Echo360, a provider of blended learning and lecturecapture solutions for the higher education market, recently launched the echosystem safecapture hd recording unit, a product designed to extend the boundaries of highereducation learning by digitally capturing, managing, and publishing classroom content in audio, video, and multimedia formats.
Students can access recorded course content from their computers, ipads, and mobile devices at any time and from anywhere. The highperformance capabilities of the echosystem called for equally highperformance packaging that could deliver protection, costeffectiveness, and sustainability. Echo360 turned to plexus, a global company based in neenah, wi, with expertise in the electronics manufacturing services industry to manufacture the product, as well as specify packaging for the unit. Plexus enlisted the expertise of packaging partner great northern corp.
To design and manufacture a package for shipping the echosystem. Located in nearby appleton, wi, great northern had worked successfully with plexus on other projects, using its background in designing, manufacturing, and distributing packaging solutions and pointofsale display programs for industrial, commercial, and retail products. &ldquoplexus presented us with the challenge and opportunity to develop packaging that would not only protect the sensitive digital equipment but also do so in a costeffective manner and with a positive environmental footprint,&rdquo says great northern custom packaging sales manager dan stubing.
Great northern&rsquos solution a custom package that combines the recyclability of green cell foam® cornstarchbased protective packaging from ktm industries, with the strength and sustainability of heavyduty corrugate that is both recycled and recyclable. The end result is a packaging option that meets the biodegradability standards of astm d 640004, and delivers the antistatic, shock, and vibration protection required by the product. Shipping global and green echo360 safecapture hd units are shipped around the world via standard carrier ups and fedex in either singlepack cartons or in overpack cartons that hold three to five primary packs.
The units are cushioned inside the boxes by customcut lengths of green cell foam. Included with each unit is an ac power cord, mounting brackets, adapters, and an instruction pamphlet. The singleunit weight is 11.5 lb, with a total packout weight of 15 lb. The combination of great northern&rsquos sturdy corrugated combined with customcut green cell foam delivers the kind of multipleimpact resistance that is needed to protect shipments throughout not only the u.s. And canada, but also to europe, australia, and new zealand.
Great northern ensures performance capabilities in its certified ista testing facilities. &ldquothe green cell foam packaging from great northern provides echo360 with a biodegradable, compostable package that is pricecompetitive and meets our protection requirements,&rdquo says kevin mayo, echo360&rsquos director of product management. &ldquothe packaging successfully protects our sensitive electronic products, and we have shipped hundreds of units worldwide with no failure of the packaging material.&rdquo the use of green cell foam also avoids the tariffs some countries charge on packaging with materials such as expanded polystyrene and polyethylene foam.
Among the other advantages of the material are the following &bull antistatic and a natural desiccant, making it a perfect fit for electronics &bull made from nongmo cornstarch and certified as biobased product by the usda &bull appeals to the green initiatives and requirements that are common among the target market of colleges and universities &bull passes the class a surface abrasion test, ensuring it will not scratch or mar the unit surface &ldquodeveloping green packaging is something that is becoming desired in today&rsquos packaging industry, but doing so in a costeffective manner and without sacrificing high performance takes expertise,&rdquo says stubing. &ldquothe packaging we developed for echo360 shows great northern&rsquos ability to meet all three requirements price, planet, and performance.&rdquo
