Alpha Packaging's investment in a full line of high density polyethyelen (HDPE) pharmaceutical round bottles has paid off big, with the company celebrating the sale of more than 100 million units since the line was introduced less than two years ago. A $4.5 million investment in machinery and infrastructure, coupled with an aggressive stocking program, has enabled Alpha to exceed sales projections for its HDPE Pharma Line bottles.
In 2013, Alpha invested in brand-new injection blow molding and extrusion blow molding machines and new molds for fourteen sizes of pharmaceutical bottles, ranging from 50cc to 950cc. Since the initial installation of three machines, Alpha has added one additional high-cavitation machines to keep up with demand and will install a fifth machine in the fourth quarter of 2015. Alpha expects to add even more machines in a complementary geography in 2016.
Brian McCarthy, Vice President of Sales and New Business Development, says the stocking program was key to opening new opportunities with pharmaceutical and nutritional manufacturers and fillers. "In these industries, and particularly on the East Coast, contract manufacturers are accustomed to same-day or next-day availability for stock bottles," McCarthy says. "We've implemented a reliable stocking program and published available inventory online to capture incremental sales across all sizes." McCarthy also says having a full range of HDPE packers has enabled the company to sell more of its flagship line of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) vitamin packers into the same customers. "We are well-positioned to service all the needs of our nutritional and pharmaceutical customers from one stocking location," McCarthy says.
McCarthy says the success of the East Coast HDPE manufacturing cell has been so successful that Alpha expects to expand manufacturing of this line to other regions of the United States. "We believe there is sufficient demand to replicate this program in other areas of the country, and we anticipate making an announcement in the near future regarding our next stage of expansion," McCarthy says.
Alpha's manufacturing processes integrate the finest Food and Drug Administration-approved raw materials with state-of-the-art equipment and stringent quality control processes. All manufacturing and warehousing is conducted in sealed, clean, controlled environments. Most manufacturing lines include leak detectors and vision systems installed in-line. For up to date inventory levels for HDPE Pharma Line bottles, please click here.
