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In challenging times, such as supply chain disruptions, escalating material costs, and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, having a reliable packaging supplier has become more critical than ever. Adapting to these difficulties and maintaining a strong brand presence relies heavily on efficient, flexible, cost-effective packaging solutions. A dependable packaging supplier is invaluable during tough times and can contribute to your business resilience and success in adversity.

Supply Chain Challenges:

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities in global supply chains, disrupting the production and distribution of goods across various industries. Companies faced delays in receiving essential components, raw materials, and packaging materials, causing considerable operational setbacks. In such times, a reliable packaging supplier for your printed solutions is indispensable for several reasons:

1.    Consistency and Timeliness: A dependable packaging supplier has robust supply chain management systems, ensuring consistent and timely delivery of packaging materials. This consistency is vital for businesses to meet their production schedules and maintain customer trust.

2.    Inventory Management: Experienced suppliers can assist in inventory management, helping businesses avoid stockouts or overstocking. This reduces costs and minimizes the impact of supply chain disruptions.

3.    Adaptability: An agile packaging supplier can quickly adjust to changes in demand, offering flexibility in production quantities and lead times. This adaptability is crucial when dealing with unforeseen fluctuations in demand.

Rising Material Costs:

Escalating material costs have been a common challenge during economic downturns and supply chain disruptions. Raw materials like paper, film, cardboard, and ink have experienced significant price hikes. This has put pressure on businesses to manage costs while maintaining the quality of their packaging. A proficient packaging printing supplier can be a lifeline in this scenario:

1.    Cost Efficiency: Established packaging suppliers have economies of scale and cost-effective procurement methods, which can help mitigate the impact of rising material costs. They may also suggest alternative materials or printing techniques to save money without compromising quality.

2.    Expertise in Value Engineering: A good supplier can provide value engineering insights, suggesting ways to optimize designs and reduce material waste, ultimately leading to cost savings.

3.    Bulk Purchasing Power: By leveraging their purchasing power, suppliers can negotiate better material prices and pass on the benefits to their clients, resulting in cost savings for the business.

COVID-19 Pandemic:

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the global business landscape in unprecedented ways. Lockdowns, social distancing measures, and health concerns significantly changed consumer behavior and how businesses operate. Once seen primarily as a protective and informational tool, packaging gained even more significance. A reliable packaging supplier can help companies navigate the pandemic’s challenges:

1.    Health and Safety Compliance: Packaging had to adapt to new health and safety standards, such as tamper-evident seals, contactless delivery, and informative COVID-19 guidelines. A proficient supplier can swiftly incorporate these changes into the packaging design.

2.    E-commerce Boom: The surge in e-commerce during the pandemic required businesses to rethink their packaging strategies. A reliable supplier can help design packaging that protects products and enhances the unboxing experience, fostering brand loyalty among online shoppers.

3.    Brand Messaging: Effective packaging became a crucial medium for conveying messages of empathy and support to customers during the pandemic. An experienced packaging printing supplier can assist businesses in crafting compelling brand narratives.

Environmental Concerns:

Amid these challenges, environmental sustainability remains a critical issue. Consumers are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of packaging materials and processes. A good packaging printing supplier can help businesses align with sustainability goals while ensuring the necessary protection and visual appeal:

1. Sustainable Materials: A reliable supplier can offer a range of sustainable materials, such as recycled paper, biodegradable inks, and sustainable coatings, meeting the demands of environmentally conscious consumers. Our Renew suite of sustainable packaging includes solutions across all our product lines.

2. Sustainable Printing Practices: Expert suppliers can employ efficient printing processes that reduce waste and energy consumption, helping businesses reduce their carbon footprint.

3. Regulatory Compliance: Keeping up with evolving environmental regulations can be challenging. A knowledgeable packaging printing supplier can ensure that packaging materials meet all legal requirements.

Enhancing Brand Image:

In times of adversity, maintaining and enhancing brand image is crucial. Packaging is often the first point of contact between a brand and its customers, making it a valuable marketing tool. A dependable packaging printing supplier can contribute significantly to brand enhancement:

1. Customization and Innovation: A good supplier can assist businesses in creating unique, eye-catching packaging designs that reflect their brand identity. Customized packaging can help products stand out on the shelves or in e-commerce listings.

2. Consistency Across Products: Consistent packaging design and quality across product lines build a strong and recognizable brand image. A trusted supplier can ensure uniformity in all packaging materials.

3. Short-Run Printing: Fortis offers short-run digital printing services, enabling businesses to test new packaging designs and respond quickly to market trends without committing to large quantities.

Conclusion:

In an era marked by supply chain challenges, rising material costs, and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of a dependable packaging printing supplier cannot be overstated. These suppliers are pivotal in helping businesses maintain operational consistency, manage costs, adapt to changing circumstances, and enhance their brand image. Moreover, their expertise in sustainable solutions and ability to navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving market make them indispensable partners for businesses striving to thrive during tough times. As we move forward in an ever-changing business landscape, the value of a reliable packaging printing supplier becomes even more apparent, ensuring that businesses are well-prepared for the challenges.

