Bottled Water Insider

Texas Bottler Chooses Norland for Start-up Help and Continued Growth

Norland International customer Llanos Altos LLC, in Dumas, Texas, enjoys a successful bottling business, currently producing nearly a million small bottles of water per year. The company distributes its own brand, Pure Element™ Premier Water to area convenience stores and other retail outlets.

Owner Harold Grall started the company in 2004 to take advantage of a quality water source on his land—wells that draw water 700 feet below ground from the Ogallala Aquifer that stretches below much of the Great Plains region in the central United States.

“When we decided to start the company,” Grall says, “we first thought we’d purchase used bottling equipment. But then we elected to go with Norland because they showed a genuine interest in what we were doing.”

At start-up, Grall purchased a Norland SpectraPak™3000 small bottle production line, capable of handling up to 3000 bottles an hour, water treatment equipment, ozone system, a reverse osmosis unit, and a ShrinkPak™ wrapping system.

The company has added a Freedom™1500 PET blow molder to make its own bottles, saving the expense of buying bottles from a vendor and paying to ship the empties to the Dumas plant. Norland has since installed an upgrade kit on the Freedom, making it usable to manufacture PLA (corn-based plastic) bottles, as well as PET.

Grall is looking into the possibility of using the blow molder to manufacture bottles for other companies, as well.

“We decided to go with Norland because we wanted to make sure we aligned ourselves with a company that had been in the industry a long time and had a proven record. Good
equipment is very important but the people who stand behind it are of greater importance to us.”

Norland has also worked with Grall to design a unique clear bottle with a clear label. Modifications were necessary to the SpectraPak’s labeler component. Norland replaced the standard label sensors with those that could “see” the clear labels.

Grall’s company welcomes potential Norland customers who want to see the equipment in operation. “He runs a clean, efficient operation, says Norland representative Matt Rennerfeldt. “They always come away from Dumas very impressed, and we appreciate Harold’s willingness to help us out in this way.”

Looking to the future, Grall says he will continue to look to Norland for support and advice as his company grows.

“We have learned a lot in our three years of existence but we have a ways to
go. The Norland technicians continue to help us work through our challenges and are always good at explaining things, even to us rookies.”



Norland Videos Now on YouTube

You can now view full versions of four of Norland’s most asked for product videos. Previously, product videos on our web site have been limited to about 2 minutes. Now, these videos are available for full runs of up to 10 minutes. The easiest way to access these YouTube videos is to go to Norland’s web site (norlandintl.com), click on “product videos” in the menu bar, and then click on the product video you wish to view. This automatically links you to the videos on YouTube.

Or you can go to YouTube and use the following links:

SpectraPak™ 5000 small bottle production line http://youtube.com/watch?v=b7LQWPSp8XI

Freedom™ 3000 Small bottle blow molder
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IXZKQDzl9hk&feature=user

TritonLine™ Large-bottle production line
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fJP7zV2H088&feature=related

Large-bottle RackStacker™
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JHSIZUOzPwI&feature=user





Leasing options Help Start-up and Growing Bottling Plants Acquire their Needed Equipment

As in any business, owner-operators face a basic decision: Do we invest today's profits or our start-up cash in the equipment we need, or do we go into debt to borrow money for the equipment investment?

For a growing number of entrepreneurs, a third way has become popular. More and more small- to medium-sized bottled water operations are leasing the new equipment they need to get started or to expand their operations while the market is favorable.

To read the full article that appeared in Water Quality Products trade journal, click here.
http://www.wqpmag.com/wqp/index.cfm?fuseaction=showArticle&articleID=4441&learnMore=yes&CFID=12874128&CFTOKEN=67353167

For more information about leasing options, contact a Norland International representative. Norland works closely with a leasing company and can help you make contact with them. We also work with any leasing company that you may do business with.

http://www.wqpmag.com/wqp/index.cfm?fuseaction=showArticle&articleID=4441&learnMore=yes&CFID=12874128&CFTOKEN=67353167

Bottled Water Insider

Bottled Water Company in American Samoa Sold on Norland International
SLC Manufacturing in Pago Pago, American Samoa, has learned that Norland International provides all the expertise and equipment the company needs to operate a bottled water business efficiently and successfully.

