What Makes New England Machinery A Great Company?

I was recently interviewed for a magazine article about New England Machinery's products and innovation. I was joined by several of our Engineers as the magazine was dedicated to controls and electronics. We were asked what allowed our company to be successful for over forty years. We explained that our company was founded with a new concept of bottle unscrambling that truly was better than what the competition was doing.

The interviewer kept asking what makes our machines last longer and be so valued even on the secondary market. After some thought we realized that there were several reasons why our company has succeeded and continues to grow.

First it must start with a superior product. In the case of New England Machinery we have a basic patented design that has stood the test of time with its exceptional efficiencies in bottle unscrambling.

Second we have put together a strong, dedicated team of employees who truly care about the quality of each and every machine we build. No machine leaves our facility without extensive testing and quality review.

Third, we design and build our machines from ‘scratch’ right here in our own facility. We have a fully equipped machine shop, and welding and fabrication departments. We can control our own resources. We don’t depend on outside vendors to meet deadlines and are not subjected to vendor price increases. We have our own purchasing department and can pick and choose the best quality raw materials.

Fourth, we practice continual improvement. We don’t depend on our past successes to allow us to grow. We spend time, effort and expense in making sure our employees take advantage of every opportunity to learn about new technologies and market trends. The changes of today are the future of tomorrow.

Fifth, we have been fortunate to have outstanding management. Our company leadership has charted a course that has seen us through several economic recessions, changes in industry regulations and market trends and allowed us to prosper and grow through it all.

Finally, and possibly most importantly, we conduct our business with unwavering values and ethics. We treat our customers, suppliers, competitors and co-workers with respect and honesty.

The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.

New England Machinery Offers Service Contract Special

They build first quality packaging machinery. Now, in honor of their 40th Anniversary, New England Machinery is offering a Service Contract Special. Customers who purchase a service contract between April 1, 2014 and June 30, 2014 will receive an additional 10% discount on travel time and service rates.

NEM offers customized service contracts designed to fit the individual customer’s specific needs. The service contracts cover such needs as budgeted annual maintenance, operator training, maintenance training, single to multiple machine maintenance, equipment commissioning, technical support, equipment repair, machinery evaluation/audit, and equipment upgrades.

This great service increases the machinery’s efficiencies and life. It also decreases downtime due to improper maintenance. Now, for a short time, all these great benefits are being offered along with a 10% discount on travel time and service rates. A great special to offer our company’s great customers.

The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.

A Day For Saying ‘Thank You’

Today is officially ‘Professional Administrative Assistant’s Day’. Originally started out as ‘Secretaries Day’ back when offices actually had secretaries, the title has changed to be more in line with current office titles. The position has evolved as technology changed the way we do business, but the underlying tasks are still very much the same. The Professional Administrative Assistant is the one person in the office that makes sure everything run smoothly. She or he answers the phones, makes appointments, reminds everyone when to be where, makes travel arrangements, answers countless inquiries a day, knows where everything is at in the office, orders office supplies, changes the toner in the copier, greets visitors, creates spreadsheets, enters data, keeps the filing system straight, and anything else that needs to be done to coordinate the functions of the business. It’s no wonder we have a day designated to say ‘thank you’ to these individuals.

I suggest you don’t stop at thanking the Administrative Assistant. Thank everyone who assists you in any way to get your job done. Is there a graphics designer, research assistant, or IT professional who regularly helps you? Say thank you to everyone, it will let them know you appreciate their efforts even if you don’t always take the time to say so. Want to make their day extra special? Bring in a box of donuts, cupcakes, or candy to share with your co-workers. Pick up a packet of fancy pens and hand them out or gift cards to coffee shops or fast food restaurants. It needn’t be expensive, it’s that you remembered to do it that counts.

The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.

