Buffalo Business First: It’s an exciting time at Jamestown Plastics, thanks to a brand-new product line with a catchy name and an innovative design that continues this company’s reputation for excellence. Clamtainer is a game changer in the field of transparent “clamshell” packaging and a vast improvement over flimsy traditional methodologies. Retailers and consumers alike are buzzing about the seemingly endless list of uses for this engineering marvel — sturdy, reusable plastic packaging with a patented locking feature that allows for easy opening and closing and stays sealed under stress. “It’s the first thermoform package that you can open and close with just one hand,” explains Jay Baker, company president. “There is an endless list of applications for the Click it Clam. Customers that we’ve had for many years are adopting it for all different things, and then we have a variety of brand-new customers coming onboard. The sky’s the limit.” Customers have come to expect the latest and greatest in thermoforming and packaging from Jamestown Plastics, and the Clamtainer is no exception. This product raises the bar by offering what Baker calls “inherent superiority” over existing clamshell packaging — it’s durable, more secure and reclosable, with tamper-evident features that enhance its appeal to the end user. There are myriad applications for consumers, retailers, wholesalers and industrial customers, including clear clamshells for eyeglasses, golf tees, automotive, fresh fruits and vegetables, cosmetics, hobby supplies, storage of hardware fasteners, fishing lures and ammunition.The key is a patented lock-and-release mechanism that utilizes sheer strength instead of friction for functionality. Just think: Simply click it open or close it with one hand.No more cutting or tearing into the package.A unique look that sets your product apart from the competition.Ultra-sturdy and protective. “If you drop it, it won’t burst open on you,” Baker says. “The point is, we found that there’s a much better way to do packaging. This is a game changer.” Ingenuity is the name of the game at Jamestown Plastics, a custom manufacturer of thermoformed products and a recognized leader in the global packaging industry. Established in 1957, its humble roots have given way to a customer base that ranges from multi-national conglomerates all the way down to mom-and-pop stores. In 1986, the company outgrew its space in Jamestown and moved to a 100,000-square-foot plant in Brocton, N.Y. A second location is in Brownsville, Texas. Through decades of growth and expansion, however, the founding principles have endured: Provide superior customer service and commit to getting the job done right. “We’ve been doing packaging for almost 60 years,” says Baker, who as a teenager started working at the business owned by his father, James. “What we have here is a collection of extremely dedicated and talented people. We call it the Jamestown Plastics family and we mean it; we don’t say that lightly. We have some amazing people here in Brocton and in Texas and we treat them like family.” “Home-grown employees” who joined the company and have spent years learning the ins and outs of packaging are the backbone of the business, adds Ray Navarro, plant manager. “A key point about this company is that one-third of our workforce has been here 20-plus years. You don’t find that in many companies,” he points out. Baker is proud of the tight-knit culture at Jamestown Plastics, which takes great pride in a can-do attitude and commitment to quality. “I’m more than proud. It’s who we are,” he says. “We are a mission-focused company. It’s not just an inspirational phrase that you put on a wall and just sort of chuckle about. For us, it really means something.” Now, he predicts the Click it Clam will be an exciting “next generation” in the container and packaging industry. It’s the ultimate solution to what the market wants and needs, and goes hand in hand with environmentalists’ advocacy of the three R’s — Reduce, Reuse and Recyle. As Navarro says, “This is the only thermoformed package that hits a home run on all three of those.” Get Started
Heavy Gauge vs. Light Gauge Thermoforming Thermoforming is a versatile and cost-effective manufacturing method to create plastic parts and products. One key consideration in the process is choosing between heavy gauge and light gauge materials, which refer to the plastic sheet’s thickness. Both options have distinct benefits, contingent upon the specific project application and requirements. In this blog article, we will examine [...]
Medical Thermoforming Applications Thermoforming is a versatile manufacturing process that entails heating plastic sheets to a malleable state and then forming it with molds. Its significance in the medical field stems from its ability to produce cost-effective, lightweight, and disposable products that meet stringent quality requirements. Moreover, its accessibility, dependability, and efficacy make it indispensable for delivering safe [...]
What Is Thermoforming? Thermoforming transforms thermoplastics through a series of processes, including heat, vacuum, and pressure, applied to a plastic sheet material. It utilizes a variety of machines to produce plastic products, including high-speed in-line thermoforming lines with robotic automation, light-gauge roll-fed machines, and larger sheet-fed machines for heavy-gauge products. This process allows parts to be produced with lower [...]
Dunnage Trays: Protecting Products Every Step of the Way Click to Expand Dunnage or packaging trays are specialized containers used in the manufacturing and logistics industries to securely hold and transport products or components. They are made from materials like plastic or metal and are designed to protect items from damage during storage or transit. Moreover, their configuration often matches the form of the things [...]
