MFG.com to establish a “one-stop shop” for packaging with online marketplace

MFG.com, an online marketplace for the manufacturing industry, has launched a packaging marketplace in an effort to help companies get products to the market faster.

Mitch Free, founder and CEO of MFG.com, told PlasticsToday he believes the packaging industry is fragmented and complex, and what was once regionalized has now become a global competitive market where sourcing innovation and efficiency take precedence.

"Each industry is like its own little island," he said. "Now all these come together as a 'continent' for packaging. You can source any packaging material, in any geographic location, in any quantity all in one place."

MFG.com already has marketplaces for mechanical parts, textiles, and apparel. With more than 200,000 members in 50 countries, developing a packaging marketplace was a natural progression, Free said. After months of testing, MFG.com decided now is the right time to officially launch its proprietary packaging marketplace.

The packaging marketplace aims to give those with packaging needs the ability to discover and collaborate with the right suppliers, securely submit RFQs and receive quotes online. For packaging suppliers, the MFG.com marketplace can provide lead generation, according to the news release.

"What once took weeks or even months can now be accomplished in just a few minutes," Free said. "The buyers love it. It's going to make their sourcing job a whole lot easier. They can find qualified suppliers anywhere around the globe without ever leaving their desks."

The packaging platform covers all segments of packaging, including rigid and semi rigid plastic and flexible packaging. Free said users can find both industrial plastic packaging applications such as drums or pallets, or the latest in retail plastic packaging technologies including bio-based plastic packaging applications on the site.

As of now, the packaging marketplace is concentrated mostly in the U.S. and Canada, and Free said as markets grow the site will expand along with it.

The cost varies from $8000 to $40,000 per year depending on the amount of business the site drives to a supplier, Free said.

When asked about his competition, he said there isn't any.  
 
"All the existing online packaging portals are glorified catalogue sites where you still have to do all the sourcing work," he said. "Through MFG.com, you get directly connected to a real buyer with a real need and ready to buy packaging."