Born from thoughtful determination to address the global issue of pollutants and chemicals harmful to our atmosphere, Airopack’s ground-breaking solution, an aerosol driven purely by air, has elevated into the forefront of the industry with a clean design, advanced technology and environmental benefits. Airopack Technology Group is driven by The Kelders Group, which has been innovating since the 1970s.
Packaging Europe was given special access to the company’s state-of-the-art and impressive facility and headquarters based in Waalwijk, The Netherlands, which outlines Airopack’s status as a forward-thinking company. Two members of the dedicated Airopack team: Quint Kelders, CEO (and lead motivator), and Sandy Goes, marketing and communications manager, discuss the accomplishment of the new facilities, which will support the company on the cusp of further major expansion.
It is apparent that a strong ethos runs deep throughout the DNA of Airopack. Quint Kelders, alongside Airopack’s staff, carries on the Kelders Group’s passion for innovation, in an open and responsible manner. A sustainable focus runs throughout the core of the company’s solutions, is entrenched in the daily operations of the facility, and is shared globally with its planet friendly product.
Purposeful progression
The 18 000m2 modern facility has the capacity to initially produce 80 million Airopack units per year.
Mr Kelders is proud to share, “We built this manufacturing facility in 168 days. It has been validated and operational with full production since the week of November 28th 2016. This is a fully integrated manufacturing site from cradle to cradle.”
It features a fully automated production process of PET resin handling, assembly of RTF Parts, as well as automatic warehouse storage. It is here that Airopack will manufacture the many different sizes and volumes of Airopacks, in strict accordance with the highest quality and performance standards.
The company has the ambition and capability to meet an anticipated rise in demand and will be implementing its plans of producing 160 000 000 Airopack’s per year, provisionally scheduled for the second half of 2017, essentially doubling its capacity.
Attention to detail
Sustainability is not only important in the packaging itself on offer, but also in this plant. For example, all production waste is recycled, either back into its manufacturing process, or into another production stream. The plant is also strategically positioned next to a river which it uses to provide clean energy for operations.
A sleek and imaginative design of the facility reflects the surrounding Dutch vista, with indoor vantage points (punctuated by model cows grazing on grass) overlooking the productive floor below.
The R&D department is positioned at the heart of the facility, as it is in the company. Mr Kelders underlines, “Our research and development has been operational for more than 25 years, initiated by my parents. Innovation is what we are, and what we do.” Ultimately, this has led to the Airopack engineer’s commitment in developing the new planet friendly aerosol, together with global customers.
Good for you and good for our planet
Airopack contains no propellants, just the cream, lotion or spray and pure, clean air. Its unique pressure control device is a far superior delivery system to petrol propellants or pumps. All of the content is used resulting in zero waste, as Mr Kelders highlights, “From the first to the last drop”.
He continues, “Our patented technology is able to continuously maintain the same pressure and controlled dispensing around the globe, regardless of the environment or atmospherical pressure. It provides a smooth, uniterrupted flow from the ski resorts in the Alps, to the deserts in Africa.”
Airopack requires fewer raw materials in manufacture, and consumes less energy in production and transportation. Sandy Goes explains, “This results in much lower CO2 emissions. Each transparent Airopack container is created from transparent plastics only, which in turn makes every Airopack aerosol completely different from any other aerosol system. The CO2 emissions can be reduced by as much as 32 per cent compared to common aluminum aerosol cans.”
A broad range of applicators and nozzles have been purposely designed for every kind of aerosol application and content. Whether it's a fine particulate spray or a rich, viscous cream. “Airopack is not a pump spray. There is no priming or stop/ start delivery, just as much or as little of the spray, cream or gel as the user requires,” Sandy Goes shares.
From home to health, hair and beauty to food and pharmaceutical, Airopack offers a packaging alternative for almost every product that would be dispensed by an HFC butane or propane powered aerosol.
Extending reach
Mr Kelders poses the question. “So what is next?
“We will of course focus on expanding our reach within the aerosol indsutry by offering our replacement solution, and we also aim to implement our pressure control device technology into a broader range of applications. We will be introducing new launches to the market later this year.”
Airopack has certainly cemented its status as a forward-thinking company in 2017 with its new facilities and innovative technology, and is set on a winning course to disrupt the aerosol market further. With a new focus on widening applications, and supported by the upgrade in facilities: it’s time for Airopack.
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