Material Matters: Choosing the Right Medical Tray Plastic for Safety and Durability Click to Expand A medical tray serves a variety of purposes in healthcare settings, primarily in holding sterilized parts and equipment. It is also used for organizing and transporting medical instruments or facilitating efficient workflows during medical procedures. A medical tray plastic is a specialized material used to manufacture these trays. This blog discusses the types of [...]
Industries Leveraging Custom Plastic Thermoforming Plastic thermoforming has become increasingly popular as a top manufacturing process in various industries. Using heat and pressure to shape plastic sheet into proper forms provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for product manufacturing. Moreover, it presents numerous benefits over alternative manufacturing methods, including decreased tooling costs and improved material efficiency. Here are some of the [...]
Understanding the Plastic Manufacturing Process Click to Expand Plastic is a versatile material that can be molded into a wide range of shapes and sizes, making it ideal for various applications. From food packaging and containers to medical equipment and car parts, plastic manufacturing plays a crucial role in the production of items. The process begins with the selection of raw [...]
The Ultimate Guide to Plastic ManufacturingIn the plastics industry, each polymer option presents unique mechanical characteristics. As a result, it is possible to fabricate almost anything with every material, and most plastic manufacturing processes cover a vast array of product development requirements. In […]
Clamshells vs. Blisters Packaging is often the first point of contact between a customer and a product. As such, it can impact consumer perceptions. Therefore, choosing the most suitable type of packaging that protects the product and conveys the brand’s message effectively is essential. Clamshells and blisters are two popular packaging types that can provide various benefits, from [...]
Electronics Thermoforming Applications While the origin of thermoforming can be traced back to the 19th Century, it was the mid-20th century when it was first introduced to the electronics sector. The process entails heating plastic sheet and shaping it into a specific form to manufacture various electronic products or packaging for those products. This approach has revolutionized the [...]
Reshoring and Nearshoring In recent years, global supply chains have encountered challenges such as trade conflicts, political volatility, natural calamities, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, numerous companies in the United States have had to reconsider their supply chain approaches. For instance, some are halting decades of outsourcing and offshoring by bringing their production back home or closer to [...]
Automotive Thermoforming Applications As the automotive industry continues to evolve, the need for fuel-efficient and lightweight vehicles has grown exponentially. This has led to a renewed interest in thermoforming, a technique that has existed since the 1940s. It is the process of producing parts by heating thermoplastic sheet material until it becomes pliable, then forming it into a [...]
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: How to Incorporate the 3R’s Into Any Business That Deals With Plastics There is a lot of plastic in the world, with 31.9 million metric tons of plastic waste being improperly disposed of globally. Luckily, green packaging is making an indent in our society, but until it’s fully implemented, it is important to do the most we can, at both a manufacturer and consumer level, to reduce [...]
Thermoforming 101: The Process That’s Revolutionizing Product DesignThermoforming is a manufacturing process that shapes plastic sheet into specific forms using heat and pressure. It is commonly employed to produce various products, such as packaging, trays, containers, and automotive components. This method offers cost-effectiveness, rapid production cycles, and the ability to easily create complex shapes. What is thermoforming? In this article, we will answer [...]
Why Thermoforming Could Be The Best Choice For Manufacturing Your Product Click to ExpandThis blog will cover the basics of thermoforming and how it helps different industries stay on top of the market with its practical and financial benefits. What Is Thermoforming? Thermoforming transforms plastic sheet into a 3-dimensional shape using heat, vacuum, and pressure. In this process, plastic is heated to its softening point and then [...]
Choosing the Right Plastic Products Manufacturing Partner Click to ExpandPlastic is one of the most preferred manufacturing materials due to its durability and ductility, with different components used in the medical, automotive, electrical, aerospace, marine, and construction industries. In particular, the plastic thermoforming process has upsides over other plastic, metal, and FRP manufacturing techniques, including low tooling costs and faster product development. Establishing [...]
Why Plastic Medical Trays Are Essential for Safe and Sterile Procedures Click to Expand Plastic medical trays are often used in healthcare settings to assist in keeping those areas contamination-free. These trays can also be used for organizing and sterilizing healthcare instruments and equipment, transporting medications and supplies, for specimen collection (providing a clean and secure environment for handling biological samples), or found within labs. Plastic medical [...]
Unlocking the Future of Design With Plastic Thermoforming Techniques Thermoforming is a manufacturing process employed to shape thermoplastic sheet into specific designs. This method involves heating plastic sheet until it becomes pliable, then forming it over or into a mold to achieve the desired shape. Its versatility and efficiency make it a preferred choice for creating products ranging from disposable containers to intricate parts [...]
