ITW Muller Document - Sponsored Whitepaper

Hensley Beverage Company Saves Time and Money with Efficient Stretch Wrap Process

Servicing 8000 accounts state-wide and wrapping nearly 1200 loads per day, Hensley Beverage Company is Arizona's largest beverage distributor. With area restaurants, bars, retail and grocery stores dependent on deliveries of beverage products in excellent condition for thirsty customers, Hensley Beverage Company has to have a virtually seamless operation. Opened in 1955, by Jim Hensley, the company started with 11 employees. With 675 employees today and help from key partners, the company has grown significantly and perfected the distribution process.

Hensley Beverage Company has 4 facilities throughout Arizona with the hub of the Hensley Beverage Company operation in Phoenix. The company distributes exclusively for Anheuser Busch as well as a variety of beverage brands from craft beers, wines and spirits, to energy drinks, teas and everything in between. Therefore, Hensley Beverage Company must continuously look to its suppliers to help maximize efficiency and maintain product integrity.

With different products come different challenges. The manufacturer of both stretch wrap equipment and film is uniquely positioned to provide diverse solutions to its customers' most unique packaging challenges. For example, a common challenge; oddly shaped loads, ones encompassing several different products, sizes and packaging, require different film tension.

By applying just the right amount of tension at various points on the load, manufacturers can rest-assured that they are reducing product damage while simultaneously lowering film costs. Instead of operating with a singular tension setting, variable tension control allows for increased tension at locations on the load that require extra hold (the base of a sturdy box) and lighter tension where reduced force is beneficial (sharp corners, the top of an open box). With the continuing changes in primary packaging design, it is crucial to have a system that offers flexibility and variability in order to optimize the stretch wrapping function.