One important point of contact with our customers is visits to their production facilities. This is the opportunity for a cross-selling discussion! Some experienced sales employees explain here what the next steps are and what we have to offer:

Always ask! – PowFlex^® as an alternative to paper sacks

Product manager Ingo Schweer, market segment 1: "If you see a filling line loaded with paper sacks when visiting customers' production facilities, remain switched on, because we don't produce any paper sacks! Instead, ask whether they're also interested in film sacks." In this case, Ingo Schweer recommends talking about PowFlex^® vs or PowFlex^® ffs. These packaging solutions for powdered products offer significantly better moisture protection than paper sacks (shelf life extended by at least six months) and are completely recyclable in contrast to paper sacks. These usually consist of multi-ply laminates, which are very difficult to recycle.

On the twin-ply PowFlex^® vs valve sack, the inner film perforations enable the air between the two layers to escape. A handle can be attached and a pouring aid implemented if necessary. The PowFlex^® vs can replace paper sacks one-to-one and can also be processed alternately with paper sacks on existing filling lines. 

It is particularly recommended for special high-value products in the construction/chemicals markets, but also for the food industry/pet products. And, of course, it can be manufactured with up to 35 percent PCR, which meets the future PPWR specifications. PowFlex^® ffs is available on reels or as individual sacks. 

Another important item of information regarding the filling process: After filling, the residual air is first pressed out of the sack on the pressing line. Thanks to our patent for ventilation via the front side of the sack, it is no longer necessary to turn the sack around when it is transferred from the pressing line to the pallet. Continuous printing is possible, as is an easy-opening system. PowFlex^® ffs can be manufactured with 60 percent PCR.

Both variants are completely recyclable, as they consist of 100 percent PE.

Youtube Video PowFlex^® ffs

Youtube Video PowFlex^® vs

Film disappears without a trace – invisible resource protection 

Solution manager Andreas Hörnschemeyer, market segment 3: "Our TacFlex^® surface protection films can be put to a wide range of uses: they protect metal, plastic sheeting, glass, and other items from scratches and similar damage." High-quality and expensive products are often involved. "We ensure resource protection thanks to sustainable product protection."

The films often accompany the products even as they are being manufactured. They then disappear without a trace after being installed. "That is an essential characteristic of our protective films. They have to be easily removable without residues." 

Surface protection films are manufactured using high-quality raw materials under extremely clean production conditions incorporating modern camera and filter systems. We achieve the required film quality together with a comprehensive quality assurance system. All film properties such as adhesion, temperature, scratch, and UV resistance, dyeing, and printing can be designed precisely according to our customers' requirements. 

Where do we encounter TacFlex^® surface protection films in our daily lives? When buying a new suitcase, for example. It may not occur to you that the protective film is still on it until after your first journey, because it is initially completely transparent. "But then it should be peeled off, which is child's play."

Andreas Hörnschemeyer was delighted about the employees' great interest in the gallery walk. "I love talking about our products. They're usually invisible, you can't see where they're being used, and that comes as a big surprise to our colleagues." The staff from the cast film production department did not want to miss his presentation either, and subsequently invited him to a team meeting.

Incidentally, sustainability is also important in the area of surface protection films, which is why the TacFlex^® series can now also be manufactured with 30 percent recyclate. A new recipe achieves the required adhesion values and extends the application spectrum of adhesive-free films.

Optimum protection – audits can be a starting point for cross-selling

Product manager Timm Strübbe, market segment 1: "Our SmartFlex^® stretch hood film is an interesting topic for our purchasing and our logistics departments as secondary packaging." The following questions are helpful for our employees: how do pallets arrive here? And if they are secured with a stretch hood film, which line and which film format have been used? "This is how we determine whether SmartFlex^® might be an interesting alternative." Then we can score points with the benefits of SmartFlex^®: optimum dust and moisture protection, 100 percent recyclable, no gas consumption, suitable for containers of various sizes.
 
In his presentation, Timm Strübbe was concerned with opening the employees' eyes to stretch hood film. Only then are they able to know what is important and obtain the basic information required to prepare an offer. Ideally, they should also be able to provide initial answers. Cross-selling has already worked in the area of pet products in market segment 2 and stretch hood film in market segment 1! A major customer is using SmartFlex^® to secure pallets loaded with our pet food pouches.

Youtube Video SmartFlex^®

 
Timm Strübbe also encourages his audience to consider a further packaging solution from market segment 1: the twin-ply, separable FFS film SepaFlex^®. Many customers use bag-in-box or bag-in-bag solutions (e.g., two bags + one cardboard box) to protect food from contamination during further processing. They could simplify things and reduce both their process and their staffing costs: The twin-ply FFS film SepaFlex^® prevents contaminated outer film from entering the high-care area. The outer film can be removed without aids. 

Youtube Video SepaFlex^®
 
This information can also be exchanged subsequent to audits, for instance. This is pointed out by the staff from the quality assurance department. They too took part in the gallery walk with great interest.
 
Sustainability is another of SepaFlex^®'s benefits. The film is completely recyclable and can be manufactured with a recyclate content (not for food). Often, the simplified production process also reduces the CO2 footprint compared to that of bag-in-box packaging.

The best of two worlds – convenience on a reel 

Product manager Ron Köller, market segment 2: "The U-Pack^® ffs is a genuine innovation that combines the best of two worlds." In the form of a tube on reels, it runs quickly on FFS lines without having to forgo convenience, as was previously the case. A zipper and carrying handle can be integrated! This has already convinced market segment 1 customers that also supply DIY stores. A resealable closure is most desirable for certain construction materials or fertilizers. This extends the shelf life and makes sparing use of resources. 

Developed specifically for high-grade dry products, the U-Pack^® ffs combines long-lasting product protection with a low dead weight and high stability. It is a cost-effective solution for transport, logistics, and storage.

Ron Köller found taking part in the gallery walk very motivating. He often overheard people saying "Wow, I didn't know that." And he too also discovered: "I had the opportunity to listen to colleagues from market segment 3 and was surprised to discover everything that we do in the area of clean room packaging.“

Youtube Video Der U-Pack^® ffs

Customers buy safety – increasing interest in high-purity products

Jazek Emde (market segment 3 business development) confirms the high level of interest in high-purity CleanFlex^® during the gallery walk. He drew his audience's attention to the central task of Bischof+Klein's clean room packaging: "We sell cleanliness and safety. Our customers have to be able to rely on the fact that their products are not contaminated." That justifies the major effort entailed in class 5 clean room production (at rest), which is virtually unique in Europe.

Jazek Emde used numerous product samples to show where high-purity packaging solutions are used. The uses range from sterilizable header bags for syringes and CleanFlex^® films for the semiconductor industry to containment systems for the aseptic production of pharmaceuticals.

He gave employees a few simple questions to take away so that they can quickly determine a possible need for high-purity packaging. "Particularly in the food industry, it is well worth asking whether the customer also produces in a clean room environment. And if yes, in which class. And finally, we need to know which markets the products manufactured in the clean room are destined for."

He is certain that clean room packaging is the future. "Even food manufacturers that do not yet produce in a clean room environment are already thinking about it. Product protection requirements are continuously being tightened." 

Our argument is that our customers achieve a crucial advantage with CleanFlex^® packaging solutions from Bischof+Klein.

Youtube Video CleanFlex^®