Portola International

Portola Blow Mold Technologies Created to Support Dairies' Need for High-Quality Bottles

VAUGHAN, ONTARIO (January 13, 2005) - Portola Packaging recently announced the formation of a new division that offers a variety of products and services to save dairies money in their bottling and blow mold operations. The new division, Portola Blow Mold Technologies, not only sells high-quality HDPE bottles to dairies without blow molding capabilities, it also sells enhanced blow mold equipment designed by Portola, will run in-plant blow mold operations at dairy bottling locations, designs and builds molds and tooling, and runs a personalized maintenance and training program for dairies that mold bottles at their own facilities.

Bruce Gallop, President of Portola Blow Mold Technologies, explained, "Dairies lose a lot of money because of poor bottle quality, but leakers and bottle scrap are problems that can be prevented through proper maintenance and operation of the blow molding machines. Buying bottles from an experienced blow molder is one way to get high-quality bottles, but if a dairy chooses to blow its own bottles, there are ways to ensure that quality bottles are molded on site as well. Portola Blow Mold Technologies was created to help dairies get quality bottles."

The Molding group of Portola Blow Mold Technologies combines Portola Packaging's existing blow mold operations at four Canadian locations with a new, in-plant molding service. Portola Blow Mold Technologies has over 40 years of experience of being the leading blow molder of HDPE bottles for the Canadian dairy market, and is now offering to share its expertise with dairies that blow their own bottles. Portola Blow Mold Technologies will remove the hassles of managing and maintaining the blow mold equipment so dairies can concentrate on bottling their product. Dairies get better bottles on site, with none of the operations headaches.

The Machine Manufacturing group of the new division designs and sells blow mold equipment. Portola currently operates over 40 blow mold machines, and through its years of experience with this equipment it has designed a new machine that is easier to maintain, easier to control, more durable, and less expensive than the current blow mold equipment on the market.

The Molds and Tooling group of Portola Blow Mold Technologies grew from Portola Allied Tool, well-known throughout the industry for its high-quality molds and tooling. In addition to the products and services previously offered by Portola Allied Tool, the new group offers enhanced support services, such as managing dairies' spare parts inventories so there is less downtime when a blow mold machine needs parts.

The Maintenance and Training group rounds out the comprehensive services of the new division by offering customized programs to dairies that blow mold their own bottles. Portola Blow Mold Technologies will execute a regular maintenance program, train employees to operate and maintain the equipment, and even provide a custom software program that keeps the blow mold machines in mint condition.

Portola Packaging manufactures plastic closures and containers for leading dairy, beverage and food companies worldwide. Portola also supplies the cosmetic and personal care industries with packaging through its Portola Tech International Division. The company has over a dozen manufacturing plants in the Unites States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and China, and sells to companies throughout the world.