The company entered the bottled water business in early 2007, after meeting with Norland representatives at the 2006 IBWA show in Las Vegas. Company leaders had been considering entering the bottled water business for about two years. What they learned at the show convinced them to proceed.

They quickly hired Agaese Robert Tago to head up the bottled water side of their business. An important factor in that decision, according to Tago, is the projection that bottled water would surpass soft drinks as the number one selling beverage by 2010.

“The two SLC board members who visited with Norland at the IBWA show were impressed by their equipment demonstration,” Tago says, “as well as the fact that even other exhibitors acknowledged Norland as the biggest name in water.”

Shortly after, SLC purchased a complete small-bottle production line, Norland’s SpectraPak™ 5000, pre-treatment equipment and a Freedom™ Series 3000 blow molder, that produces up to 3000 bottles per hour.

To this point, Tago said, virtually all bottled water in American Samoa has had to be imported. Given the islands’ isolation in the South Pacific, costs for bottled water are high. By producing bottled water in the islands, the company figured there would be strong demand for a more affordable bottled water product.

The company currently is producing 500 ml bottles, but “we’ll be moving into 1.0 and 1.5 L take-home pack sizes,” Tago says.

Shipping costs to American Samoa continue to rise exponentially with rising fuel costs, Tago says. That means the company has had to pay a premium to ship PET bottles to its bottling facility. It makes sense, then that the company has looked for ways around that crippling cost. With Norland’s newly installed Freedom Series 4500 blow molders, SLC has found that way, says Tago, by making its own bottles on site.

“We estimate a savings of close to 33% by making our own bottles,” Tago says. “That is mainly attributed to the savings in shipping costs.”

“Norland has been a great help by being a one-stop shop for all the equipment we need, as well as continued technical support and service. Given our isolation and the difficulties of shipping in parts if equipment goes down, it’s very important for us to be dealing with one manufacturer. It simplifies things immensely.”

“In addition,” Tago says, “Norland has shown extensive knowledge in determining our needs upfront and then installing, running and maintaining our equipment. We were pleased with their detailed training, as well. They had our staff perform complete production runs while they observed.”

Also contributing to his company’s confidence in Norland, Tago says, is that “the company manufactures its own equipment, which gives them a wide range of technical knowledge completely in-house,” he said. “Because they make their own equipment they are flexible and open to new ideas or options that a customer wants to pursue.”

Tago appreciates that Norland’s equipment combines the best technology with simplicity.
“You need the latest technology and sophistication, but at the same time you need equipment that withstands normal wear and tear and is still easy to maintain. Norland has achieved this.”

As for the future, Tago looks to Norland for continued advice and support.

“They have pledged to help us grow by keeping us informed of any new technology or ideas that may arise in the bottled water market,” he says. “This includes putting us in contact with experts in such emerging areas as biodegradable corn-based performs, and adding flavored and mineral-added water experts.”

As to the future, Tago says, “we look forward to continued success with Norland’s help.”


Norland’s Success Guide for the Bottled Water Business Now Available
for Instant Download
We mentioned our Success Guide a couple of newsletters ago. This volume is a step-by-step guide to getting started on the right foot in the bottled water business. Now, we’re pleased to announce that an online version of the Guide is available for immediate download. Click here to order the Guide, either as an instant download or as a 3-ring bound book. With the downloaded version, you save money. http://www.norlandintl.com/store/Scripts/default.asp


ABA and IBWA Combine Their 2008 Tradeshows
For those of you who may be planning your 2008 schedules, a heads-up: The American Beverage Association (ABA) and the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) have announced they are combining their two tradeshows for 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dates are October 20-22. Click here for more details: http://bottledwater.org/public/2007_releases/2007-10-26_ibwa_interbev.htm

Bottling Distilled Water Pays for Itself, says Norland International Customer
Bottled water businesses often choose to purify their water using reverse osmosis technique rather than by distillation. Many believe that distillation equipment can be too costly and often won’t bring a satisfactory return on investment.

