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AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH UNITED FRESH Kimberly Oser Publisher Jules Denton-Card Senior Associate Publisher Lorrie Baumann Editorial Director JoEllen Lowry • Jeanie Catron • Karrie Welborn Associate Editors Yasmine Brown Art Director Jonathan Schieffer Graphic Designer Caitlyn McGrath • Susan Stein Customer Service Managers Jay Watson • Hannah Stefanovich Show Logistics & Distribution Marcos Morhaim Senior Account Manager Adrian Chacon • Andy Hartnett Account Managers Tara Neal Director of Operations Enrico Cecchi European Sales Produce Show Daily is published by Oser Communications Group ©2018 All rights reserved. Executive and editorial offices at: 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715 520.721.1300/Fax: 520.721.6300 European offices located at Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 11, 50125 Florence, Italy www.osercommunicationsgroup.com Lee M. Oser Founder Produce Show Daily Tuesday, June 26, 2018 4 Matrix Packaging Machinery Celebrates 30th Anniversary The next package of green beans, hot peppers or frozen corn you place into your grocery basket was quite possibly packaged on a machine sold by Wisconsin-based Matrix Packaging Machinery, a product brand of ProMach. The Willden brothers, Marcel and Marc, along with their father, Dee, started this packaging machinery company in the family's garage in 1988. Now, in its 30th anniversary year, Matrix Packaging Machinery is a manufacturing, sales and technical support organization with glob- al reach. "In the mid-1980s, packaging machines that formed and filled bags of coffee or frozen green beans, for exam- ple, were large, complex, expensive and difficult to operate and repair," said Marc Willden, General Manager of Matrix and a ProMach Vice President. "My brother Marcel designed a line of standardized bag forming and filling machines that were more flexible, easier to operate, and at a lower cost than the leading brands. Marcel utilized the latest off-the-shelf electronic controls and mechanical com- ponents instead of building key systems from scratch like other companies, which we believe slows innovation." Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the company's mastery of packag- ing machinery design and manufacturing matured. Matrix engineers incorporated new and more flexible computerized product weighing systems, giving com- panies the ability to quickly and easily weigh different mixes of product to cre- ate variations on the same machine. By simply changing a few settings, for example, a packager could switch from trail mix featuring chocolate chips, raisins and peanuts to a mix with choco- late chips, cranberries and cashew nuts. Matrix machines evolved, becoming modular. Modularity enabled the compa- ny to optimize every machine for a cus- tomer's unique environment. Some things did not change, however, includ- ing the emphasis on highly productive machines that are easy to operate and have a low cost to maintain. In 2011, Matrix became part of ProMach, one of the world's largest pri- vately held integrated packaging machine companies. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, ProMach acquires innovative com- panies such as Matrix and helps them grow by providing financial, engineering and operational support. A little more than two years after becoming a product brand of ProMach, Matrix Packaging Machinery gained the exclusive rights in the United States to sell and service pre- made pouch filling and sealing machines from Toyo Jidoki, a Japanese company; pouch forming and filling equipment by FLtecnics; and INV Pack stickpack and sachet forming and filling machines. Both FLtecnics and INV Pack are based in Spain. Matrix is now a one-stop-shop for companies large and small that pack- age food, personal care or over-the- counter products in bags, pouches and sachets. "From our earliest days building machines in our garage to this interna- tional business employing more than 50 people, Dee, Marcel and I have always held to core values," Willden said. "At Painted Pumpkins for Everyone Bay Baby Produce Inc., a North American grower and leader in painted pumpkins, long stem ornamentals and winter organic squash, offers a vast array of Painted Pumpkin styles to fit every personality and decorating style. Bay Baby Produce began with just 30 acres of soil, and a vision of creating a family-owned farm around the whimsi- cal notion of giving pumpkins a person- ality. The original Pumpkin Patch Pals characters were designed and developed as fun characters and ambassadors to kids and young kids at heart for healthy eating and exercise. Bay Baby Produce now offers a vast line of painted pump- kins from fun personalities to many other unique and trendy home