LATEST NEWS

We came across this article on choosing and using spray paint for your painting jobs.  This is a great article and we highly recommend it! It discusses many of the kinds of spray paint that we produce here at Custom-Pak, although we sell to the OEM (original equipment manufacturer), it’s great to see the wonderful uses of spray paint in an article like this, thanks Fox News!

To read the full article “Choosing and Using Spray Paint” Click on the spray paint can

Spray paint is just one of the ways that Custom-Pak Products packages our touch-up paint.  We are able to package our paint in brush-in-lid containers, paint pens, and a variety of other packaging mediums.  We welcome you to browse through our website to find out more, or give us a call at 800-657-0847 and a member of sales team will help you find the right product for your needs.

The change from the current Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to conform to the new United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals is a change that we at Custom-Pak Products have been anticipating and working toward for some time. On March 22, 2012 OSHA passed the law that will begin the changes to conform with the GHS.  This change will affect all product labels that Custom-Pak Products applies to the products we produce including aerosols, brush in lid containers, paint pens, and all specialty containers.

According to the OSHA quickcards, OSHA has updated the requirements for labeling of hazardous chemicals under HCS. As of June 1, 2015, all labels will be required to have pictograms, a signal word, hazard and precautionary statements, the product identifier, and supplier identification.  Supplemental information can also be provided on the label as needed.  According to OSHA’s fact sheet this change will:

• Improve the quality and consistency of hazard information in the workplace, making it safer for workers to do their jobs and easier for employers to stay competitive;
• Enhance worker comprehension of hazards, especially for low and limited-literacy workers, reduce confusion in the workplace, facilitate safety training, and result in safer handling and use of chemicals;
• Provide workers quicker and more efficient access to information on the safety data sheets;
• Result in cost savings to American businesses of more than $475 million in productivity improvements, fewer safety data sheet and label updates and simpler new hazard communication training: and
• Reduce trade barriers by harmonizing with systems around the world.

For more information visit http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html for some other great information.

HOW does this affect my company?

• If your company does NOT re-ship products received from Custom-Pak, these changes will have minimal impact.
• If your company DOES re-ship the products you receive from Custom-Pak, please carefully read this information and share it with others at your company who are involved with the shipping and handling of these products!

WHAT? The shipping classification ORM-D/Consumer Commodity is being phased out by the Department of Transportation (DOT).  On January 19, 2011, the DOT’s PHMSA division published final rule HM-215K which will eventually eliminate the ORM-D/Consumer Commodity shipping classification.  Based on recommendations from trainers and carriers alike, Custom-Pak has chosen to phase in early compliance beginning now rather than wait until the last possible moment.

WHY?  To align U.S. shipping regulations with international shipping regulations so there is a smoother flow of goods through global commerce — major carton re-marking should no longer have to be done for products being shipped from USA to other countries.  Traditionally the USA’s definition of Limited Quantities and Consumer Commodities has been quite different from international standards.  So after years of international pressure, PHMSA finally agreed to eliminate the ORM-D classification for global harmonization reasons.  HM-215K simplifies the number of options available to the shipper and makes Limited Quantity (LQ or LTD QTY) the closest alternative to ORM-D to ship products economically and efficiently.  Materials which were previously transported as ORM-D should instead be able to be transported as LQs and be granted substantial relief from hazmat regulations, similar to ORM-D.

