A.R. Arena Products Inc. Extends Container Pooling Service To Meat, Produce, And Dairy Markets
Rochester, NY - A.R. Arena Products Inc., which launched the reusable plastic container (RPC) pooling business in North America, is extending its popular fleet service to the meat, produce, and dairy markets, it was announced recently.
The company has been in the RPC pooling service business since 1993, successfully meeting USDA and other requirements for cleaning containers that come into direct contact with food, pharmaceuticals, and health and beauty aid products.
"We have built our expertise on our long history of successfully managing all the components involved in pooling, including effective asset management and stringent cleaning requirements, for containers that come into direct contact with food," said Mike Brunhuber, vice president of Arena Products. "Because there is a great deal of demand for this service and a shortage of companies with strong credentials in logistics management and washing of RPCs, we are seizing on the opportunity to grow our business. "
Arena Products launched Arena Fleet Services (AFS), the first reusable plastic container pooling business in North America, in 1993. AFS was established by Arena to better service customers using its Arena 330 Shipper (an intermediate bulk liquid shipping container) and to eliminate two common barriers to conversion from one-way containers to reusable:
- Capital appropriation for reusable containers; and
- Container management including tracking and control, cleaning, reverse logistics, and maintenance.
Later, the business was expanded to include service for the company's Atlas 640 Cheese Shipper. This expansion required development and investment in a state-of-the-art washing line subject to the approval of the USDA. The expanded Arena Fleet Services will support any reusable container, not just those manufactured by Arena. Available services include term rental, trip lease, container tracking and control, cleaning and maintenance, and reverse logistics.
In addition to its years of experience, Arena brings another competitive edge to the business. The company has created a sophisticated software tracking application to make sure that containers are always clean and available to customers when they need them.
"Customers demand a ready supply of clean, damage-free containers to meet their ever changing production requirements on a Just-in-Time basis," emphasized Brunhuber. "We applied our 15 years of experience in the pooling business to create state-of-the-art tracking software that analyzes all the components of the distribution cycle, and allows us to identify any roadblocks. As a result, we can provide customers with a successful reusable container program that keeps asset utilization high and attrition low. "
Arena currently has washing centers and depots in the Midwest. Plans are under way to open additional service centers in areas closest to customers in order to minimize freight charges.
SOURCE: A.R. Arena Products Inc.