.
One of the key features that Sev-Rend offers is the ability to include coding on packages, which helps facilitate tracebacks should one be required due to a food-safety issue.
"Basically, we try to be a one-stop shop for a company's packaging needs," said Mr. Williams. "We work with growers, shippers and repackers, and we design our products in response to their needs."
Mr. Williams said that Sev-Rend was begun in the early 1990s by his father, Bob Williams. Mr. Williams joined the company right out of college in 1993, and purchased it from his father in 2001.
He added that the company will relocate to a new facility in St. Louis by the end of the year. "We're building a new state-of-the-art facility that will double our space. It will give us more room for our equipment and for warehousing."
Sev-Rend also added to its staff to accommodate its growth. Hunt Niedringhaus is now director of sales and Tracy Shelton is assisting with account services. Both joined the company as of the first of the year.
Rob Williams, president of Sev-Rend, said that "high-performance packaging" has become something of a motto for his company, and it is to the benefit of his customers. "We use higher-gauge materials that perform better [than cheaper alternatives], and it really helps with production because of the machinability of the product. The production speed is increased, and there are fewer jams. It means a quicker turnaround time for the finished product."
Sev-Rend is now the exclusive distributor for Hellasnet, a Greek company that manufactures knitted tubular polyethylene soft net used for bagging. He said that the high-quality material is used for citrus, apples, onions, potatoes and avocados, which is beneficial for those products because it allows better respiration. In general, Mr. Williams said that there has been a move toward mesh bagging over poly due to the respiration factor and also because consumers prefer mesh because they can see and feel the products better.
Another trend is the use of automatic bagging machines, which require less labor. "More companies are getting away from labor and are going toward automatic because labor is in short supply these days," said Mr. Williams.
One of the key features that Sev-Rend offers is the ability to include coding on packages, which helps facilitate tracebacks should one be required due to a food-safety issue.
"Basically, we try to be a one-stop shop for a company's packaging needs," said Mr. Williams. "We work with growers, shippers and repackers, and we design our products in response to their needs."
Mr. Williams said that Sev-Rend was begun in the early 1990s by his father, Bob Williams. Mr. Williams joined the company right out of college in 1993, and purchased it from his father in 2001.
He added that the company will relocate to a new facility in St. Louis by the end of the year. "We're building a new state-of-the-art facility that will double our space. It will give us more room for our equipment and for warehousing."
Sev-Rend also added to its staff to accommodate its growth. Hunt Niedringhaus is now director of sales and Tracy Shelton is assisting with account services. Both joined the company as of the first of the year.
