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Trade show 'shot' scores

Kwik Goal managers visited a trade show to find new packaging for their soccer goals. They came home with better protective packaging and a way to reduce hands-on labor costs.

At Kwik Goal, pre-fitted protective packaging parts have reduced the amount of hands-on labor required.
At Kwik Goal, pre-fitted protective packaging parts have reduced the amount of hands-on labor required.

Unless someone works in a park district or school, few people come into contact with packaging of soccer goals. In fact, such products, which are made of painted steel pipe and netting, are so ungainly to handle, it’s difficult to understand how they could be packaged.

Anthony Caruso, president of Kwik Goal Ltd., Quakertown, PA, knows how tough it is to protect these products, and so does his production manager, Pete Noneman. That’s why they went to EastPack in 2000. At the time, their workers were using corrugated pads, bubble sheet, stretch-wrap film, plastic caps, and strapping tape in a variety of combinations to try to protect the ungainly parts. Not only was the process very labor intensive, it also didn’t afford as much protection as the company wanted.

At EastPack, the Kwik Goal people met with Andy Batten, an account manager for Laminations (Neenah, WI), a maker of paper-based, edge-protector packaging materials. Later, Batten visited the Kwik Goal plant to learn more about the products, and he brainstormed packaging ideas with Caruso and Noneman. Eventually, the goal manufacturer sent a product sample to Laminations’ eastern plant, and the engineers there developed a prototype packaging system that includes several of Laminations’ unique products.

Kwik Goal liked the prototype, so the remainder of the company’s products were measured for more prototypes and samples. Now the company uses four custom Laminations’ products in 21 different sizes.

“Our main products are goal posts for soccer,” explains Caruso, “and we have about 50 different sizes and shapes. But we also do goals for field hockey, football, and lacrosse, all using these packaging products.” In addition, the company also makes athletic training equipment and player equipment.

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