decor styles. Stop by booth #1435 to check out the Painted Pumpkin bestsellers: Silhouettes, Fun Faces, Pets, Skulls and more! Whatever your personality or deco- rating style, Bay Baby Produce has the perfect Painted Pumpkin just for you. About Bay Baby Produce Inc. Bay Baby Produce, a woman-owned business for over 30 years, is located in the Skagit Valley, B u r l i n g t o n , Washington. This area is one of the most fertile growing regions in North America. Bay Baby Produce's mission is to be a consistently reliable source for high quality painted pumpkins, long stem ornamentals, organic squash and value- added products grown on its farm. For more information, email sales@ baybabyproduce.com or stop by booth #1435. Matrix, we respect one another. We share the desire to deliver packaging machines that run effortlessly hour after hour with- out the hassles or expenses often found in this industry." Stop by the Matrix booth #2819 for a demo during the show or contact Matrix at matrix@promachbuilt.com for more information on packaging solutions. A-NIKS Comfort Systems Draw Customers A-NIKS is a complete provider of out- door comfort products. The company specializes in patio cooling, heating and commercial patio umbrellas, and was founded in Tampa, Florida in 2004 by Al and Deborah Erturk. A-NIKS utilizes state-of-the-art evaporative cooling technology for out- side patios and dining areas. It produces the Zone Pump Misting System, which forces water through a specialized Uni- Nozzle System for maximum efficiency and cooling. The company is the No. 1 Outdoor Comfort Company in America. The company now offers a variety of out- door comfort products. It provides out- door patio cooling systems with and without evaporative mist. It also offers heating systems for patios that are avail- able in electric, natural gas and propane (LPG). A-NIKS offers commercial umbrel- las for multiple brands and options. It is the only umbrella carrier offering a unit that, while open, can withstand winds up to 65 mph. This product, the Vortex Umbrella, is a high tensile, durable, com- mercial umbrella created for harsh envi- ronments. The Vortex has a stainless steel frame with a high-tension PVC canopy. The umbrella is ideal for use in areas where year-round cover is desirable, and also for use in exposed sites. The Vortex Umbrella has been tested to Wind Force 11. The company is expecting to see continued success with the introduction of the new CF (ceiling fan) series. The CF Series is designed to replace the tradi- tional ceiling fan that pushes hot air around with a contemporary designed cooling system that you may also add heat to; thus never having to swap it out or take up more design space than needed for one unit. The company looks for clients who understand the personal return on invest- ment value of keeping their outdoor areas as comfortable as their indoor areas. A-NIKS products draw customers in, and the quality of the product and durability builds confidence in the investment. That investment is well paid back with the ability to keep your out- door patio usable year round. For more information, call 877.966.2483 or go to www.aniks.com. Protect the Environment by Switching to Paper Straws You could wrap the earth 2.5 times per day with the amount of plastic straw usage in the United States, for a total of 500 million plastic straws used every day. Compostable PLA straws are designed to break down in compost facil- ity conditions, not sea water, leaving them a danger to marine life. Plastic straws and stirrers are one of the most prevalent items found in marine debris. Make the environmentally friendly switch to Hoffmaster's new compostable paper straws. Hoffmaster has gone the extra mile to ensure that these straws are FDA approved, certified compostable, uncoated, GMO free and BPA free. These new paper straws are available in black or white, wrapped or unwrapped. The straw wrapper is compostable, too. Each drinking straw is 7.75 inches, suitable for both hot and cold beverages, and will hold up in your drink. Hoffmaster is also showcasing a 5.5-inch black, unwrapped cocktail straw, and an 8.5-inch white or white and red stripe unwrapped giant straw. These straws will be available for purchase late May/early June. Seattle is banning plastic straws and utensils, effective starting in July. Davis, San Luis Obispo and Malibu, California are following suit, with Malibu's ban to take place in June. Restaurants in Florida and New York are implementing paper straws before a formal ban even takes place. With the increase of cities banning plastic straws, paper straws offer the per- fect solution. Help save marine life and sea birds and protect the environment by switching to paper straws. For more information, go to www .hoffmaster.com or call 800.327.9774.