Furman polishes up brightstock packing (sidebar)

The $3.5 million in upgrades involve all of Furman’s four packaging lines. “The idea behind the overall upgrade was to increase production,” explains project manager Jeff Bradigan. The company’s strategy was to supplement the best of its current equipment with new machinery. “We took all four lines, and kept and matched all the relatively new equipment to the individual lines by speed and capability,” says Bradigan. “We then added new machinery where needed. “Before, we had slow, antiquated lines, and now we have automated lines,” he continues. Three lines have been completed, with one more to go. The lines are basically similar in that they run brightstock cans. “Not only was efficiency poor, costs were high due to [container] damage from forklift transportation,” adds Bradigan. “Forklifts were hauling containers long distances through the plant. Now we’ve greatly reduced that problem: we’ve fit everything into the existing space and still have space for forklift travel.”