Less than 7% of Fortune 500 Companies are led by women. Yet, according to a recent Harvard Business Review survey, female leaders are rated as equal to or better than their male counterparts in almost every core competency, including initiative, integrity, problem...
New Trends in Packaging Spotted at PACK EXPO 21 PACK EXPO 2021, billed as “world’s most comprehensive packaging and processing event,” recently came to a close in Las Vegas, NV. Over 23,000 registered attendees met between September 27th – 29th, where they had the...
How Filling Machinery Automates and Answers The Modern Challenge Within the past few months, almost every industry has seen both a boom in business and a shortage in labor. Because of this, most companies are asking themselves the modern challenge: “How can I increase...
Imagine that a life-changing business opportunity comes your way, but you don’t yet have all of the filling equipment you need, and no one can send it to you in time for you to process the order. Necessary items may take weeks to ship, and by then the project may have...
Building a Successful Business Strategy in Challenging Times Women are Uniquely Well-Suited This past year has caused more upheaval in all areas of life than most of us have ever seen before, but I can assure you that as women business leaders, we are uniquely...
Commitment to Growth & Workforce Development We were recently featured in OEM Magazine, the official publication for PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. Because we’re driven by a culture of excellence in all that we do -- delivering...
After enjoying many years of growth, the craft spirits industry was pummeled by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and the beginning of 2021. Despite consumers drinking more overall, craft distillers have seen sales fall due in part to the closing of tasting...
Will Sing 4 Food - Top Sponsor On March 5th, 2021, several musicians of LaPorte County gathered together to provide a fundraiser, Will Sing 4 Food, for the Pax Center. During this event, Apex Filling systems was recognized as the event’s “Top Sponsor.” During this...
Apex Filling Systems is proud to support Scouts BSA Lasalle Council. We are pleased to be a part of moving scouting forward into new eras like announcing Lasalle Council’s first female Eagle Scout Emily Long. Only 8% of scouts earn the honor becoming eagle scouts....
Rotary turntables play an important role in the automation and profitability of the filling process. At higher rates of production, many automated machines only work at peak efficiency when bottles are moved along via a conveyor belt while also being lined up...
COVID-19 Test Production Increase Apex Filling Systems helped COVID-19 Test Medium Production Ramp Up By 20,000% in Six Months. Viral Transport Media tubes filled with liquid media are used to store and transport nasal swabs for viruses including COVID-19. Sixteen...
Spindle Tightener Guide Spindle tighteners are closely integrated with spindle cappers to securely tighten caps on containers efficiently. The mechanical process needed to twist a cap onto a bottle is one that a person can perform without much thought, but to recreate...
Handheld pneumatic chuck cappers play an important role for businesses that do not yet have the capping needs that would warrant the purchase of a larger, spindle capping machine. Twisting caps onto containers by hand is not only time consuming, but places tremendous...
Once your containers have been filled, your products need the protection of a well-sealed cap to prevent contamination and spillage. In many cases, your capping system will also guard your customers from accidental exposure to strong chemicals, and your other...
When liquid products are lined up in transparent bottles on the shelves in a retail store, they make the best impression if the fill levels of each container are consistent all the way across. One obstacle to achieving this pleasing uniformity is that containers –...
In a world of multinational corporations, global market reach, and apps that can find you the cheapest price on any item in moments, it may surprise you to learn that one of the best choices you can make for your business is to seek out a family-owned company for your...
Pump fillers bring the muscle to the most demanding, high-viscosity filling jobs, but they are also adaptable enough to meet the needs of a sole proprietor starting their business from home. Learn in this article how these sturdy yet affordable machines are different...
When you need to choose which of the several filling machine options will be best for your company, you will find it helpful to consider the nature of the liquid you want to fill, your production needs, and the unique advantages of each filling method. In this post,...
Whether you already have a full production system in operation, or whether you are starting off with a blank slate, learning about all the filling equipment options available can help you make the best purchasing decisions for your company at every stage of its...
Over the past month, all but five of the states in the U.S. have been under full or partial stay-at-home orders in an attempt to slow the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Compliance with these lockdown orders has been credited with reducing the rate...
As a company grows, eventually the owners must decide if they can continue to fill their containers by hand, or if the time has come to invest in filling equipment that can automate some or all of their production systems. Of the many factors that go into making such...
During times of great upheaval, many businesses will want to hunker down, lay off staff and preserve capital until the storm passes. Others, however, will dig deeper into their efforts to not only respond to change, but try to position themselves ahead of it in order...
With the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), stores are having difficulty keeping hand sanitizer in stock. Even as major manufacturers such as Purell try to ramp up production, store shelves are emptied as quickly as they can be restocked, and some third-party...
At Apex Filling Systems, it is our priority to maintain the health, safety, and overall wellness of our customers, our community, and our family of employees. We recognize that with the constantly changing COVID-19 situation around the world, this is an unprecedented...
Apex Filling Systems will be at CannaCon Midwest, April 2nd & 3rd, 2020, at the TCF Center in Detroit, Michigan. The event is the nation’s leading business to business cannabis conference, with events happening all throughout the United States. There will be B2B...
