Amazon Packaging Requirement Eliminates Leaks for Breakthrough Mold Remover
Imagine spending countless hours sanding and scrubbing mildew and mold stains from attics and crawl spaces only to see it grow back later. Over the years, Restoration Business Owner Chris Atkinson had finally seen enough and set out to find a better way for his team to restore homes. It wasn’t easy, but after researching the science of mold and enlisting the help of a chemist, he worked and reworked formulations until he finally developed a solution that proved to be easier and longer lasting than anything else on the market.
The company began using the newly created RMR-86, Rapid Mold Remover, to remove stains in seconds, effectively restoring surfaces back to their original appearance. The results were outstanding and the reduction in labor for his teams was remarkable.
The product worked so well that Atkinson quickly realized there was a bigger market for the new product. With the help of RMR Vice-President Brandon Sacker, the business grew rapidly. Brandon started by making 100 cold calls a day for two years. Orders were fulfilled in a small warehouse in Brighton, MI by crafting the product in a 55-gallon drum and packaging the product in plastic containers.
The product quickly earned a sparkling reputation as “the world’s fastest stain remover on the market,” says Sacker. Instead of making phone calls, Sacker was now answering them. “Word-of-Mouth is what helped carry us,” Sacker exclaims. In two years, RMR grew so fast that they needed to hire more people, find more distribution channels and revamp their packaging.
Packaging Challenges
The startup company wasn’t without challenges. Their packaging had a 2-5% damage rate. When Sacker sent product to customers, they would package the bottles in a plastic bag with a zip tie to keep it shut. Occasionally, customers would call and complain about leaking bottles.
Sacker says, when they pursued selling RMR-86 on Amazon, “Amazon required the use of a 2-piece liner and heat sealing the product to prevent leaks.” Sacker attended an event where he spoke with Mold-Rite Plastics about a solution to their damage issues. They recommended a cap with a vented liner for proper off-gassing of the product. This allowed the bottle to breathe and stabilize when under pressure, while still preventing leaks.
To seal the lined caps onto the containers, RMR looked to Enercon Industries for a solution. For their specific application, Enercon recommended a Super Seal™ Cap Sealer with an All-In-One™ sealing head for their 32oz (28mm) and 1-gallon (38mm) bottles.
Capped bottles are conveyed under the induction sealer which emits an electromagnetic field which heats the foil liner and bonds it to the PET container. The hermetic seal remains in place, preventing leaks, until the consumer removes the seal.
“Enercon provides us with great service and are very responsive,” says Sacker. Enercon helped RMR understand the variables critical for induction sealing success, pressure, heat and time. Pressure is controlled by the torque on the threaded cap. Heat is controlled by the power level of the cap sealer. And, time is controlled by the speed of the conveyor. “We were able to send samples to Enercon and they gave us the line speed and power setting recommendations for our application,” remarked Sacker. “Once the Enercon sealer was set, we didn’t have to touch it.”
With induction sealing, the company’s 2-5% damage rate dropped to virtually zero. The new packaging ensures the product’s integrity and certainly provides a better impression to their customers than a bagged or leaking product. And of course, opening up business through Amazon has been a major part of the company’s growth. “We couldn’t be happier with our sealer,” says. Sacker.
RMR’s successful switch to induction sealing earned them recognition at Pack Expo International as a member of the 2018 Induction Sealing Hall of Fame. Packagers were recognized for unique uses of induction sealing, challenging applications and achievement of business objectives through the use of the technology.
