H.B. Fuller Receives AmeriStar Packaging Award for Innovative Retail Ready Packaging Design

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE: FUL), a leading global adhesives provider, in partnership with Quaker Oats Company and International Paper Company was presented today with an Institute of Packaging Professional's (IoPP) 2014 AmeriStar Award for retail ready packaging designed for Quaker® Real Medleys® single serve oatmeal. Each year, IoPP presents AmeriStar Awards to leaders in the industry, recognizing excellence and innovation in packaging design. The team received the award in the Promotional/Display category.

The team's redesigned Real Medleys packaging provides robust protection that takes the product from shipping to shelf while providing significant cost saving and sustainability benefits. The new packaging replaces a two-piece tray and cover that had to be packed manually with a standard, one-piece RSC case that uses H.B. Fuller's Open Sesame® tapes, a fully-integrated tear tape system. The easy-open capabilities of Open Sesame creates a clean edge without using perforations, which can weaken packaging. It enabled the design team to reduce material used by 35 percent while maintaining the compression strength provided by the previous two-piece design. This lighter case performs well under extreme conditions and meets retailers' needs for an attractive, shelf-ready display. 

In addition to using less material, the new packaging solution improves logistics efficiency. It allows Quaker Oats to use an automated packing line and could increase throughput by more than 50 percent, and by increasing the number of boxes per truckload by 50 percent, it also reduces freight costs and fuel consumption. Additionally, because packaging SKUs were reduced from two to one, the new design takes up less warehouse space. 

"It's an honor to help create a solution that provides so many significant benefits to the customer and to have it recognized with an AmeriStar Award," says Steve Ringsdore, vice president, Americas Packaging and Converting, H.B. Fuller. "This is a tremendous example of the type of project we embrace at H.B. Fuller—the opportunity to collaborate with our customers and business partners to not only address the challenges they face, but to raise the bar on packaging design."  

AmeriStar Awards are based on packaging innovation, protection, economics, performance, marketing and environmental impact. H.B. Fuller, Quaker Oats, International Paper and other AmeriStar Award winners were honored at the AmeriStar and Visionary Awards Reception today at the EastPack packaging event in New York, NY.

About H.B. Fuller Company:
For over 125 years, H.B. Fuller has been a leading global adhesives provider focusing on perfecting adhesives, sealants and other specialty chemical products to improve products and lives. With fiscal 2013 net revenue of $2.05 billion, H.B. Fuller's commitment to innovation brings together people, products and processes that answer and solve some of the world's biggest challenges. Our reliable, responsive service creates lasting, rewarding connections with customers in packaging, hygiene, general assembly, electronic and assembly materials, paper converting, woodworking, construction, automotive and consumer businesses. And our promise to our people connects them with opportunities to innovate and thrive. For more information, visit us at www.hbfuller.com and subscribe to our blog.

About the Institute of Packaging Professionals:
The Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) is the leading individual membership organization serving the educational needs of the packaging community.  It is committed to providing continuing educational programs of interest and value to all packaging professionals.  These programs cover all packaging related areas of business and technology, as well as fundamental principles.  The organization, its activities and operations support the development of the best possible packaging programs and events.  For more information please visit www.iopp.org.

The Open Sesame trademark is owned by H.B. Fuller Company and is registered in the United States and other countries throughout the world.

The Quaker Real Medleys trademark is owned by Quaker Oats Company and is registered in the United States.

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SOURCE H.B. Fuller Company