GROUND SHIPPING DETAILS:

For LQ ground transportation of small parcel shipments with carriers like FedEx &UPS, under the new LQ regulations:

• It is our understanding that small parcel carriers will process LQ labeled packages similar to ORM-D.  Custom-Pak has spoken to FedEx & UPS representatives and they have confirmed that hazmat surcharges will not apply.
• Each LQ ground package must display the LQ diamond symbol (see diagram below) rather than the Proper Shipping Name and/or Identification Number which the old LQ shipping method had required.  This means that ground packages of all non-toxic LQ hazmat products are labeled identically.  See §172.315 for details and below example of properly labeled LQ ground package:

  For ground transportation of larger shipments via common carrier/truck line, under the new LQ regulations:

• Packages will require the same markings as in the picture above.
• Transportation vehicles will NOT require placarding for LQ shipments.  Also note that LQ shipment’s weight should not be counted when calculating weight for placarding requirements, so this means that LQs can be >1000# total and still not need placards — see 172.500(b)(3) for details.
• If your company uses shipping papers such as Bills of Lading, note that the description must be changed from ORM-D Consumer Commodity to the actual product description in this format: UN I.D. #, Proper Shipping Name, Hazard Class, Packing Group, and followed by the words “Limited Quantity” or LTD QTY.  Examples include:
  • UN1950, AEROSOLS, FLAMMABLE, 2.1, LTD QTY   (most aerosol coatings use this description)
  • UN1263, PAINT, 3, II, LIMITED QUANTITY    (most liquid coatings packaged in small containers up to and including 32 fl. oz. quart size use this description)
  • UN1219, ISOPROPANOL SOLUTION, 3, II, LTD QTY   (our GAP-4 Glass Adhesion Promoter would use this)

Also note that the HM (HazMat) column must be checked on Bills of Lading for LQ shipments. However this does not necessarily mean that a hazmat fee will be assessed since often times truck line carriers align their ground shipping policies with the major parcel carriers — check with your truck line carrier regarding this. In principle, because the shipment does not require placarding or special handling they should not assess a HazMat fee, but in the end it is up to the policies of the individual carrier. For example, Custom-Pak uses a couple small truck line carriers for WI & IL shipments and neither of them assess hazmat fees for LQ or regular hazmat. If truck line carriers do assess a hazmat fee, it will usually be quite nominal ranging from $10-$20 for most nationwide carriers.

AIR SHIPPING DETAILS:

For LQ air shipments of small parcel shipments via FedEx (note that Custom-Pak only uses FedEx for hazmat air shipments), see the various requirements in IATA’s most recent Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) book.  Note that:

• For non-UN spec packaging a similar LTD QTY diamond symbol is used as ground except it has a “Y” in the center which denotes Air transport — see IATA’s DGR 7.1.5.3 for details and below for examples of properly labeled LQ Flammable Gas aerosols and Flammable Liquid paint packages:

Shipping papers are still required for LQ air shipments, as they were under ORM-D-AIR

• Note the new, more restrictive LQ quantity limitations found in Table 3 of the newly revised 49 CFR §173.27
• Other significant changes include a drop test, secondary means of closure, & pressure differential testing
• The words “limited quantity” or “LTD QTY” are no longer required on the package itself or the Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods.

OCEAN SHIPPING DETAILS:

See Chapter 3.4 of IMDG Code book and Section 14 Transportation Section of Custom-Pak’s MSDS for your company’s product.  Note that same LQ package markings can be used for ocean and ground shipments.

TRAINING: 

All hazmat employees need to be trained on these new requirements and your company’s training & shipping materials & records should be updated accordingly.

DISCLAIMER:  While every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of this shipping information, Custom-Pak Products, Inc. makes no warranties or accepts any liability for any damages in connection with the re-shipping of any products manufactured by Custom-Pak Products, Inc. or others.  We encourage you to have this information verified by appropriate internal or external personnel responsible for shipping regulations and associated training requirements.

You may have noticed that there has been a slight modification to our online inquiry forms. Custom-Pak Products has added an extra layer of security to our site for the benefit of our web inquirers, our customers, and also us. There is now a CAPTCHA box on all our inquiry forms, although this will add a few extra seconds or minutes to your visit, please know that we are doing this to better your web browsing experience and to help qualify inquires sent to Custom-Pak Products.

