Through a partnership with T.H.E.M., the new factory effectively doubles the capacity of their previous location, providing additional room for advanced testing, systems upgrades, and new systems design and development. In addition to its Sagamihara location, Sanko owns and operates manufacturing and packaging facilities in Kagoshima, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Sanko, along with its global packaging supply chain partners, has made great strides in the advancement of flexible packaging systems designed for dairy and pharmaceutical product formats. The Sagamihara expansion will allow greater concentration on systems built to accommodate the stringent packaging requirements for these and other aseptic product categories. Sanko’s multi-million dollar investment effectively doubles the space for its R&D center, and adds additional staff under the direction of Shoichi Yaguchi, Management Director.
Sanko is credited with inventing stick packaging approximately 40 years ago. Their systems feature state-of-the-art heat-sealing technologies and very high output rates; their new liquid pouch filler is the fastest in the world.
Marlton, NJ-based T.H.E.M. has been the exclusive North American representative of Sanko packaging solutions since 1996. Their combined efforts are behind numerous flexible packaging success stories for many top consumer brands. The resources and expertise of both companies have made flexible stick packaging and the Sanko packaging machinery portfolio proven performers in North America.
“We’re very excited about the unique and advanced opportunities this new facility will bring to our customers in North America,” T.H.E.M. President Neil Kozarksy said. “T.H.E.M.’s customer base is hungry for the next generation of packaging equipment from Sanko. Without tipping my hat, it’s safe to expect substantial enhancements and innovations in sealing, lighter gauge materials usage, and speed. With Sanko you have not only an established company, but also an extremely driven one that truly appreciates the value of investing in R&D. They are always looking for new ways to drive up package quality and efficiency, while driving down cost and waste.”
Kozarsky added, “The Sanko-T.H.E.M. relationship represents the perfect union of Japanese ingenuity and American creativity. I’m confident that the next generation of Sanko machines will expand the reach of flexible packaging to entirely new markets sectors. A broad range of new and innovative product applications is sure to follow, and we’re simply grateful to be part of it all.”
