M.S. Willett - Blema North America

12/22/2020

12/07/2020

Blema Announces Acquisition of Pakea de France

On December 3, Uwe Leonhardt (Chairman of the Leonhardt Group of Companies) announced the acquisition of Pakea de France , a manufacturer of paper converting and packaging machinery based in Mulhouse-Rixheim. The acquisition further strengthens the position of Blema's machine engineering group on the world market.

The strategic plan for growth includes continuation of the existing product portfolio, while providing the necessary resources to continue to expand products and services in paper and composite-based packaging.

The global need for paper and composite packaging continues to experienced strong growth, especially with the trend towards moving away from plastic. (Even the plastic straw could become just a dim memory in many parts of the world within just a few years, for example.)

The entire (growing) Leonhardt Group of companies is very excited by this acquisition, and we look forward to a bright future moving forward.

Official announcement: https://lnkd.in/eWTjyUH

https://lnkd.in/e28Yt7x

PACKAGING MACHINES MANUFACTURER Designer and manufacturer of paper converting and packaging equipment, PAKEA is providing customized solutions for the produc...

06/12/2020

This video describes the humble beginnings back in 1929 of the M.S. Willett company, and some of the many innovations they have made to the canmaking and metal stamping and forming industries.

05/28/2020

Ever wonder how all those stacked chip tubes are made? Follow the process in this fully automated production line for composite (spiral-wound paper) stacked chip containers. Blema machines (designed and built in Germany) make 2 billion of these containers every year, plus billions more for other applications. Call us, or visit www.blema.de

05/28/2020

READ THIS AND YOU’LL NEVER LOOK AT THEM THE SAME AGAIN!
I’d like to present you with a few interesting factoids and some impressive numbers on a product that you all know (and have probably eaten – maybe a lot), but have also probably never given much thought to.

Without mentioning any specific brands, we’re talking about stacked potato chips here.

Some history: Back in 1956, in response to consumer complaints about stale, greasy, broken chips sold in traditional bags, research began into making a potato chip in a “hyperbolic paraboloid” shape that could be stacked and packaged in a resealable tube, had a longer shelf life, and could be transported and handled with minimal breakage. They also needed to taste good.

Unfortunately, they DIDN'T taste good, and it took (along with a ton of money and R & D) until 1967 to get the product refined to the point of allowing limited distribution in the US.

Let’s give a little context to these cylinders full of hyperbolic parabolas:

1. Stacked chips are now sold in over 140 countries (but are still only a single digit percentage of the global snack market)
2. Approx. number of packages sold per year: 6 billion (That’s a can for almost every person on earth.)
3. Median height of package: 8” or 200 mm
4. 6 billion x 8” or 200 mm = 757,575 miles or 1,219,198 km
5. Placed end-to-end, they would circle the earth at the equator over 30 times
6. Stacked on top of each other, the stack would reach the moon, which is approx. 239,000 miles or 384,600 km from the earth, over 3 times
7. Some of the more interesting flavors have included: Shrimp, Mayo & Cheese, Blueberry, Soft Shell Crab, and Pumpkin Pie Spice (This is only a partial list.)

I could go on and on with these facts. Kind of mind boggling, isn’t it?

How does Blema fit into the world of stacked chips?

• One-third (2 billion of the 6 billion) stacked chip packages are made on Blema high speed combination machines for composite (spiral wound paper) containers
• Blema machines also annually produce billions of recyclable, environmentally-friendly composite packages for nuts, instant soups and sauces, ice cream, premium liquor packaging, etc.
• Blema has been designing and building packaging machinery in the town of Aue, Germany since 1861. It is a family owned and operated company that remains firmly committed to making the finest quality equipment, while constantly striving to develop new innovations to increase productivity and quality while providing the highest levels of service and support to ensure that they run at maximum efficiency.
• With the purchase of M.S. Willett Inc. in February, 2020, Blema North America begins a new phase of expansion into the North American packaging market. While the Covid-19 virus has delayed full implementation of those efforts, we are undeterred in our commitment to our customers and ultimately the consumer.
• Whether you’re supplying composite or metal packaging, you can count on the Willett-Blema team for innovative solutions and world-class service and support.
• For information on Blema equipment, visit our website at: www.blema.de

05/26/2020

Looking for a partner supplier with real experience? How about 250 combined years of experience?