Planet Earth, the leading bottled water company in Lincoln, Nebraska, has found that while initial cost of distillation equipment may be higher than RO, it doesn’t cost much more per gallon to produce.

“Initial investment is certainly higher for distillation equipment than for RO,” says Troy Krause, Planet Earth’s manager. “But the actual costs of producing a gallon of water using the newest vapor compression style distillers from Norland International is now about equal with a gallon produced by RO.”

Krause says, Planet Earth competes on an even field with its RO competitors. “In fact,” he says, “our prices are often a little lower than theirs.”

While Krause thinks that, to the average customer, “bottled water is bottled water,” he adds, “there’s still perceived value of the product in the customer’s eye if they know it’s distilled. And, of course, some of our customers demand distilled for such uses as in scientific laboratories.

“Distillation gives us product differentiation,” Krause says. “All our competition uses RO so we can talk about the benefits of distilled water.”

His salespeople are trained to emphasize that product differentiation, Krause says: “We tell them the benefits of distilled water include a better taste, a more consistent product, and distillation removes more impurities than RO.”

By using distillation technology from Norland, he says, “we know that we’re providing our customers with the best water possible.”

For the full article, which describes the use of distillation in the bottled water industry and the technology behind it, click http://www.norlandintl.com/bottled_water_articles.asp, and scroll down to “The Use of Distillation Technology in the Bottled Water Industry.”

For more information on Norland’s line of commercial distillers, click http://www.norlandintl.com/norla

If you’re thinking about starting up a bottled water business, you might want to check out the story of Blue Valley Water Company in Hartshorne, Oklahoma.

Located about 90 miles south of Tulsa, Blue Valley Water was founded by Warren Lindley, a successful businessman who owned grocery stores in the Hartshorne area, who had decided to get into the bottled water business. Initially, he planned to concentrate on producing small bottles for a private label business. His search for an equipment source led him to started looking around for an equipment source. His internet research led him to Norland International.

“I was impressed by Norland’s product line, which seemed to include the type of equipment I needed to get started,” Lindley said. “They understood the water business, and they knew that start-up businesses in small towns didn’t need the large equipment that other companies were offering.”

As he was getting ready to buy his Norland line, a regional distributor based in Tulsa approached him about providing bottled water for his established business. The opportunity was too good for Lindley to pass up.

After consulting with Norland engineers, Lindley first bought a Norland SpectraPak 5000, which produces up to 5000 small bottles per hour. Later, he added a residential and office delivery operation, for which he purchased a Norland TritonLine™ large-bottle plant that could handle 450 large bottles an hour.

Lindley offers three key pieces of advice to entrepreneurs who may be looking at starting up a bottled water business.

1. Start slowly. Buy only equipment you need when you need it. It’s not a good idea to invest in equipment before your market is ready. Be prepared, by talking to your equipment supplier, and plan for what you may need when the time is right. But don’t commit dollars until you have to.
2. Look for opportunities to expand your business. Know the choices that will be available to you when the timing is right. When you discover the opportunities, be ready to act quickly to take advantage of the situation before someone else does.
3. Find a dependable equipment manufacture to partner with. “It’s best to find a single source for your equipment,” Lindley says. “That way you know the equipment is compatible, you are familiar with the company’s level of after-sale support and service, and you can build a partnership with them based on trust.” I found the right supplier, one that was experienced in the bottled water industry, that could provide expert advise on my business development, not just my equipment.”

For a more detailed article on Blue Valley Water Company and how it got started, click on http://www.norlandintl.com/bottled_water_articles.asp, then click on the “Blue Valley Water” PDF.

