OPRA Box Minimizes Damage to Empties while Improving Efficiency
Riverside, Mo. _ From his office in a small river town in Missouri, Thomas Cameron watched as thousands of empty printer cartridges arrived at his warehouse, most of them in their original boxes waiting to be shipped to remanufacturers.
As president and CEO of Office Products Recycling Associates, Inc, Cameron managed the collection of thousands of empty inkjets and printer cartridges. There were too many parts broken when the cartridges were shipped out to the remanufacturers. As
a broker, Cameron, wanted to deliver his products with no damage and make it easier for remanufacturers to handle the cartridges upon delivery.
Initially he created a box with individual sections holding 30 cartridges that could be stacked seven high on a pallet. But earlier this year, Cameron refined the box and created a system that allowed his customers to take the box right from delivery into assembly.
Cameron researched his plan. He visited remanufacturing plants from Kansas City to Canada. He understood how the product was handled. Then he returned to Kansas City with plans for a better box.
This one was one-sixth the size of the original box. It was smaller and easier for the remanufacturers to handle. Instead of removing cartridges from their original boxes, putting them into plastic bins and taking them into the assembly process,
now remanufacturers could take the box right from delivery onto an assembly line for remanufacturing. "We were trying to think of ways to add a little value to our product," Cameron said. "Although we invested a little more money and time in these boxes, we believe
it provided an advantage for our customers."
The advantage is efficiency, according to Tom Cunningham, vice president of LaserCycle Inc. in Lenexa, KS. His company places an emphasis on quality control to consistently deliver superior aftermarket products like replacement cartridges. "The
boxing system provided by OPRA improves our efficiency which helps keep prices affordable," Cunningham said, "and it protects the environment."
Cameron pointed out other advantages this new box provided for remanufacturers. The box featured handles that made it easier for workers to move the boxes from delivery to the assembly line. The box protected the cartridges and helped eliminate
damage during shipping. The packaging allowed remanufacturers to count the product in a much easier and accurate way. Finally the box can be reused during the remanufacturing process. For OPRA and the remanufacturers the bonus is in the box.
For more information, contact OPRA at 800-683-7975 or visit www.oprausa.com
This article originally appeared in the September 2000 issue of Recharger.