The recent acquisition of M.S. Willett by Blema (part of the Leonhardt Group) brings together two companies with a total of 250 years experience building and installing high speed machinery and tooling for the can and packaging industries. Blema has been in business since 1861 (the year the US Civil War began), and Willett was established in 1929 (the year the Great Depression began.) This kind of longevity only comes to companies that understand their market and customer's needs, and provides the highest levels of service and support. (Think of all the other world events that have happened since 1861!)

With successful installations in more than 50 countries worldwide reliably producing millions of containers every day, and billions per year, Willett and Blema can offer solid, proven solutions for a wide variety of metal or composite (spiral-wound paper) packaging components for food or aerosol products, snacks, cosmetics, seasonal or promotional containers, etc. As always, you can count on German and made-in-USA quality.

Contact the Willett - Blema North America team and let's work together on a packaging solution that will keep your company productive and competitive.

05/20/2020

A Few Sardine Facts That Probably Never Even Crossed Your Mind:
Did you know that the term "sardines" actually refers to twenty-one (21) different species of fish? Until very recently, I thought that "sardines" were one particular species.

How popular are they? In 2018, global consumption was 3.65 million TONS. That's 7.3 BILLION pounds. If there are approx. 4 oz. of sardines in a can, that's 29 billion cans. That works out to about 4 cans per year for each of the 7.8 billion people on earth today. Mind-boggling. Who's eating them all? (Not me.)

If you do like (or process) sardines, you're very familiar with the packaging. Willett - Blema has extensive experience in the manufacture of complete systems for the high-volume production of cans for sardines or just about anything else you need to put into safe, secure and recyclable packaging.

With two hundred-fifty (yes, 250) years combined experience in making the machines that make packaging, Willett - Blema is your go-to source for the best solutions and service.

05/11/2020

Experience Counts!

Metal and composite container and packaging manufacturers: As a part of the the Leonhardt Group of companies, let Willett and Blema show you how how to increase productivity and profits with our high-speed, fully integrated container lines. Blema has been around since 1861, and Willett has since 1929, so we're pretty much seen it all over the years.

This is the Kappa II press and sheet feeder used for the production of covers, lids, shallow drawn cans, and blanks.

05/11/2020

M.S. Willett is open for business!

As a supplier to the medical/pharmaceutical industries, Willett has been deemed an essential business, and is fully staffed to meet your high speed transfer, custom automation, tool and die, or stamping and fabrication production needs.

Please call (410) 771-0460 if you have any questions, or if you have a project that you'd like our experienced team to review with you and provide some innovative and cost-effective solutions.

05/04/2020

Quality. Integrity. Craftsmanship. M.S. Willett Inc. has been providing reliable, cost-effective metal forming solutions for over 90 years to help manufacturers achieve higher levels of productivity and quality. Our team of innovative-thinking engineering and design professionals has decades of experience working with a wide variety of customers in many different industries. Products and services available from Willett include:

• Metal packaging part transfer and tooling integration
• Stamping press tooling design, build, and servicing
• Engineering services
• Automated assembly systems
• Contract metal stamping and sheet metal fabrication

In February, 2020 M.S. Willett ushered-in a new era of growth and innovation when they were acquired by The Leonhardt Group, a family-owned company headquartered in Aue, Germany. One of the companies owned by The Leonhardt Group is Blema-Majer, manufacturers of complete production lines for 2 & 3-piece metal food and aerosol cans, decorative tins, and a wide variety of spiral-wound composite containers and components. To help fully support their North American customer base, Blema-Majer is establishing a service and technical support division at the Willett facility.