Bottled Water Considered “Most Healthy,” Survey Says.
A recent Harris Interactive® survey found that 58% of consumers consider bottled water their top choice as the bottled beverage they most associate with living a healthy lifestyle. According to news released by the International Bottled Water Association, those surveyed were asked, “Which one bottled beverage do you associate most with living a healthy lifestyle?" Over 3,200 consumers were surveyed.

The results:

* Bottled water (58 percent)
* Milk (22 percent)
* None of these (6 percent)
* Bottled fruit beverages (5 percent)
* Sports or energy drinks (3 percent)
* Other (3 percent)
* Bottled tea (2 percent)
* Carbonated soft drinks (2 percent)
* Bottled coffee (less than 1 percent)

For the full story, click on http://bottledwater.org/public/2007_releases/2007-06-28_survey.htm



Visit Us At the Shows
If you’re going to Las Vegas, Nevada for the IBWA Show or Pack Expo, be sure to stop by the Norland International booth (S-5633) and say hello. We’ll be showing a Freedom™ small bottle blow molder, a BF150 large bottle filler, and the SpectraPak™ 3000 small-bottle plant. The two shows will be running concurrently right next door to each other. Pack Expo is at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and IBWA is at the Hilton Hotel next door.

Norland International’s Expertise Saves Customer Big Money
It pays to have a close relationship with your bottled water equipment supplier. You get to know us. We get to know you.

And that means we can help you spot areas in your business that can be made more efficient, cost-effective, and profitable.

For Healing Waters LLC, Dillon, Montana, the company’s relationship with Norland International, its bottled water equipment supplier, has paid off in significant cost savings in bottle acquisition. David Hegsted is the president of the company, which markets its bottled water under the Montaqua™ brand name.

“Now he’s saving at a rate of 9 cents per bottle,” says Bruce Kucera, Norland’s Vice President-sales. “Figured over 3 to 5 million bottles a year, that’s a significant cost savings.”

During routine customer follow-up, Norland International learned that the company was spending a lot of money to purchase and ship vendor-supplied empty bottles. Healing Waters produces from 3 million to 5 million bottles a year.

Bruce suggested to Healing Waters’ president David Hegsted that the company consider manufacturing its own bottles on site. Norland International could provide the perfect blow molder line, the Freedom™ Series, to fit his company’s business requirements, Bruce informed him.

This way, he’d save the cost of shipping empty bottles, save plant space by better inventory control (they make their bottles when they need them) and avoid the occasional delivery problems from vendors.

“We approached him with the idea and set up a special rental program for him,” Kucera says. “He liked the idea and purchased a Freedom™ 1500 blow molder.” The Model 1500 produces up to 1500 bottles an hour.

Norland International custom-designed the molds that make Healing Waters’ bottles unique to its market. The company bottles water in 16.9 oz, 20 oz and 1 liter sizes. Hegsted now controls his inventory, conserves floor space, and avoids problems that crop up from time to time on delivery from vendors.

Add to those benefits that 9 cents a bottle savings, and Healing Waters LLC has improved its bottom line significantly, thanks to Norland International.


Norland International Client Featured in Beverage World Magazine
Lincoln, Nebraska–Beverage World, a leading trade publication serving the beverage industry worldwide, features in its March 15, 2007 issue Crystal Mountain Natural Spring Water, a Norland International client located in Huntsville, Alabama.

The article provides “an excellent case history from which new start-up bottling companies, as well as established companies, can learn much about this industry and how to operate a successful and profitable bottled water company,” says Bruce Kucera, vice president sales and marketing for Norland International. “Terry Roberts and his company have done an excellent job in the 5-gallon market niche, and have expanded into the small-bottle processing and packaging business.”

Norland International worked with Crystal Mountain to develop a customized plant design, utilizing the company’s SpectraPak™ 5000 bottle-per-hour small-bottle plant and the automatic ShrinkPak™ to package these single-serve products. Crystal Mountain has also added Norland’s automatic RackStacker™ to improve operational efficiency for their large-bottle (3- to 5-gallon) market. Norland International continues to provide Crystal Mountain with equipment upgrades and technical support.