What is a CFAT? A CFAT (Customer Factory Acceptance Test) is performed in house where the liquid filling equipment was built while the customer is present. What is an IFAT versus a CFAT? An IFAT (Internal Factory Acceptance Test) is performed in house where the liquid...
There are a multitude of industries involved in packaging a product, or series of products. To grasp a small magnitude of that statement, simply pay attention to all of the different products available to us as a public next time you are out…
Moving at speeds too fast will likely lead to inconsistencies such as; bottles jamming, variable fills, labeling deviation, etc. If you’ve set it to move too slow, you may also incur the inconsistencies
Jon Ahlborn Meet Jon Ahlborn. Jon is the Director of Production here at Apex Filling Systems. Prior to joining the Apex family, Jon had a 15-year career in Information Technology and Manufacturing. He found himself more and more intrigued with the ‘how’. “How do...
Planning in Business I recently attended Keith Cunningham's 2-day course, ‘Plan or Get Slaughtered’, with a few of our leaders. What an informative and thorough experience we all had. Keith is regarded as one of the world’s foremost authorities on business mastery. As...
We have a booming $500 billion per year industry just in global personal care consumers with $90 billion being in the US alone! Simultaneously, the industry’s plastic footprint has ballooned. The amount of plastic packaging on U.S. products (not just on personal care...
Scouting One of our own Engineers here at Apex Filling Systems is very involved in Scouting. Actually, we have a few Scouts, in-house! Darren has been involved in some aspect of Scouting for about 28 years! He himself began Scouts in first grade. He loves the program...
Customer Engagement At Apex Filling Systems, we engage our customers in every aspect of their design. From the initial inquiry, be it from our website, email, phone call or suggestion. A professional from our sales team will guide you and ease any of your concerns....
Brianna is a 17 year old Junior and has been a 2-sport athlete all of her high school career.
Coming up on just about a month post Pack, Apex is still buzzing with all the excitement and energy that was surrounding Pack Expo Las Vegas…
NEW Opportunities? For some, that could be intimidating, for us at Apex Filling Systems, we were elated! NEW is actually an acronym for Nontraditional Employment for Women! LaPorte County Career and Technical Education Center, in partnership with community...
You’ve been manufacturing foods or consumer goods quite well on your own, but it’s likely you’ve experienced some growing pains as your business handles increased demand. You have an influx of orders and you are feeling the markets increase. An automated packaging...
A number of influences are at work, continually shaping the way contract packagers and producers bring goods to market. And in today’s increasingly global marketplace, the picture becomes even more complex as international forces weigh-in on evolving packaging...
Think for a moment about the trust we place in the people and companies that package the products we consume. Whether we are feeding our newborn child a spoonful of baby food, treating an eye infection with prescription eyedrops, or preparing food in a commercial...
Visit Us at Pack Expo Las Vegas! Apex Filling Systems is excited to take in all that Pack Expo Las Vegas has to offer! We are on our final stretch of preparations to head west for the largest packaging event of the year! Pack Expo is held at the Las Vegas Convention...
Capping consistency is one of the biggest advantages of bottle capping equipment, be it an Automatic, Semi-Automatic or even Manual Capping Machine. Why is consistent capping important? Imagine buying a case of bottled water from your local grocery store....
I recently attended a workshop given by Purdue University, MEP, Managing Across Generations. Joseph McMurray gave an in depth look into the generation’s workforces are employing today. Apex Filling Systems sent a few of us from the team to gain the necessary insights...
The high market demand for cannabis products has been supported by a growing trend supporting the legalization of marijuana throughout the country. Most recently, Illinois has become the 11th state in the United states to legalize marijuana for recreational use,...
PACK EXPO International, the world’s largest packaging industry event of 2019, is happening this September in Las Vegas. Attendees can watch live demonstrations of packaging equipment, speak to suppliers one on one, learn the newest trends and make connections...
I recently attended a Tech Seminar that Women In Leadership hosted. WIL of La Porte County is an established group of women who created a Board of like-mined, powerful business owners/CEO’s, etc., and have successfully empowered more and more woman, alike. This group...
The SHARE Foundation Apex was recently invited to help out at Sharing Meadows annual Leprechaun Hunt. We had a few of our guys driving tractors for the hay rides. It was great being a part of such an amazing organization and were honored at the thought. SHARE...
Choosing the right filling equipment for your business depends on understanding the characteristics of your product and your production demands. Here are some factors to consider when narrowing down your options from the wide range of equipment available. Method of...
“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.” Helen Keller Many years ago when my life was in flux, I remember reaching out to...
“If things seem under control, you are just not going fast enough.” Mario Andretti “Playing safe is very risky.” Seth Godin Of course, we all need a sense of stability and being grounded in our lives. On the other hand, if things are too safe, too predictable, then...
Different filling machines use different mechanical methods to fill containers with the correct amount of liquid in a clean and efficient manner. There are four main filling machine principles – gravity filling, overflow filling, piston filling and pump filling. While...