Ethics and Values in Business

Most companies claim to practice strong ethics and values in their business dealings, but do they really practice what they preach? When working with a customer that is totally dependent upon your company’s knowledge base and expertise, do you sell them only what they really need, or do you sell them as much as you can? It is easy to get carried away in recommending your products and start up-selling the higher margin add-ons, but if the customer doesn’t really need them, you are doing them a disservice and not really practicing good ethics.

In the long run, the companies that hold to their ethics and sell only what the customer truly needs, will find they have a strong, loyal and growing customer base. It doesn’t take a company long to figure out when they were sold a product or service that is truly not necessary to meet their needs. These customers will think twice before coming back for a second sale.

I’m proud to work for a company that lives the ethics we preach. I’ve often heard management ask a salesperson the question, “What is the best solution for this customer? Don’t over-sell them something they don’t need.” I guess that is why we have a strong customer base that repeatedly purchases from us for the past forty years.

The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.

NEM Solves A Customer’s Container Lidding Challenge

A customer came to New England Machinery with a challenge. They needed to lid paper stock (cardboard) containers. These non-rigid containers needed to be lidded at 120 containers per minute with the lids applied gently enough not to damage the cardboard rims, yet securely enough to keep the food product inside fresh. They also had five different sizes of containers. NEM built them a model NESOL, Snap On Lidder. It handled all five sizes of containers, gave them the speed they required, and most importantly, applied the lids precisely, gently, and securely.

New England Machinery is known for its strong engineering background. We are often asked to solve production line challenges that other packaging machinery manufacturer’s turn away. While we don’t’ profess to ‘do it all’, if it is within our core competencies, we will do our best to make it happen.

The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.

NEM At Interpack, Dusseldorf, Germany

New England Machinery (NEM) will be exhibiting at the Interpack 2014 show in Dusseldorf, Germany. The show starts on May 8 and runs through May 14. NEM plans to display their monoblock unscrambler/secondary orienter at the show. The display will include NEM’s famous ‘flying yellow bottles’ which has been a fan favorite at shows for many years.

The NELPSO unscrambler/orienter feeds bulk containers, unscrambles them and secondary orients, all within the same machine frame. This saves valuable floorspace, time and money for production facilities. To see this machine in action, visit NEM at the Interpack Show in Hall 12 booth #12D52.

The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.

NEM Introduces Line Inspection Rejection System

New England Machinery recently introduced its latest model the NELIR, inline inspection rejection system. This system will automatically identify and eliminate containers on a production line that can cause jams or problems. The NELIR can detect down bottles, upside down bottles or misaligned bottles. Once detected the errant bottles are rejected using an air blower, diverter arm, or pusher cylinder to a table, collection bin or transferred to an existing removal system.

The unit is modular and self-contained. It can be easily mounted to a conveyor or, with an optional free-standing frame, it can slide up to an existing conveyor. Depending on the inspection requirements, the NELIR can use photo eyes, proximity switches, limit switches or a vision system. It can keep up with the production line speed and is adjustable for different line speeds up to 450 cpm (depending on container size and inspection requirements).

The benefit of the NELIR is the flexibility it provides to be able to immediately mount it anywhere on the line where potential problems can occur and/or move it around the production plant accordingly.

For more information on this or any other New England Machinery product, give them a call at (941) 755-5550.

The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.

Packaging Machinery Decision Making Research

A recent survey conducted by Packaging World magazine/Summit Media Group gives insight into the buying cycle and processes used by those needing packaging machinery. The survey brought light onto the timeline of when the buyers do their research (early, sometimes even before the need arises). It also noted where the buyers look for information.

Two-thirds of packaging machinery buyers research machinery on the internet. In the early stages of looking at machinery (often before it is even determined as a need), the buyers are looking at magazines, going to trade shows, reading trade media and newsletters, conferring with peers, and browsing the internet. In the later stage, when they know there truly is a project, their focus narrows to peer consultation, supplier websites, search engines, sales persons and trade shows.

It is imperative for the successful supplier to ‘be where your customer is looking’. Educate your potential customers about you and your products and services so that when the time comes for them to need your products, they know exactly where to look.

The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.