News

COM-PAC ANNOUNCES NEW SHIPPING CONTAINERS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR EBOLA AND ENTEROVIRUS

October 24, 2014

Com-Pac International, Inc., a leader in the design and manufacture of Com-Pac International has manufactured laboratory specimen handling, storage and shipping products for over 25 years.  Due to the recent Ebola and Enterovirus outbreaks, Com-Pac has added several new specimen handling products designed specifically around the recently provided guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) relating to packaging and shipping these viruses.  We have attached the two documents from the CDC which provide this guidance.

Specifically, Ebola specimens must be shipped as an “Infectious Substance, Affecting Humans, Category A,” and is assigned UN 2814.  Further, the CDC has specified that specimens should be shipped either frozen or refrigerated at 2ºC – 8ºC.

Enterovirus specimens should be shipped as a “Biological Substance, Category B,” and is assigned UN 3373.  The CDC has specified that these specimens should be shipped frozen on dry ice.

The above Categories (either A or B) which have been assigned to these substances determines the packaging requirements for each type and is regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT in the U.S. and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) internationally.  You and your employer can be subject to fines and penalties if the packaging regulations are not followed.

All of Com-Pac’s shippers designated for use with Category A and Category B specimens have been tested and certified to comply with the UN 6.2 Dangerous Goods Regulations, 49 CFR D.O.T. regulations for air and ground shipments and IATA Packaging Instructions 620 and 650.  Each of our shippers comes complete with all required absorbents, labels and labeling instructions, and shipping declarations.

Com-Pac’s new INFECON^® 6200 is comprised of a ½ liter UN certified vessel, bubble wrap, and a carton with the required UN markings to contain the vessel.  This vessel will hold up to 6 standard blood tubes.  The vessel in its carton is to be placed in the overpack cooler which is also provided, with refrigerated gel packs or dry ice if you are shipping Ebola, or dry ice if you are shipping Enterovirus.

The INFECON^® 6300 is identical to the 6200 except the UN certified vessel has a 1 liter capacity and will hold up to 20 standard blood tubes.

It is important to follow all required labeling instructions, but particular attention should be given to the following:

• When shipping Ebola (a Category A specimen), the Infectious Substance label must be affixed to the outside of the cooler, whether or not you are shipping on dry ice or with gel packs;
• If you are shipping Ebola on dry ice, you must additionally affix the dry ice label to the outside of the cooler;
• When shipping Enterovirus (a Category B specimen), you must not affix the Infectious Substance label to the cooler, but you must affix the dry ice label to the cooler.

It should also be noted on the attached Ebola Guidance Sheet that the CDC reminds healthcare workers that 29 CFR 1910.1030 “requires that specimens should be placed is a durable, leak-proof secondary container for transport in a facility.”  The typical bio-hazard bag is not guaranteed leak-proof.  However, Com-Pac’s line of Bitran^® and Infecon^® resealable specimen bags have been independently tested under regulations specifying the definition of “leak-proof” and comply with all such requirements.

On page 2 of the attached brochure, you will find information on each of these specimen bag lines, as well as the new Bitran^® Bubble Pouch Bags which combine the leak-proof capability of our Bitran^® Bags with a compartmented bubble pouch for safe and convenient handling of specimens within the facility.  We have also provided several helpful links to websites which address regulations on specimen handling and shipping.

Remember that all of the components of our shippers may be purchased separately for refurbishment and re-use.  We also specialize in custom bag sizes, printing, sequential barcoding and offer hundreds of other specimen handling and shipping products.  All of our products are manufactured in Carbondale, Illinois USA.

Pack Expo 2014 Nov. 2nd to the 5th McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.

October 18, 2014 – Carbondale, IL – Com-Pac International, Inc., a leader in the design and manufacture of reclosable packaging solutions, will be exhibiting at Pack Expo 2014 this November 2^nd through 5^th, at McCormick Place in Chicago.  Visit us at Booth #E-8141 (Lakeside Upper Hall) as our capable team will be available to answer questions and discuss the latest developments in the company’s extensive list of products and capabilities.

This year, Com-Pac will be exhibiting our Integra® RTR-1000 Pre-Applied Zipper Application System.  This system applies zipper to packaging rollstock, creates a tamper-evident opening perforation, and rewinds the zippered film for use on VFFS and HFFS baggers.

Com-Pac’s Integra BP-I is s backpack zipper application system which mounts directly to your VFFS bagger and applies the zipper to your film web just before the film travels down the fill tube.

