The German case manufacturer W.AG is expanding its catalogue of services for OEM customers and now offers maximum freedom for the design of customised product packaging.
1 June 2021
W.AG is now realising OEM-exclusive cases and boxes made of recyclable polypropylene or the bio-compound Arboblend as customer-owned products. (Image: W.AG Funktion + Design GmbH)
The German case manufacturer W.AG is expanding its catalogue of services for OEM customers and now offers maximum freedom for the design of customised product packaging. The cases are made from recyclable polypropylene or the biopolymer Arboblend from the German manufacturer Tecnaro.
The realisation of customer-oriented and individualised case solutions has always been a high priority at W.AG. Now, however, the company is going one step further: as part of medium to long-term partnerships, it is opening up its Engineering and production capacities for exclusive development and series production OEM-specific cases, cases and boxes. W.AG thus offers its customers maximum freedom for the design of customised product packaging with a highly unique position.
Solutions for OEM customers
With numerous design innovations W.AG has made a name for itself since the company was founded in 1992. The company is now setting a new course by significantly expanding its existing portfolio: In addition to the previously practised production of customised, individualised private label solutions, it is now positioning a Customer-Own-Products division, which is reserved exclusively for the realisation of exclusive case and box solutions for OEM customers.
(Image: W.AG Funktion + Design GmbH)
„We have defined a high degree of customer-orientation and the consistent use of our environmentally friendly Pureline and Organicline materials as the connecting elements of both divisions. However, while everything in the Private Label division will continue to revolve around our established design and production lines, in the new division we are flexibly focussing all development, engineering and production services on the implementation of independent OEM packaging solutions with the highest standards of exclusivity and distinctiveness.“ Michael Müller, W.AG Sales Manager
Display
The first well-known manufacturers in the tool sector and the optical industry are already utilising the new offering. „This begins with the first design sketches, continues through all iteration stages of product development - including 3D CAD design and 3D printing - and culminates in the large-scale production of OEM-exclusive housings and inlays,“ reports W.AG's Head of Development. Björn Ullrich.
In contrast to the previous private label business, the Thuringian suitcase specialist is deliberately allowing the use of OEM projects, that the usual design framework has been blown up and the topic of „sustainable product packaging“ can be rethought. For Björn Ullrich's creative team, this can include the development of new design languages and CAD constructions as well as the construction of completely new tools.
The Head of Development at W.AG emphasises: „The highest priority in these projects is the realisation of a one hundred per cent customer-owned reusable packaging, that gives the product transported or presented in it a clear competitive advantage. Experience has shown that the shape and function of the cases and inlays, the use of our sustainable materials, the colour scheme and our label and print variants create the ideal case, the ideal box or the perfect case.“
For W.AG, 3D printing is one of the central moulding processes in the development of customised case solutions. (Image: W.AG Funktion + Design GmbH)
Sustainable inside and out
The material-technical basis of the case systems from W.AG for the Pureline cases and the biopolymer Arboblend from the German manufacturer Tecnaro, which has been in use for almost two years. 93 per cent from renewable raw materials consists of. The Organicline product packaging is made from this material. Both materials are not only used to produce the injection-moulded half-shells of the cases, boxes and cases, but now also a large proportion of the foam inserts produced in automated water jet, laser cutting and milling systems.
"The We are also currently expanding our inlay production with thermoforming technology. This also allows us to produce solid and sterilisable inlays, which is an important alternative for manufacturers in the medical and laboratory technology sectors in particular,“ says Björn Ullrich. In addition to screen and pad printing, W.AG offers two modern processes for the external and internal printing of the cases, which can be used to create excellent photorealistic four-colour prints: In-mould labelling and digital direct printing.
