In the past year, MJS Packaging has added even more expertise customers can count on. Dave Gerber may be a relatively new addition to our team, but he has developed a remarkable skill set throughout his career. This includes a flair for quality management, distribution/manufacturing partnerships, and getting the best out of bottle closures.

With his education, years working for packaging suppliers, and an eye on innovation, we enjoy providing the opportunity for readers to get to know him better.

Building a Name in the Packaging Industry

For Bottle Closures and More, Get to Know Dave GerberPrior to his senior year at Michigan State University, Dave had an internship with a printing company and they saw potential in him. Upon his graduation with a degree in Packaging, he was hired as a quality manager before moving into a sales role.

His next big career move would take him even further into the world of packaging. It was at this point where he started working for a company called Polyseal, before they were acquired by Berry Plastics (a key supplier for MJS Packaging).

For those who have met him, it is no surprise that Dave demonstrated his abilities and his commitment to his work with Berry Plastics, managing and developing new business within their Distribution Business Unit for 17 years.

While at Berry Plastics, Dave made his impact by focusing on the closure product line. For the year following his work there, he served at Letica Corporation before joining the MJS Packaging team.

More Experience with Bottle Closures

After adding Dave to the team, there is now even more reason to turn to MJS Packaging for all kinds of bottle closures. Customers can count on Dave for his deep knowledge and his passion for where the market is going, too.

“There has been a momentous proliferation of dispensing in the past 10 years,” Dave said. “For many consumers, their first interaction with a dispensing closure came with liquid products. Now it is important to consider dispensing features for many products beyond liquids, including condiments, solid products, lawn and garden, detergents, and more.”

Although it may not be easy to picture closures that dispense solids, Dave described this as an important and emerging area to watch. As just one example, products enhanced by reliable measurement and dosing, like pharmaceuticals, are a great testament to how helpful this can be to both manufacturers and consumers.

Identifying Packaging Trends

Outside of changes in closures, Dave advises readers to explore packaging trends that save them on shipping costs and lessen their environmental impact.

“Manufacturers are becoming very conscious of the amount of plastic they are using,” Dave added. “Lightweighting packages has become a great way to be more environmentally friendly and cost-conscious. Among many other benefits, this practice increases a manufacturer’s value to CPG companies and retailers, and reduces their carbon footprint.”

It is important to note how manufacturers first started lightweighting by focusing on bottles. But this practice expanded and benefited in more areas as well.

“Once they took everything they could out of the bottle, they started turning their attention to the bottle closures,” Dave continued. “Manufacturers are making great strides in processing and are able to significantly reduce the weight of the closures, but they have to find the right balance to keep the product intact and avoid leakage.”

Advice to Avoid Packaging Mistakes

Whether it is deciding on closures, lightweighting, or another aspect to packaging, Dave is conscientious of the potential pitfalls holding manufacturers back. With his specialized approach, he works to prevent any misgivings about how a manufacturer gets paired with the right closures.

Dave cautioned, “When a company approaches a new project, they often focus on the bottle first, but that can limit their options for implementing innovative bottle closures later.”

“They might have a grand idea of what they want to do with the closure, but they simply haven’t left enough room for it in their budget. Also, there’s so much visible space on the bottle compared to the closure that companies often overlook the impact the closure will have on the overall look of the product. Companies now are placing additional consumer impact information on the outside of the closure, and/or on the liner inside the closure. There are so many options now for communication via the closure rather than just the bottle.”

Dave recommends a better alternative: look at the project holistically to achieve the look and budget they desire.

Innovation and Distribution

Oftentimes, people expect innovation out of the larger companies. However, Dave can recall various packaging projects demonstrating advantages with smaller companies instead.

“Manufacturers, especially small to mid-size companies, should take a closer look at distribution partners because they can often get new products to market quicker. A few examples I was involved with included the use of a laminate all plastic tube and a three-piece dispensing package, The first customers were smaller companies, and these products were purchased through distributors.”

“Never underestimate the power of the consumer when it comes to the acceptance of your innovation. Product innovations have been reverted in many cases, just because today’s consumer can easily voice their negative opinions on social media and other channels. It’s always best to keep your consumer in the loop as you innovate, and base your innovations on their needs and wants.”

Turn Packaging Challenges into Opportunities

For Dave, his work is about helping people find solutions to a problem. He enjoys getting to know his customers on a personal level and he takes pride in guiding them through the process.

“From understanding the motivation behind what you are trying to achieve with your packaging to putting together a plan for accomplishing it, you should know you have options with MJS Packaging” Dave explained. “Just about every product needs a package, so I see endless possibilities for how we can help.”