Com-Pac will also be demonstrating our new Fresh-Zip® Zipper-Tape being applied to package film on a Pacmac 9500 VFFS bagger.  Our patent-pending design provides twice the product-side opening force for products such as frozen poultry, fresh-cut vegetables, sugar and many other IQF products.

Com-Pac will placing special focus on our Zip-Right^® brand of resealable zipper products suitable use with almost every zipper application system for a wide range of bags and pouches.  Products to be displayed include:

• Stand-up Pouch Zippers – 10mm and 20mm ribbed and non-ribbed zippers for cost-effective, high-speed zipper application on all laminated substrates typically used to make stand-up pouches for pet treats, candy, dried-fruit, nuts, and jerky.
• Liquid, Air and Vacuum-tight Zippers – Super high integrity zipper for all barrier applications with extraordinary internal opening force, yet easy to open from the outside.
• Double Zippers – Consumer-friendly double lock design to enhance tactile feedback when closing with added assurance of positive closure.
• Horizontal and Vertical FFS Zippers – Economical single and double flanged for use on all HFFS and VFFS baggers designed to maintain maximum product freshness and easy clean-out of profile closure.
• String Zippers – Low cost zippers compatible with all in-line zipper application units offering easy-to-crush material for faster cycle speeds and improved side-seal appearance and performance.
• Biodegradable Zippers – Made with patented TDPA^® are 100% degradable within 12 – 24 months when disposed of in a landfill or soil in the presence of oxygen, heat and stress.  Complies with ASTM D6954-04.
• Inno-Lok^® Zippers – Liquid and air-tight zippers designed specifically for Inno-Lok pre-zippered applicators offers easy crushing and efficient sealing speeds.

Com-Pac International’s zipper rollstock is compatible with nearly all zipper application systems including Totani, Zip-Pak, Sunshine, Waterline, Hayssen, Bartelt, Bosch, Triangle, Ro-an, Hudson-Sharp, Park-Air, RD, Mamata and others.

While our competitors may offer their standard zipper profiles, Com-Pac specializes in custom-made zippers designed for your specific application using profile dies which are cut on our in-house wire EDM equipment and manufactured on our state-of-the-art profile extruders…..and all of our products are manufactured in the U.S.A.

Com-Pac resealable zippers can be manufactured in any PMS color desired and we offer a zipper spool recycling program to help reduce your environmental impact.

Be sure to stop by Booth #E-8141 and see the many packages which use Com-Pac zipper and pick-up some samples for yourself!

Plant Schedule Update

December 6, 2013

Status as of 3:30 am, 12/06/13 – All workers on 1st shift Friday should report for work as scheduled.

American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Annual Meeting and Clinical Lab Expo in Houston on July 28th through August 01st, 2013

June 6, 2013

June 06, 2013 – Com-Pac International personnel have been invited to exhibit our line of specimen bags and specimen shipping products at the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Annual Meeting and Clinical Lab Expo in Houston on July 28^th through August 01^st, 2013.  Products to be displayed include:

• Bitran^®series of resealable, leakproof specimen bags used for short-term transport and long-term storage of lab specimens.
• Infecon^®specimen shippers used for shipping all types of infectious and diagnostic specimens (including category A and B substances).  Each shipper meets the appropriate 49 CFR/ICAO/IATA shipping regulations and instructions for both air and ground shipments.
• Saf-T-Zip^®customizable specimen bags with the E-Z Tear opening feature, sequential barcoding and write-on block.  Available with a 50 ml absorbent pre-inserted in each bag.
• Inspex^® 95kPa specimen bags designed for transporting specimens which must withstand a maximum pressure differential of 95 kPa.  The tamper-proof adhesive closure protects specimens down to –40° F.

New this year is our Saf-T-Zip Antimicrobial Specimen Bag and our Saf-T-Zip Biodegradable Specimen Bag.  Com-Pac’s new Saf-T-Zip Antimicrobial Specimen Bags help maintain hygiene and prevent infection in today’s most critical healthcare environments such as hospitals, clinical and research labs, environmental testing labs and nursing homes.  They’re safe, convenient and the material is FDA approved.

Our Saf-T-Zip Biodegradable Specimen Bag helps hospitals, labs and other healthcare facilities reduce their environmental impact when they dispose of specimen bags.  Both the zipper as well as the bag material are made from Enso^® resin which meets the tough ASTM-6400 for biodegradability in all 50 states.

