An English maker of thermoformed promotional retail replicas has begun producing its one-piece samples in the United States. Minipack Sampling Solutions (USA) has set up manufacturing in a portion of McCormick Packaging Group's tubed products division plant in Easthampton, Mass.
MSS makes all-in-one-piece thermoformed miniature product replicas mounted in cards for promotional purposes.
Company spokesman Myron Charness said about 50 million products, or minipacks, will be produced in the 25,000-square-foot plant, for promotions in U.S. retail stores and publications.
The minipacks typically include a product sample in a three-sided or semicircular thermoformed clear-plastic container, mounted on the card, with added space for messages, coupons, recipes and market data. The minipacks are available in both horizontally and vertically filled configurations. Some of the products they contain include cosmetics, toiletries, foods, automotive parts, and do-it-yourself household products.
``This is a major step for Minipack,'' Charness said. ``Our product is well-known and used throughout the world, but the U.S. facilities will give us the chance to service the market better.''
Founded in 1982, Minipack Sampling Solutions Ltd., of Southampton, England, the MSS (USA) parent firm, manufactured more than 1 billion minipacks in the United Kingdom for more than 100 well-known brands in 23 countries.
Charness said the one-piece design of the packs costs about one-tenth as much to produce as a full container, because the replicas are thermoformed instead of molded. The plant also will offer on-site microbiology laboratory testing, bulk handling, in-line overwrapping and stability testing.
MSS was purchased by the McCormick Packaging Group in 1994 to expand McCormick's range of offerings in the product promotion market.