Contact us to learn more about the systems and offerings we have in place to ensure your continued packaging supply.

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VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, April 2, 2024 – Fortis Solutions Group LLC (“Fortis”), a leading provider of high impact printed packaging solutions and a portfolio company of funds managed by Harvest Partners, LP, today announced the acquisition of the Print Division of MASA Corporation (“MASA”) based in Norfolk, Virginia, and its additional Print Division facility in Decatur, Alabama. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

MASA Corporation is a national, full-service provider of custom labels, contract packaging, packaging and equipment supplies serving manufacturers and distributors of food and beverage, wine and spirits, personal care and cosmetics and industrial end markets.

Fortis President and CEO John O. Wynne, Jr. said, “Having known and respected the Fraim family, who founded MASA over 55 years ago, I’m excited about the opportunity for our two companies to join forces. This acquisition enables customers to have the opportunity to choose from our increased range and variety of offerings and solutions. We welcome MASA’s talented employees to Fortis.”

MASA President and CEO Thomas E. Fraim, Jr. commented, “Joining the Fortis team is an important milestone that will undoubtedly bring significant value to MASA’s regional and national clients. MASA and Fortis have long been friendly competitors, so it is very special to see that relationship evolve into an alliance. We look forward to being part of the Fortis team and would like to thank our employees, clients and business partners for making all of this possible.”

Employing over 1,300 employees across twenty-one manufacturing sites, Fortis intends to continue its pursuit of attractive acquisitions to further the breadth of product offerings and locations which can better serve its customer base.

For more information, or to contact a sales representative to learn more about how Fortis can make a difference for you, please call 1-844-FSG-LBLS or visit www.FortisSolutionsGroup.com.

About Fortis Solutions Group

At Fortis Solutions Group, we provide a differentiated approach giving our customers a powerful advantage in the marketplace through industry leading lead times, quality control, color management and solutions-oriented approaches. We deliver a breadth of product offerings utilizing our outstanding flexographic, letterpress, offset and digital printing capabilities. These offerings include pressure sensitive and shrink sleeve labels, multi-ply coupon and flexible packaging printing, extended booklet printing, pouches, folding cartons, label applicators and variable data printing. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, the company also has manufacturing and sales offices in Catoosa, OK, Cordova, TN, Decatur, AL, Ellington, CT, Flowery Branch, GA, High Point, NC, Lewisville, TX, Marietta, GA, Merced, CA, Montgomery, IL, Napa, CA, Norfolk, VA, Novi, MI, Orem, UT, Paso Robles, CA, Placentia, CA, Santa Fe Springs, CA, Somersworth, NH, St-Hubert, Quebec, Canada, and West Chester, OH.

Flexible packaging pouches are no longer an innovative package; they are everywhere! From food to chemicals, pouches are a standard format for packaging. There are many advantages to using flexible packaging pouches: it’s lightweight and easy to transport; it’s simpler to construct than more traditional forms of packaging like glass and metal, which, in turn, reduces the amount of carbon emissions during production; and it provides an excellent canvas for marketing.

As the use of pouches for packaging increases and high-speed pouching equipment becomes the norm, ensuring seal integrity is critical to protecting the product within. The primary goal of packaging is to safeguard the product throughout the supply chain to the consumer. Your packaging supplier should be performing mechanical testing throughout the pouch production process.

Fortis Solutions Group uses equipment that employ vacuum to test for any package leakage and seal integrity for flexible packaging pouches. Throughout the production run, samples are placed in water, and vacuum is employed. As the vacuum pressure grows, bubbles will indicate any poor pouch seal, allowing machine operators to correct seal settings. All our manufacturing locations that produce flexible packaging pouches are equipped with this testing tool and follow standard procedures for vacuum leak testing.

Seal Testing

A second series of testing that occurs during flexible packaging pouch manufacturing is drop testing. Pouches are filled with the exact weight as stated on the package and dropped from a height of 4 feet to simulate what environmental conditions the package may undergo. The package must retain integrity for two drops to indicate that the pouch seals can withstand the distribution system. The drop test is performed throughout the pouch production run.

Both vacuum and drop testing ensure your package provides the protection required throughout the supply chain, enabling it to stand on the shelf and attract consumer’s attention.

Let us know if you have any questions about flexible packaging pouches or how they are tested.

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Food waste is a major problem in our society, with an estimated one-third of all food produced worldwide is lost or wasted. This not only has economic and environmental consequences, but it also means that people are going hungry while perfectly good food is being thrown away. One solution to this problem is packaging. Here’s how packaging can help prevent food waste.

Extending Shelf Life
Packaging can help extend the shelf life of food by protecting it from air, moisture, and other factors that can cause spoilage. For example, vacuum-sealed packaging for meat and cheese can prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi that cause spoilage. Similarly, airtight packaging for snacks and cereals can keep them fresh for longer by preventing exposure to air and moisture. Flexible packaging is a great choice for extending shelf life.

