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Creative and technical partner in the field of plastic bottles

 

Creative and technical partner in the field of plastic bottles

Creative and technical partner in the field of plastic bottles

  • Large selection

    standard bottles and combinations

  • We support you

    in your design process with visualisations

  • Opportunities for people

    who are disadvantaged in the labour market

  • Recycled plastic

    as the sustainable packaging material of the future

Highlighted materials

hd packaging | Get to know

Made in Europe

Dutch company hd packaging (with offices in Amersfoort and Zuidbroek in the province of Groningen) is highly regarded nationally and internationally as a manufacturer of quality plastic bottles and packaging. Over the preceding decades, we have gained a wealth of experience in the production and design of functional, practical and attractive plastic bottles. From our origins as an entrepreneurial family business, we have since moved to having our bottles produced with our own moulds by specialist Dutch and German manufacturers. They do this exclusively for us, on machines specifically reserved for hd packaging.

This is highly beneficial, both for ourselves and our customers, because it means we have sole control of what happens on those machines in terms of the development and fabrication of our moulds, including scheduling aspects. This enables us to work much more efficiently, for example by combining orders in order to save time or to benefit quality. The locations where we produce our end products are within quick and easy reach, which facilitates smooth coordination with our customers, for example on new projects and where changes need to be made for quality reasons. Many of these producers - like hd packaging itself - are family businesses with a strong ethos that enjoy short lines of communication, allowing us to keep our work together ‘lean and mean’.

Mould fabrication

With the aim of expanding our standard range (‘bottles that just about anyone could make’) along professional lines, we have been developing our own moulds since 1990. We bring out new moulds every year. This is far from an overnight process; we entrust the job of fabricating moulds to our regular mould maker in Germany, a highly regarded expert in the field. Depending on the size of the order, we will decide on whether small, single moulds are the best solution, or whether larger, multiple moulds (up to 6 or 8 cavities) make more sense in price terms. Multiple moulds are mostly used for PET and HDPE bottles.

Most of our moulds are created for the standard range, to be used for large production volumes. From time to time, however, we also take on custom commissions – unique and unusual projects – at the request of a customer and exclusively for that customer. We are also able to offer a ‘half-way house’ solution, where customers pay only part of the development and fabrication costs for their bespoke mould, and will then have the exclusive right to use it for a specific period. Following this, the mould may be made available as part of the standard range (by mutual agreement), so that it can be repurposed and given another lease of life.

The moulds will then be exclusive to the customer. Occasionally, we set up partnership arrangements where the customer pays part of the costs of the mould and will then have the exclusive rights to it for a specific period of time, after which it can be sold as part of the standard range.

We use high-quality, state-of-the-art milling machines within the mould fabrication process; however, there can be no substitute for the solid craftsmanship and hand skills of our experienced specialists.

Packaging design

A lot of careful thought and effort goes into the design of our standard bottles. In fact, we go through the same extensive, professional development process as for our custom projects, it just happens in a more cost-effective way, without any unnecessary ‘bells and whistles’ that would make the bottle less competitive in terms of price. But still with that something extra to clearly set it apart from your ‘common or garden’ bottle. It all comes down to the look, design and quality, pure and simple. For this, we rely on the expert skills of our regular industrial designer, who has many years of experience in the difficult and challenging field of bottles and packaging.

Before getting to this stage, thorough market research will have taken place. Only then will we start working from the drawing board or ‘mood board’ to give direction to the design process, slowly homing in on a final, detailed design. This may be followed by evaluation by a test panel to make sure we are getting it right in terms of what customers and end consumers would find attractive and useful.

Are you looking to put your own, distinctive design on supermarket and shop shelves, but you’re unsure of how to go about it, and what is technically feasible? Do you want to make sure it’s done professionally, but not necessarily with all the costs of a design agency? Would you appreciate an ambitious yet pragmatic approach with clarity about prices? Then HD Packaging may well be able to help.

Corporate social responsibility

For us, this means helping people who are disadvantaged on the labour market to find proper jobs with an established company. We believe that those with an occupational disability have much to offer in the workplace, even if they may need some support to do so. Working for an employer helps you participate in society, to feel valued and as though you are contributing. It helps people make social connections that are critical to wellbeing while also working on your personal development.

In our warehouse in Groningen, people who are disadvantaged in the labour market are involved in all aspects of the work - all supported by an experienced coach. They are busy picking orders, putting together samples, repacking, cutting pumps and many other day-to-day tasks.

We see corporate social responsibility in the broadest sense of the word: it’s about treating one another well, and having a pleasant and safe environment to work in. This applies beyond our doors too: dealing fairly and professionally with our customers and production partners.

Sustainable business practices

Everywhere you turn, people are talking about sustainability. What does this mean for us - in concrete, practical terms? We believe that all actions help; not just at the big European scale, but smaller, local actions too. That’s why:

# we are seeking to turn our fleet entirely electric.
# we make our bottles as light as possible in order to save plastic.
# we are active with recycled materials, see our about recycled page
# we are conscious of our decisions regarding transport and distribution. We very deliberately chose the North Netherlands (Groningen, on the A7, very close to the German border) as the location for our distribution centre. Not only does this help reduce traffic congestion and so make transport miles more efficient, but we are also contributing to employment in a region where it is sorely needed. Beyond that, there are important economic benefits for us, such as a good pool of labour and lower land prices. Our new, modern distribution centre became operational at the end of 2012, enabling us to bring all our stock together at the same location.
# we think differently about participation in the labour market and reintegration. With jobs and work experience placements for people disadvantaged in the labour market who are supported by a permanent, experienced team of plastic bottle specialists. This project got off the ground in 2013 at our subsidiary plasticflessen.nl and has proven to be highly successful in practice, with only winners.

Family concern

hd packaging has been a true family concern for the past 50 years - passing from father to son in that time. As such, it is distinguished by the characteristics that often mark out family concerns: passion for the product and concern for employees. We believe a good working environment, one where people feel at home and are happy to be at work is one that benefits all; it is this same approach we take when doing business with others.

Another strength common to most family businesses is the ability to think and act long term, and not be blown hither and thither by every new trend that comes along. We succeed in this because, in many cases, we are able to hold onto our employees for the long term. In this way, we keep valuable know-how about packaging, materials, production techniques and the associated logistics within the business.

For us, long-term thinking also means not getting fixated on short-term and very short-term profits. It goes without saying the company needs to be on a healthy footing and remain financially sound. But, to our mind, you can achieve this just as well by keeping a close eye on things like: cost structures, what investments you make and when, what is sensible and which opportunities are too good to let pass.
 

Making progress together

Designed here, made from our own moulds with expert care: at HD packaging we have been manufacturing plastic bottles since 1971. Attractive, hard-wearing, standard and contemporary custom packaging, both in large volumes and small trial series, all of which have proven themselves in practice time and again.

IEveryone should be able to order quality packaging to suit their needs: in different colours, recycled, round, square, you name it, and enough choice to suit your taste.

If you want to order from stock, that’s no problem either: we have a large range available directly from stock. If ordering 25,000 or more units, you can also personalise your packaging with colours to suit your preference.

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