Maxco Supply and Proactive Packaging & Display have signed a multi-year, strategic alliance agreement to better serve the agricultural industry’s packaging needs by producing premium packaging with as little impact on the environment as possible.

The alliance will provide superior package construction and graphics for consumers, while at the same time helping to conserve resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using less paper and less power in production, according to a company press release.

“Demand for more sustainable packaging answers is very high in today’s market, and rightfully so,” said Mark Flaming, vice-president of operations and sales at Parlier, CA-based Maxco Supply. “Protecting the environment has always been a Maxco priority, so it’s only natural that we move production in this sustainable direction.”

Industry and consumer demand has driven both companies to form the alliance, where each plans to use its individual strengths to create a product that will help set apart the duo as leaders in the agricultural marketplace.

“We’ve had a huge response from club stores and large retailers, and it goes without saying we’re proud to be a part of an alliance that provides not only a better product for the customer, but is better for the environment in the end,” added Clive Costa, director of marketing at Proactive of Stockton and Ontario, CA.

For its part, Maxco is introducing a new Micro-Flute configuration specifically designed for agricultural packaging. The concept uses a triple wallboard made from technologically advanced, ultra-lightweight paper, which should ultimately reduce the weight of the carton, while, at the same time, increasing its strength.

With Maxco’s goal of producing a super grape container for long-term storage, the Micro- Flute configuration will also reduce moisture penetration to the product in cold storage, while at the same time increasing top-to-bottom performance overall.

Proactive’s part of the alliance is to supplement customer options in the actual printing of the packaging cartons, with Proactive having broadened its use of litho printing and heightened the use of flexo printing for agriculture packaging products.

At the heart of Proactive’s contribution to this sustainable packaging alliance is the introduction of their Drent Goebel 9 color litho press, which uses highly sustainable electron beam ink curing techniques.

Currently exclusive to Proactive, this state-of-the-art printer uses less power, which in turn creates lower greenhouse gases by curing its inks and coatings without the use of harmful volatile organic compounds.

In addition to the Drent Goebel 9 color, on the flexo side an 8-color Master Flex printer and a 7-color Martin press power the possibility of choice for the customer. The use of these new machines has allowed Proactive to position itself as the leader in sustainability driven, premium graphic packaging.

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