Protecting During Transportation
Packaging also plays a key role in protecting food during transportation. Proper packaging can prevent damage to food during shipping and handling, reducing the likelihood of spoilage and waste. This is especially important for perishable goods like fruits and vegetables, which can easily bruise or spoil if not handled carefully. Folding cartons are an excellent choice for protection during transportation.

Portion Control
Packaging can also help with portion control, which can reduce food waste by ensuring that people only buy and consume what they need. For example, single-serve packaging for snacks and beverages can help prevent overconsumption and reduce the amount of food that goes to waste.

Better Storage
Finally, packaging can also help with storage. Proper packaging can help keep food fresh and organized, reducing the likelihood of spoilage and waste. For example, resealable packaging for snacks and frozen foods can help keep them fresh for longer, while stackable packaging for canned goods can make storage more efficient and reduce the likelihood of forgotten items going to waste.

In conclusion, packaging plays a critical role in preventing food waste. By extending shelf life, protecting during transportation, enabling portion control, and improving storage, packaging can help reduce the amount of food that goes to waste. While packaging is not a silver bullet solution to the problem of food waste, it is an important tool that can help us move towards a more sustainable and efficient food system. 

Fortis Solutions Group can help you design packaging that prevents food waste. Complete the request info form, and one of our team members will be in contact regarding your packaging project.

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What They Think recently reported on private equity funding in the packaging sector and focuses on Fortis Solutions Group’s roadmap for growth. 

Check out “The Target Report: Private Equity Feeds Industry Growth – December 2022 M&A Activity” below from What They Think and read more about Fortis’s vision for 2023.

Here is a snippet of the article:

“Fortis Solutions Group is an excellent example of a packaging company that has executed a strategic growth plan with private equity backing. One of the most active private equity-backed roll-ups in the label printing segment, and now with its secondary sponsor, Fortis recently acquired West Coast Labels, located in Placentia, California. This was the sixth acquisition in 2022 by Fortis of a label printing company, building on their “One Fortis” strategy. Investment banker John Wynne started Fortis in 2010 with the purchase of Labels Unlimited, a one-location company in Virginia Beach focused solely on pressure sensitive label production. That was when the country was recovering from the Great Recession. Fortis now has twenty-two manufacturing sites across the US and employs over 1,300 people.”

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VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, December 15, 2022 – Fortis Solutions Group LLC (“Fortis”), a leading provider of high impact printed packaging solutions and a portfolio company of funds managed by Harvest Partners, LP, announced the acquisition of Cinton, Inc. (d/b/a West Coast Labels) based in Placentia, California. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

West Coast Labels is a full-service digital and flexographic printer of pressure sensitive labels serving the food and beverage, health and beauty, nutraceutical, wine and spirits, produce, and industrial end markets.

Fortis President and CEO John O. Wynne, Jr. said, “Over the past 50 years, Sam Scaffide and the West Coast Labels team have established themselves as one of the leading label companies in Southern California. Building on our recent acquisition of Digital Dogma, we are excited to grow our presence in the Los Angeles market and further expand the breadth and depth of capabilities we provide our customers.”

West Coast Labels owner Sam Scaffide commented, “It was an easy decision to entrust our company’s legacy to Fortis, given their track record of taking care of employees, customers, and company reputation.”

Employing over 1,300 employees across twenty-two manufacturing sites, Fortis intends to continue its pursuit of attractive acquisitions to further the breadth of product offerings and locations which can better serve its customer base.

For more information, or to contact a sales representative to learn more about how Fortis can make a difference for you, please call 1-844-FSG-LBLS or visit www.FortisSolutionsGroup.com.

About Fortis Solutions Group

At Fortis Solutions Group, we provide a differentiated approach giving our customers a powerful advantage in the marketplace through industry leading lead times, quality control, color management and solutions-oriented approaches. We deliver a breadth of product offerings utilizing our outstanding flexographic, letterpress, offset and digital printing capabilities. These offerings include pressure sensitive and shrink sleeve labels, multi-ply coupon and flexible packaging printing, extended booklet printing, pouches, folding cartons, label applicators and variable data printing. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, the company also has manufacturing and sales offices in Austin, TX, Catoosa, OK, Ellington, CT, Flowery Branch, GA, High Point, NC, Kansas City, MO, Lewisville, TX, Marietta, GA, Memphis, TN, Merced, CA, Montgomery, IL, Napa, CA, Novi, MI, Orem, UT, Paso Robles, CA, Placentia, CA, Santa Fe Springs, CA, Somersworth, NH, St-Hubert, Quebec, Canada, West Chester, OH, Whitefish, MT and Wixom, MI.

About Harvest Partners, LP

Founded in 1981, Harvest Partners, LP is an established New York-based private equity investment firm that focuses on investments in middle-market companies in the business & industrial services, consumer, healthcare, industrials and software industries. Harvest’s control strategy leverages the firm’s over 40 years of experience in financing organic and acquisition-oriented growth. For more information, please visit www.harvestpartner