All our Saf-T-Zip specimen bags are available with custom printing, thickness, sequential barcodes, the E-Z Tear opening feature and 50ml absorbents already in the bag.

United Fresh 2013 May 15 – 16, at the San Diego Convention Center

April 1, 2013

April 15, 2013 – Carbondale, IL – Com-Pac International, Inc., a leader in the design and manufacture of reclosable packaging solutions, will be exhibiting at United Fresh 2013 this May 15 – 16, at the San Diego Convention Center.  Visit us at Booth #942 as our capable team will be available to answer questions and discuss the latest developments in the company’s extensive list of products and capabilities.

This year, Com-Pac will placing special focus on our Zip-Right^® brand of resealable zipper products suitable use with almost every zipper application system for a wide range of bags and pouches.  Products to be displayed include:

• Horizontal and Vertical FFS Zippers – Economical single and double flanged for use on all HFFS and VFFS baggers designed to maintain maximum product freshness and easy clean-out of profile closure.
• Stand-up Pouch Zippers – 10mm and 20mm ribbed and non-ribbed zippers for cost-effective, high-speed zipper application on all laminated substrates typically used to make stand-up pouches for pet treats, candy, dried-fruit, nuts, and jerky.
• Fresh-Cap Zipper Tape – Specially designed for Pac-Mac VFFS baggers, our new one-piece design provides superior internal closure strength with easy consumer opening and re-closing.
• Double Zippers – Consumer-friendly double lock design to enhance tactile feedback when closing with added assurance of positive closure.
• String Zippers – Low cost zippers compatible with all in-line zipper application units offering easy-to-crush material for faster cycle speeds and improved side-seal appearance and performance.
• Biodegradable Zippers – Made with patented TDPA^® are 100% degradable within 12 – 24 months when disposed of in a landfill or soil in the presence of oxygen, heat and stress.  Complies with ASTM D6954-04.
• Inno-Lok^® Zippers – Liquid and air-tight zippers designed specifically for Inno-Lok pre-zippered applicators offers easy crushing and efficient sealing speeds.

Com-Pac International’s zipper rollstock is compatible with nearly all zipper application systems including Pac-Mac, Totani, Zip-Pak, Sunshine, Waterline, Hayssen, Bartelt, Bosch, Triangle, Ro-an, Hudson-Sharp, Park-Air, RD, Mamata and others.

While our competitors may offer their standard zipper profiles, Com-Pac specializes in custom-made zippers designed for your specific application using profile dies which are cut on our in-house wire EDM equipment and manufactured on our state-of-the-art profile extruders…..and all of our products are manufactured in the U.S.A.

Com-Pac resealable zippers can be manufactured in any PMS color desired and we offer a zipper spool recycling program to help reduce your environmental impact.

Be sure to stop by Booth #942 and see the many packages which use Com-Pac zipper and pick-up some samples for yourself!

ThermoFisher Scientific National Sales Meeting in Tampa on February 12th and 13th.

February 1, 2013

January 27, 2013 – Com-Pac International personnel have been invited to exhibit our line of specimen bags and specimen shipping products at the ThermoFisher Scientific National Sales Meeting in Tampa on February 12^th and 13^th.  Products to be displayed include:

• Bitran^®series of resealable, leakproof specimen bags used for short-term transport and long-term storage of lab specimens.
• Infecon^®specimen shippers used for shipping all types of infectious and diagnostic specimens (including category A and B substances).  Each shipper meets the appropriate 49 CFR/ICAO/IATA shipping regulations and instructions for both air and ground shipments.
• Saf-T-Zip^®customizable specimen bags with the E-Z Tear opening feature, sequential barcoding and write-on block.  Available with a 50 ml absorbent pre-inserted in each bag.
• Inspex^® 95kPa specimen bags designed for transporting specimens which must withstand a maximum pressure differential of 95 kPa.  The tamper-proof adhesive closure protects specimens down to –40° F.

New this year is our Saf-T-Zip Antimicrobial Specimen Bag.  Com-Pac’s new Saf-T-Zip Antimicrobial Specimen Bags help maintain hygiene and prevent infection in today’s most critical healthcare environments such as hospitals, clinical and research labs, environmental testing labs and nursing homes.  They’re safe, convenient and the material is FDA approved.

All our Saf-T-Zip specimen bags are available with custom printing, thickness, sequential barcodes, the E-Z Tear opening feature and 50ml absorbents already in the bag.

