Manufacturing Today Issue - 218 November 2023 | Page 106

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“ Many of our customers are working towards their own sustainability goals , and thus demanding more environmentally friendly options ,” John adds . “ So , where possible , we ’ re moving to use reprocessed polymers . However , we ’ re continuously evaluating alternatives , whether it ’ s using more sustainable materials or polymers that can be reprocessed , and we work directly with specific customers to ensure we meet requirements . Further afield , there ’ s material technology set to become available to the industry in future , which would help us move away from oil-based polymers and instead adopt plant-based ones .”
Flambeau is also working to develop its direct-to-consumer , web-based supply chain for its own products . “ We ’ ve built up several of our own brands over the years , using common molds across multiple routes-to-market ,” John explains . “ We have brands like ArtBin , for example , which offers rebranded fishing tackle
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“ To do so , we ’ re experimenting with infrastructure , including our internal systems like picking , packing , shipping , and returns . One of our challenges is that plastic products tend to be quite large in size , but relatively low value , so using a 3PL service erodes our margins to a point where we must reconsider . Hence , we ’ re in the process of developing our own website and shipping infrastructure to enable us to receive and fulfil orders internally .”
Best value solutions
Prioritizing quality and service , Flambeau aims to be invisible to its customers , working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the process runs smoothly from inception to delivery . Its network of professionals provides expert customer assistance in design and specifications of injection molded and blow molded thermoplastic components , products , tooling of fixtures , and contract manufacturing of complete assemblies . “ We consistently deliver value to our customers , leveraging our established ERP system with real-time machine monitoring to ensure optimal forecast , service , and quality levels ,” John details .
“ We work best when we input during the design process for plastic components or assemblies , which helps to ensure the design requirements are understood . It also means that we can select the best material and mold to achieve the optimum balance between functionality , aesthetics , and cost . The molded product can be visualized through a 3D rendered image and 3D print . This way , our customers see a representative product sample and know exactly what to expect before we cut the metal on a mold tool , as once it ’ s cut , design changes become vastly more expensive to manage .”
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