Good morning, “A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are built for.” John A. Shedd The above quote might go hand-in-hand with the proverb “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” This is because our challenges not only strengthen us, our adventures...
Click HERE for this weeks video. “Everything's a story —You are a story— I am a story.” Frances Hodgson Burnett “We are the stories we tell ourselves” Joan Didion What do the two quotes above evoke within you? Is the idea that your life as you've been understanding...
There are only a couple of days until the new year begins! Now is the time to set your intentions. What do you want to accomplish? Is there a characteristic you want to develop? What will you look back on next December and be proud of? Whatever that intention is, make...
What We Think Self-Care Is The term "self-care" has been hijacked! Mainstream media would have you believe that self-care means splurging on a mani-pedi, taking a golf trip with your friends, sneaking away for a massage after a really challenging time, or enjoying...
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and...
“When you understand that what you're telling is just a story. It isn't happening anymore. When you realize the story you're telling is just words, when you can just crumble up and throw your past in the trashcan, then we'll figure out who you're going to be.” Chuck...
This is the time of year that everyone starts talking about New Years Resolutions or at the very least goals for the coming year. The disappointing truth is that 80% of New Year's Resolutions fail by February according to Business Insider. In order for things to...
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”~ Plato Looking back at the past events in your life, what negative emotions could be improved? What limits are you setting in your life? You may respond with something like: “Well, that was a long time ago and I've...
Once you have developed the right liquid, gel or cream to sell – whether it’s essential oils, craft spirits, or hot sauce – you will need an efficient and hygienic way to bottle your product. As the owner of a growing business, you are probably not yet ready to invest...
In our search to define ourselves, we often look to our job to show us our worth. Society does not judge all professions equally, however, and it is not uncommon for the individuals who hold jobs that others may consider to be ordinary or menial to feel that they...
This one is a great one! Click HERE to watch this weeks video. What does it take to succeed? It goes back to the same question. What is your passion? What lights you up? Here are a couple of quotes that I heard Marc share this week that really speak to this...
I am very excited to share this weeks Monday Morning Motivation with all of you! Click HERE to watch this weeks short video about knowing your why. What lights you up? What is your purpose? Our Purpose at Apex Filling At Apex our combined purpose...
Our mission is to make our customers successful by automating their systems while saving them money and increasing productivity. Why Choose Apex Filling Systems? We are relationship-based. The way we keep your business is to work with you - before and after the...
Apex Filling Systems will be at PACK EXPO International, the world’s largest packaging industry event of 2018, this month (October 14—17, 2018) in Chicago. If you want to know more about this important trade show, or if you would like tips on how to make the most of...
The Care and Handling of Nature’s Most Potent Ingredients The skyrocketing demand for cannabis products – particularly THC and CBD tinctures – and the continued steady growth of essential oils are good news for sellers who specialize in these products, but these...
Few people can lift up one end of a car on their own, but almost anyone can raise the same car to change a tire with a car jack and a little patience. Through leverage, the jack transforms your own efforts into a force strong enough to move the car. Use leverage for...
The containers you choose for your brand will have a big impact on the success of your business. You need to find quality supplies at a good price that cover all your practical needs while also making a visual impact on the shelf. To help you narrow your choices, this...
Some of the most common causes of downtime in a production facility are machine issues requiring replacement parts. If a spare part is on hand, you are likely to have your machine running and your staff back at work in a short time. However, if the replacement part...
In just the past few years the market for legal marijuana use has expanded into a $10 billion industry, and it is expected to double by 2022. Thirty states and the District of Columbia have laws allowing the legal use of marijuana in some circumstances, and certain...
Some thriving businesses are small enough to fit on a tabletop, but as sales increase, the physical space needed to assemble products grows as well. Conveyor belts play a vital role in bringing all the functions of your manufacturing process together, carrying your...
When Campbell’s introduced a new beverage variety into a crowded market in 2006, they relied on the relatively new technology of shrink sleeve labeling to make the bottles stand out on the shelves. The shrink sleeves – top-to-bottom, brightly-colored labels completely...
Several years ago, the beer industry was revolutionized by the advent of microbrewers who produced small batches that focused on carefully crafted, idiosyncratic flavors, sometimes from local sources. That same attention to detail and regional focus is now behind the...
Whether it is a manual filling machine for a home-based cosmetics company, or an automatic machine for a major distillery filling thousands of bottles a day, specialized equipment can be one of your more expensive business purchases. Fortunately, leasing is a way for...
If one change in your packaging could cut your production costs in half, increase sales and reduce environmental impact, that would likely get your attention! Packaging any liquid or semi-liquid product, especially when it is a perishable item, can be made more...
Why Raise Capital Through Indiegogo? The Catch-22 for many startups and small businesses is that in order to attract investors you need to appear profitable, but demonstrating the profitability of your product requires some up-front investment. Fortunately,...
The story commonly told about U.S. manufacturing is one where a proud bedrock of the economy struggles because it is unable to compete with the much cheaper costs of Chinese competitors. Even when consumers want to buy made-in-America goods, they brace themselves for...