How Did I Get Here? Packaging in Review

In the process of revamping our web site (almost ready) and producing some informal "how-to" videos (still working on them) about Intercept Technology packaging, I began to reflect upon my reason for being involved in the packaging business.  Here are my thoughts:

When Joe and I began Liberty Packaging Co., Inc., as a part-time venture 15 years ago, we were enamored of the Intercept products and how miraculous they seemed.  Intercept prevents corrosion and drains a static charge at the perfect rate to prevent damage to the products inside, for short or long-term storage, when shipping and storing anywhere in the world.  Amazing!  A single material that has these capabilities, that does NOT include oils or volatiles, does not outgas or particle shed and is safe for handlers.  Fantastic! It works for metals, large machinery, small parts, electronics, rubber and more.  We had never heard of any single packaging material that had so many positive attributes.  Materials test results substantiated these performance claims and we knew that Bell Labs/Lucent had been using Intercept to package some of its own products for a number of years with great success.

At that time, the possible applications for Intercept Packaging seemed limitless and we got to work finding the manufacturers and other organizations who would see the value of such a versatile material. Because Intercept is a disruptive technology in the packaging field, we found that manufacturers felt the need to do their own testing of the product to be sure it could work for them.  Along the way we've gained some loyal customers and enlightened many manufacturers who have been able to reduce the time spent to package their products or parts, reduce the space required to package (no vacuuming required) and even reduce the materials required to package.  Safe, clean, easy to use, reusable, recyclable material, Intercept is like a dream come true for these customers.

The jewel of test results is a recently-published paper from Alcatel/Lucent, which quantifies its own testing of Static Intercept.  The news is all good:  in comparing the use of Static Intercept bags with traditional metalized shield bags for the protection of sensitive electronics, Static Intercept showed superior performance in tests of environmental impact, ESD dissipation, atmospheric pollution and corrosion testing.  I won't address all of the points here as the paper is highly detailed, but the conclusion states: "This paper has demonstrated the environmental benefits packaging can have on the storage, shipment, and protection of sensitive electronic components - a 40-fold reduction in GWP (global warming potential).  The benefits are shown to be present throughout the entire product lifecycle, but most noticeably in the use phase where the superior protection qualities of the Static Intercept bag are multiplied into environmental benefits."

This paper published by Bell Labs Technical Journal shows that the Static Intercept material has significant environmental and cost advantages over the metalized shield bag.

Liberty Packaging is on the right track - given this validation from Bell Labs, I feel good about my path.  And remain astonished by the seemingly magical capabilities of Intercept packaging materials.  If your company is interested in corrosion and static protective packaging, and in reducing its environmental impact, or you'd like a copy of "Reducing Environmental Impact and Increasing Reliability Through Packaging:  A Lifecycle Assessment Approach", please contact us here.

Bio-Burden on Electronics Can Spread Infection

Microscopic yucky stuff grows all around us. I think I can speak for my fellow germophobes when I say this is something we'd rather not even consider.

In fact, a study of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infection conducted by Dr. Eddy Weir in the UK showed significant bio-burden load on equipments’ circuits and boards coming in from Asia. These bio-burdens (i.e., germs) can then easily be spread when the board is inserted into a system and the cooling fans turned on. The study showed the cause of the growth on the boards to be food residue left during manufacturing; fingerprints and/or tape adhesive are also known to be a cause. The simple act of installing and using these boards can easily result in the spread of various microbes in the work place, or in hospitals, wherever the boards and systems are being used. See example of bio-burden on circuit board above, courtesy of Dr. Weir.

Pretty disgusting, right? I'm happy to report that help is readily available. In 2008,the EPA approved the registration of antimicrobial copper alloys with public health claims. These claims acknowledge that copper, brass and bronze are capable of killing harmful, potentially deadly bacteria. Copper is the first solid surface material to receive this type of EPA registration, which is supported by extensive antimicrobial efficacy testing.