Custom-Pak Products was honored and excited to be the host company for last Thursday’s TEC Midwest meeting with special guest speaker Robert Grede. It was a wonderful and insighful day for a number of local CEOs, presidents and business owners. Custom-Pak Products is new to the TEC Midwest organization and is looking forward to the many opportunities TEC Midwest offers it’s members. For more information regarding TEC Midwest visit their webpage at
http://www.TECMidwest.com or ‘LIKE’ them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TECMidwest

Success spotlighted in PCI Magazine

Congratulations to 2 of our current customers who were spotlighted in the most recent edition of PCI (Powder Coaters Institute) Magazine!  The Powder Coating Institute (PCI) represents the North American powder coating industry, promotes powder coating technology and communicates the benefits of powder coating to manufacturers, consumers, and government.

In a time of economic stress our two customers that were highlighted in PCI Magazine have found ways to improve the quality of their products, reduce their costs, and offer better service to their customers.  It’s great to see our customers thriving and being recognized for their hard work and dedication to their products, customers and processes.

Custom-Pak Products recently introduced new paint pen nibs for their exact match paint pens.

These new nibs are more versatile as they are reversible – one size is chiseled and the other is a rounded bullet shape.

This new reversible nib provides a more even flow of product, and offers the customer the option of a wider or more precise coverage all in one exact match paint pen.  This new reversible nib is currently available for all Custom-Pak Products exact match paint pen orders.

As members of the Midwest Aerosol Association (MAA) we were invited to attend the Annual Dinner Meeting.  What a great night out at the StoneWood Ale House in Schaumburg, IL!  The food was fabulous and the industry conversations were great!  It’s always nice to gather with customers and vendors!

The presentations were about Quality and The Customer, and Hazardous Materials and Aerosol Related Regulations.  The presentations this year were very informative and noteworthy.  Dawn O’Malley from Bridgeview Aerosol began the night discussing the importance of quality in all aspects of your business and how top notch quality will be evident to the customer.  The next presentation was from Christopher Zawarus from the Federal Aviation Administration.  His presentation on Hazardous Materials and Aerosol Related Regulations was a great presentation!  It was packed with information on transporting hazardous materials, making sure that products are properly packaged, marked, labeled, documented, that employees are trained properly and we are taking all the correct security measures.  This presentation was so informative and helpful!

Custom-Pak Products has enjoyed taking part in a number of events and presentations that were sponsored by the MAA.  In particular, their Aerosol 101 programs have been great sources of information regarding the aerosol industry, covering topics from packaging, labeling, shipping, quality, and formulations.

Where there is a painted product there is a need for Touch Up Paint.  That’s just a fact.  We came across this great article on How to Avoid Speeding Tickets and it talks about common approaches to avoid getting pulled over.  #3 is: Quality of your vehicle. Fix small issues like cracked windows and use some touch up paint if your car needs it. Keeping it clean and up to date will help you avoid the eyes of the law.

We recommend that everyone invests in keeping the original aesthetics of your painted products by using touch up paint.  It is a smaller investment than replacing your products entirely and touch up paint will help prevent the fading of the original finish which will inhibit rusting.  It is a minimal investment for the long term care of your painted products, whether it be aerosol touch up paint – for larger blemishes, brush in lid container touch up paint – for smaller nicks and scratches, or paint pen touch up paint – for the most precise coverage touch up paint will not only help avoid a speeding ticket it will keep your products looking like new for years to come.

Recently CAPCO sponsored a nationwide contest to use electronic media to inform people about aerosol products. They were looking for short videos regarding the safe use of aerosol products. A 19-year-old, University of Oregon student, Tyler Short won the video contest. His short video features a cleverly animated aerosol can that humorously stretches, poses and dances while providing information about aerosol products. It’s a great short video that engages the viewer and gives a brief description of the technology used in aerosol cans and environmental information about aerosol products.

Continuing to inform the general public about the endless ways that aerosols have helped everyday life and the explaining the benefits of aerosols is so important. Custom-Pak’s products are CFC-free and our aerosol cans are recyclable when empty.