Some packaging providers carry a fairly substantial inventory. Others deliver unique engineering capabilities to create custom fits. Certain distributors may offer customers quick delivery timelines. With Pipeline Packaging, the comprehensive packaging distributor, you can have it all — including an inventory curated by more than 400 global suppliers, a complete suite of value-added services, and a team of packaging professionals dedicated to meeting your every need. We’re taking a deeper look at two customer case studies to demonstrate the instrumental difference a full-service packaging distributor can make in troubleshooting challenges, sourcing new components, and managing inventory.
A U.S.-Based Lubricant Manufacturer Looking for Steady Stock
For one national heavy-duty lubricant manufacturer, the problem wasn’t leaking components or cumbersome closure designs. The customer’s decision to look for a new comprehensive packaging distributor stemmed from a different pain point — supply chain inconsistencies.
The lubricant manufacturer relies on a diverse range of packaging systems to accommodate its entire product line: heavy-duty engine oils that require the durability of HDPE F-Style bottles, hydraulic and transmission oils that are stored in rigid steel drums, and specialty lubricants held in aerosol cans. Yet, when the customer needed its inventory replenished, its previous supplier failed to meet the real-time demand of the lubricant manufacturer and its customer base.
Looking for a more efficient solution, the customer connected with Pipeline Packaging as its new comprehensive packaging distributor. Working alongside Pipeline’s customer service team, the lubricant manufacturer was able to develop an inventory management system that would ensure all the same trusted components would be available and ready for delivery to its assembly line at a moment’s notice.
Part of this initiative also involved custom assembly services. Though the customer provided the labels, the Pipeline team made sure they were applied to containers before leaving the warehouse, meaning systems would arrive ready for product filling.
Pipeline Packaging inside sales representative Rhonda Gargrave brings more than 20 years of packaging expertise. She explained the role inventory management plays in fulfilling the lubricant customer’s supply and demand needs.
“The packaging used in the automotive and industrial chemical industry can carry lengthy lead times,” said Gargrave. “The customer will provide 25,000 labels for each SKU we are replenishing. As soon as it arrives, we will apply the labels to a select number of finished systems and keep the remaining supply blank. This step prevents warehouse overload and offers more flexibility if the customer would like to use the remaining supply for a different product, requiring a different label design.”
Gargrave noted that maintaining dynamic inventory management requires more than a dependable framework. It also involves careful monitoring, innovative technology, and industry expertise, which are made available through a comprehensive packaging distributor.
“We are always preparing weeks in advance for the next order,” she said. “I am constantly monitoring supplier workflows along with the customer’s inventory status. If it’s time to place an order, I’ll touch base with our customer to start the next shipment.”
Pipeline provides the same careful attention and expert care to every customer, regardless of whether they utilize our inventory management capabilities or simply need a consistent, comprehensive packaging distributor. No matter the industry, we always aim to keep customers on a reliable cadence.
“Our team takes a personalized approach to customer service,” said Gargrave. “We bring immense attention to detail in everything from background research to building a natural rapport with customers. It’s an approach that definitely differentiates us as a comprehensive packaging distributor.”
An Equine Insecticide on the Hunt for an Anti-Glug Solution
Not only can flies and biting insects transmit diseases, but they can also increase the tension of horses, leading to behavioral changes that affect stress levels and showmanship. This phenomenon makes equine insecticides an important resource for stables looking to manage the health and well-being of their horses.
For more than 10 years, Pipeline Packaging has been providing select packaging products, including plastic bottles, sprayers, closures, drums, and even IBC totes, as a comprehensive packaging distributor for an equine insecticide company headquartered in Texas. A trusted animal health leader, the company offers a multitude of treatment systems and products to reduce the presence of pesky insects.
And while the customer’s products yielded incredible results, many users were frustrated with the packaging system’s propensity for surging, splashing, and erratic “glugging,” leaving behind a mess and wasted product. When the equine insecticide customer presented the issue, Pipeline provided a solution: a custom packaging mold complete with an anti-glug feature.
Gary Watson, an account manager at Pipeline Packaging, shared how the engineering team infused the anti-glug technology into the packaging system.
“To prevent spillage, the bottle is designed with a vent hole inside the neck that allows for an air-to-liquid exchange, reducing the vacuum effect that causes glugging,” said Watson. “This feature reduces mess, engineering a clean, precise pour that enables a smooth, continuous, and controlled stream of product.”
Watson noted that this type of packaging feature is often used with various chemical, motor oil, and agricultural products. Though the equine insecticide is non-toxic and environmentally friendly, the anti-glug component offers similar application benefits to users.
Like the heavy-duty lubricant customer, the equine insecticide manufacturer also utilizes Pipeline’s inventory management capabilities. Using the same private custom mold, the customer works with us as its comprehensive packaging distributor to coordinate orders within the hundreds of thousands to replenish its inventory.
“What started with a packaging redesign has evolved into a well-rounded customer,” said Watson. “Our relationship has only continued to grow since that initial engineering inquiry. Aside from inventory management and Just-in-Time (JIT) delivery, we also lend our fleet of freight trucks to assist in transporting the customer’s product to its warehouses to help reduce transportation costs.”
Trust Pipeline as Your Comprehensive Packaging Distributor
These case studies represent just two of the many customer success stories facilitated by Pipeline Packaging. Our role as a comprehensive packaging distributor gives us a unique degree of nimbleness. With the breadth of choice at a competitive price, along with a robust offering of value-added services, customers can find the solution to a very specific need or a one-stop packaging supply shop. At the heart of Pipeline’s extensive offerings are the Good People at the Core, who remain dedicated to the success of every customer, regardless of industry, challenge, or request.
Ready to become a Pipeline Packaging success story? Contact us today to learn how a comprehensive packaging distributor, backed by a team focused on customer satisfaction, can revolutionize your operation.
