February 2010: EPT Moves To State-Of-The-Art Manufacturing

Environmental Packaging Technologies, Ltd. (EPT) has completed the most automated, state-of-the-art flexitank manufacturing facility in the world.

“During the process of re-engineering our BIG Red Flexitank™, we decided to also invest in updating the production of flexitanks and bring them into the 21st century,” stated Nancy Wendrock, President of Houston-based EPT. Wendrock continued, “The majority of flexitank manufacturing still involves workers walking on the bag and dragging the bag in order to assemble it. We have heavily automated our process in order to ensure a clean bag environment, produce a quality flexitank, and reduce fatigue and possible injury to our employees.”

EPT’s subsidiary, BIG Red Technologies, operates the ISO 9001:2000 manufacturing facility in Michigan. They currently operate two production lines dedicated to making the BIG Red Flexitank. The initial production line is semi-automated with a capacity of 3,000 tanks a month and is also used for research and product development activities; the second line is significantly more automated and has a capacity of 5,000 tanks a month. A third line is scheduled for implementation in the second half of 2010. “We have designed proprietary equipment and have developed a patented production process that significantly increases productivity and controls quality standards. Our system also has the flexibility to allow for uninterrupted, in-line customization such as bag size, number and placement of valves, vent lines, and air vents,” stated Shane Sims, VP of Manufacturing at EPT. “We want to be able to respond quickly to our customers and the specific requirements needed to contain their products safely and cost-effectively.”

Sims continued to explain that although material costs have gone up since they are manufacturing a more complex, rugged bag; the U.S. made flexitank requires 60% less labor than the flexitank they previously produced overseas. “With our automation, a single employee can manipulate a 150lb. (68kg) flat flexitank by themselves on our patented FlexGlide™ system,” explained Sims. “We have tried to eliminate excessive handling and lifting in order to produce a cleaner bag and avoid injuries.”

Other areas of automation include auto-feeds for film sealing and woven integration, precision CAD and lasers for exact alignment and sizing, pneumatics, and auto-fold and pack systems. EPT guarantees its BIG Red Flexitank 100% against manufacturing defects, poor workmanship or component failure when properly installed by EPT trained fitters.

“We are dedicated to being technology leaders and providing our customers the highest quality flexitank available,” said Wendrock. “We encourage our customers and those interested in our BIG Red Flexitank to schedule an on-site audit of our manufacturing facility. We would be happy to show them first-hand how we have changed the manufacturing process to consistently produce a cost-effective, higher quality product.”