To read this article, click here. http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/idealmedia/bw0307/index.php?startpage=46

(Link courtesy of Beverage World.)


Italians Consume Most Bottled Water Per Capita
Ever wonder who consumes the most bottled water around the world?

Well, based on per capita consumption, Italians drink the most bottled water per year, based on the most recently available statistics (2006), followed by the United
Arab Emirates and Mexico. The complete Top Ten countries measured by bottled water consumption per person:

1. Italy 53.6 gal.
2. United Arab Emirates 51.9 gal.
3. Mexico 50.5 gal.
4. France 39.3 gal.
5. Belgium-Luxembourg 38.3 gal.
6. Germany 34.1 gal.
7. Spain 33.3 gal.
8. Lebanon 31.3 gal.
9. Switzerland 29.0 gal.
10. United States 27.6 gal.

Source: Bottled Water Reporter, April/May 2007 issue, citing Beverage Marketing Corporation figures. Bottled Water Reporter is the official publication of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA). www.bottledwater.org

Did You Know?
You can get ideas for the design of your bottling plant by taking a free look at several designs on the Norland International web site? Many of our customers ask Norland to provide plant designs for their operations. We have a number of generic layouts you can view free on our web site. Our engineers also design custom layouts to meet the unique requirements our customers may have. Check them out here http://www.norlandintl.com/bottled-water-equipment-bottling-plant-design-services.asp:

Show Time!

Going to the Pack Expo show this fall in Las Vegas? Be sure to stop by Norland's exhibit in the south hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. You'll find us at Booth S-5633. Norland will be showing its SpectraPak 5000, a complete small-bottle production plant; the Freedom 1500 blow molder, which produces up to 1500 small bottles an hour, and the BWF150 large-bottle (3- to 5-gallons) washer and filler line.

The IBWA's annual convention and trade show will be running simultaneously at the nearby Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. For more information about the Pack Expo show (http://www.pelv2007.packexpo.com/index.html) And for IBWA Show information (http://www.bottledwater.org/public/conv2007/)

Norland Customer Naturally Iowa Featured in International Plastics magazine

Bioplastics magazine, a Europe-based publication with a focus on sustainable packaging products and usage, featured the use PLA corn-based plastics in its second quarter 2007 issue. Editorial addressed the revolutionary PLA materials now used for manufacture bottles for dairy products, juices and water.

The issue also featured an article on the advantages of bottlers blowing their own PLA bottles, written by Bruce Kucera, Norland’s vice president and marketing director. Advantages stressed in the article included cost savings to companies that manufacture their own bottles in-house. Another important advantage of using PLA-based plastic over petroleum-based plastics is the sustainability of PLA. Corn-based, PLA is renewable and easily compostable in proper controlled facilities. Bottom line is an environment-friendly bottle.

The magazine’s cover photo features a little girl with a glass of milk from, poured from a PLA bottle manufactured by Naturally Iowa using Norland’s Freedom Series blow molders specifically adapted to make PLA bottles.

In fact, Norland engineers worked with Naturally Iowa, a processor of organic dairy products, and NatureWorksLLC, developer of the PLA formula, to design the right bottle for the company’s requirements. Naturally Iowa had been looking for special packaging that would separate them from the competition. The renewable resources of PLA was their answer.

Naturally Iowa uses Norland blow molders to manufacture in-house all the bottles it needs. Currently, the company uses Norland blow molders to make half-gallon, 10-oz. and 12-oz. bottles. For more information about Norland’s line of Freedom blow molders for PLA and PET, click here. (http://www.norlandintl.com/norland-compact-blow-molding-systems-introduction.asp)

Note: We’re unable to link to the articles in Bioplastics because access is limited to paid subscribers, but you can check out the publication and view the table of contents of this issue here (http://www.teamburg.de/bioplastics/issue/index1.php