A revolutionary source for abatement of these bio-burdens is Intercept Technology™ Packaging, which is a Bell Labs invention, made with plastics and copper. The copper is reacted into the polymer matrix where it cannot migrate or slough off. The Intercept packaging’s initial purpose was to provide short and long term corrosion protection and permanent electrostatic discharge protection. With these newly published studies, backed by testing of Intercept in Singapore, Intercept packaging materials can be considered a passive mildewcide and an active anti-microbial agent able to eliminate dangerous bacteria and spores.

Manufacturers should note that copper-based Intercept Technology packaging for circuit boards is an easy fix to ensure better health in hospitals, nursing facilities and the workplace.

Naturally, I must mention that, as President of Liberty Packaging Co., Inc., with Intercept Technology™ Packaging as our flagship product line, I have a personal stake in spreading this good news. Liberty Packaging Co., distributes packaging on the East Coast of the United States.

Keep your products clean and safe. Call us at 800-776-5756.

Intercept Technology™ Packaging Helps VW Win “Green” Award

Intercept Technology™ Packaging Helps VW Win “Green” Award

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Disruption Leads to Change

A friend recently talked about her small child disrupting plans, as small children are wont to do. My friend wasn't really put out by this, but noted that flexibility is a requirement for being a parent. Truer words were never spoken.

Examined more closely, disruption requires flexibility which leads to change on many fronts - that can be good news, if you let it happen. If we were never interrupted, and left to our own devices 24/7 without contact from the world around us, we'd likely continue on our merry way without noticing that there may be a better way to look at things, accomplish things, treat people, reach goals, live dreams.

In the business world, a disruptive technology or disruptive innovation is defined by Wikipedia as an innovation that improves a product or service in ways that the market does not expect. A good example of disruptive technology would be Intercept Technology corrosion and static protective packaging. Intercept is a composite of plastic and copper - the copper acts as a sacrificial for any corrosive gases within the package, thus protecting whatever is inside that package from degradation/corrosion/rust. Intercept is disruptive in that it works like no other packaging. It does not outgas or particle shed, it is generally not necessary to vacuum air out of the package, it does not leave an oily film on the product it protects.

I could go on, but will end with this: the world of manufacturing could be completely changed by this disruptive Intercept Technology packaging; Liberty Packaging is where to find more info.

Electronics Manufacturers Challenged by RoHS - Intercept Technology Packaging Offers Solution

Packaging has solved many of society’s problems (think foods and medicine); for storage and shipping, the Intercept ™Technology packaging products are a solution for packaging electronics, so they can operate for their whole life as designed. After all, defects, and especially field defects, can damage a company’s reputation, increase product returns, increase field services, decrease its bottom line earnings, and damage its stock ratings. Electronics companies can look to Intercept from Liberty Packaging Co. for an advantage.

A “Green” revolution is afoot affecting the electronics industry: the European Union Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) instituted the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) legislation effective July 1, 2006. RoHS banned the use of six substances, with lead being the most relevant to the electronics field. Military, transportation, sensors, and large machine tools have received exemptions from RoHS, but the rest of the electronic companies must now comply if they wish to do business in Europe. Other countries and states are beginning to embrace RoHS or similar legislation. With the presence of lead, the disposal of these electronic parts is alleged to be not ideal for protecting earth’s environment.

The tin/lead alloy (historically reliable) had been used primarily during the 20th Century for soldering components and circuit cards. All lead-free solder alloys have some sort of a disadvantage when compared to the old reliable mix. Some have higher melt temperatures, causing problems in the application process; some create a weaker bond or do not cover as well; most are more susceptible to corrosion. Tin, by itself, has a problem called “Whisker Growth” where the metal actually grows metal whiskers that can cross over circuits and cause shorts.

The main reason I have interest in this issue is that my company, Liberty Packaging Co., features the Intercept Technology products (previous link shows our German counterpart site) - packaging that adds to product longevity, reduces defects, is healthier for workers than some alternatives, eliminates the need for vacuum sealing, and reduces labor costs. My thinking is that, if there is a better way, let's use it. Many manufacturers find that Intercept is a better way. http://www.libertypackaging.com/ for more information.