——————————————————————————————————–

January 02, 2013 – Hospital, healthcare and laboratory environments are breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses, fungi and algae contamination.  Microbes such as these can cause illness, infection, odor, staining and other contaminating effects within these critical environments.

As part of our on-going activities to provide the most comprehensive solutions for specimen packaging, shipping and storage Com-Pac International has just introduced our all-new Saf-T-Zip^® Antimicrobial Specimen Bag.  Com-Pac’s new Saf-T-Zip Antimicrobial Specimen Bags help maintain hygiene and prevent infection and contamination in hospitals, clinical and research labs, environmental testing labs and nursing homes.  They’re safe, convenient and the material is FDA approved.

Many common bacteria which our antimicrobial specimen bags controls or prevents includes*:

Escherichia coli                                     Staphylococcus aureus

Streptococcus faecalis                          Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Bacillus subtilis                                     Candida Albicans

Aspergillus Niger                                   Trichoderma viride

Chetomium globosum                           Cladosporium herbarum

Penicillium citrinum                                Rhodotorula giutinis

*Please contact us for a complete list.

All of our Saf-T-Zip specimen bags are available with custom printing, thickness, sequential barcodes, the E-Z Tear opening feature and 50ml absorbents already in the bag.

AAOMS & Zip-N-Squeeze®

August 30, 2012

Com-Pac International, Inc., the manufacturer of Zip-N Squeeze® resealable feeding bags for patients recovering from maxillofacial, oral and other procedures which make the normal means for eating and drinking difficult, will be exhibiting at the 94th Annual Meeting and Exhibition of The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons this September 10th through 15th, at The San Diego Convention Center. Visit us at Booth #355 as our capable team will be handing out samples and answering questions about these innovative, convenient and economical feeding bags and accessories.

Using Com-Pac’s patented leakproof, resealable zipper technology, Zip-N Squeeze is the simple solution to the challenges of hydration and nutrition of patients recovering from oral procedures. Post-operative swelling and pain make adequate nutrition and maintaining good oral hygiene challenging. The new Zip-N Squeeze helps to reduce recovery time and discomfort by providing an easy to use delivery system for liquid nutrition and rinses.

Here’s what the patients who have used Zip-N Squeeze told us:

“They are so easy to use, I don’t know how I would have gotten along without them.”

“I was able to get more fluids in faster and be satisfied quicker.”

“The syringe was so difficult to use, especially because I didn’t feel well. When I got the Zip-N-Squeeze, it was the answer to my prayers, it’s so easy and works so well.”

“The Zip-N-Squeeze was so easy and held so much, the syringe was too much work and only held two tablespoons.”

“Everyone should be able to use these bags. They made such a difference in my recovery!”

“Thank you for inventing such a wonderful and useful product.”

And here’s what their doctors told us:

“All orthognathic patients would benefit from this product.”

“All our patients are to receive Zip-N-Squeeze kits before discharge. We’ve found them to make a real difference in their recovery. Patients actually take in more fluids because it’s so easy to use.”

“These bags definitely make hydration easier.”

There is a Zip-N Squeeze product for your every need:

• Zip-N Squeeze feeding bags for liquids
• Zip-N Squeeze feeding bags for pureed foods
• Zip-N Squeeze Patient Discharge Kit and Deluxe Patient Discharge Kit for doctors’ offices and hospitals
• Zip-N Squeeze “Dinner Through a Straw” recipe book

Be sure to stop by Booth #355 and see the complete Zip-N Squeeze product line and pick-up some samples for yourself!

Interested in purchasing Zip-N-Squeeze products? Visit our Zip-N-Squeeze catalog page here for more information or simply call 800-824-0817.

Pack Expo October 28-31 McCormick Place Chicago, IL

July 9, 2012

Com-Pac International, Inc., a leader in the design and manufacture of reclosable packaging solutions, will be exhibiting at Pack Expo 2012 this October 28^th through 31^st, at McCormick Place in Chicago.  Visit us at Booth #8422 (Lakeside Upper Hall) as our capable team will be available to answer questions and discuss the latest developments in the company’s extensive list of products and capabilities.

This year, Com-Pac will placing special focus on our Zip-Right^® brand of resealable zipper products suitable use with almost every zipper application system for a wide range of bags and pouches.  Products to be displayed include:

• Stand-up Pouch Zippers – 10mm and 20mm ribbed and non-ribbed zippers for cost-effective, high-speed zipper application on all laminated substrates typically used to make stand-up pouches for pet treats, candy, dried-fruit, nuts, and jerky.
• Liquid, Air and Vacuum-tight Zippers – Super high integrity zipper for all barrier applications with extraordinary internal opening force, yet easy to open from the outside.
• Double Zippers – Consumer-friendly double lock design to enhance tactile feedback when closing with added assurance of positive closure.
• Horizontal and Vertical FFS Zippers – Economical single and double flanged for use on all HFFS and VFFS baggers designed to maintain maximum product freshness and easy clean-out of profile closure.
• String Zippers – Low cost zippers compatible with all in-line zipper application units offering easy-to-crush material for faster cycle speeds and improved side-seal appearance and performance.
• Biodegradable Zippers – Made with patented TDPA^® are 100% degradable within 12 – 24 months when disposed of in a landfill or soil in the presence of oxygen, heat and stress.  Complies with ASTM D6954-04.
• Inno-Lok^® Zippers – Liquid and air-tight zippers designed specifically for Inno-Lok pre-zippered applicators offers easy crushing and efficient sealing speeds.

Com-Pac International’s zipper rollstock is compatible with nearly all zipper application systems including Totani, Zip-Pak, Sunshine, Waterline, Hayssen, Bartelt, Bosch, Triangle, Ro-an, Hudson-Sharp, Park-Air, RD, Mamata and others.

While our competitors may offer their standard zipper profiles, Com-Pac specializes in custom-made zippers designed for your specific application using profile dies which are cut on our in-house wire EDM equipment and manufactured on our state-of-the-art profile extruders…..and all of our products are manufactured in the U.S.A.

Com-Pac resealable zippers can be manufactured in any PMS color desired and we offer a zipper spool recycling program to help reduce your environmental impact.

Be sure to stop by Booth #8422 and see the many packages which use Com-Pac zipper and pick-up some samples for yourself!

Com-Pac International Steps up Medical Packaging Production!

May 18, 2012

LOOK for Com-Pac International on the following dates:

May 15, 2012

May 29^th at SIU Edwardsville at Science Bldg Foyer

May 30^th at SIU Carbondale at Necker’s Hall Foyer

May 31^st at Saint Louis University Medical School Campus Learning Resource Center

Rooms, 110-113

The time for all three shows is 10:00-2:00

Fisher Scientific sponsors these shows. Attendees will be Research Department level medical personnel.

Cardinal Health National Sales Meeting in Orlando August 14th through 17th 2012

May 3, 2012

Com-Pac International personnel has been invited to exhibit our line of specimen bags and specimen shipping products at the Cardinal Health National Sales Meeting in Orlando  August 14^th through 17^th.  Products to be displayed include:

• Bitran^®series of resealable, leakproof specimen bags used for short-term transport and long-term storage of lab specimens.
• Infecon^®specimen shippers used for shipping all types of infectious and diagnostic specimens (including category A and B substances).  Each shipper meets the appropriate 49 CFR/ICAO/IATA shipping regulations and instructions for both air and ground shipments.
• Saf-T-Zip^®customizable specimen bags with the E-Z Tear opening feature, sequential barcoding and write-on block.  Available with a 50 ml absorbent pre-inserted in each bag.
• Inspex^® 95kPa specimen bags designed for transporting specimens which must withstand a maximum pressure differential of 95 kPa.  The tamper-proof adhesive closure protects specimens down to –40° F.

Contract Packaging at Com-Pac International

Looking for turn-key contract packaging services to quickly and cost-effectively package your products for you?  Com-Pac International can handle high volumes and tight deadlines.  Our contract packaging services include auto-bagging, shrink-wrapping, coupon inserting, sorting, kit assembly, variety packing and other packaging services.  Because Com-Pac manufactures most of the packaging materials which may be used for your contract packaging program, you can be assured of a top quality presentation to your customer.

Here are just a few examples of the contract packaging and fulfillment programs we have conducted recently:

• Infant nursing products, coupon and product brochure sealed into printed poly bags for new moms departing the hospital
• Dessicant materials loaded and sealed into dispenser bags for use in spray painting operations
• Small components inserted into printed header bags for retail sale
• Shrink wrapping retail cartons in shelf-display trays for consumer purchase at big box retailers

Com-Pac International is an FDA registered device manufacturing and contract packaging facility giving you confidence that your products will be handled with the utmost in professionalism, cleanliness and accuracy.  Let us tailor a unique solution for your individual brands’ customized packaging and shipping requirements today.

Contact us at 1-800-824-0817 for high-speed contract packaging services to get your products to market.