Award Winning BluePrint Automation Plans Expansion



Monday, January 08, 2007

If you’ve ever wondered about the magic that gets those nifty flexible bags and packages neatly into boxes-just ask Chesterfield-based BluePrint Automation, Inc. This multi-national company is a recognized worldwide leader in the design and manufacturing of the specialized case packing equipment that helps many snack companies settle their products gently into their custom travel containers, arrive at the stores and in your hands intact and fresh.

Founded in 1980 to tackle the uniquely tough problem of getting bagged and other hard-to-handle packages into boxes for transport, BluePrint Automation recently celebrated its 20-year history in Chesterfield County. The company made its initial mark in the Richmond area with a small office and a crew of four and took a big step in 1997 when they opened their 40,000 square foot U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility. In 2004, BluePrint proudly announced the shipment of its 1000th machine from that facility.

BluePrint has always been aggressive in international markets, opening offices in Australia, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Germany, and France. They are clearly a global player-making their start in the Netherlands-with customers all over the world and they had plenty of choices when they were deciding on where to make their next big investment. A visit last year by Chesterfield County economic development staff helped them make that decision.

BluePrint was recently evaluating their choices and all of the considerations that go into the decision to expand their manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. While they were satisfied with the business climate in the Richmond region and their Chesterfield community, they had an opportunity to reconnect with the resources available through the county.

The decision to invest in Chesterfield was not a foregone conclusion. In fact, the company was considering a project at their office in Colorado. All that changed when county representatives knocked on their door. During that visit, the company was reminded of a key advantage of their particular location. The Enterprise Zone program is available to companies in certain geographic areas of the region and it can mean real savings to companies like BluePrint Automation, who plans to invest more that $1.5 million and add 30,000 square feet of production space.

“We have an active outreach program that helps keep us connected with companies in our community. Our visit with BluePrint Automation was one of hundreds we make each year. It was an important visit, because we learned of an opportunity to actively assist and support them in their expansion,” states Karen Aylward, who manages the county’s economic development services for existing industry.

BluePrint has an exciting future in Chesterfield County and was recently recognized as the 2007 Business of the Year by the Chesterfield County board of Supervisors. (Work Magazine, September 2007)

• Packaging Machinery
» Case / Tray, Loading / Unloading Machines
› Drop Packing Machine
› Horizontal Case Loading Machine
› Place Packing Machine
» Case Erecting / Tray Forming Machines
› Case Erecting Machine
› Tray Forming Erecting Machine
» Feeding Machines
› Robotic Feeding Machine
» Inspecting, Detecting and Checkweighing Machines
› Leak Detecting Machine
› Seal Checking Machine
» Orienting, Unscrambling Machines
› Component / Product Orienting, Unscrambling Machine
› Container Orienting, Unscrambling Machine
› Crate Stacking / Unstacking Machine
» Palletizing / Depalletizing Machines
› Robotic Palletizing / Depalletizing Machine
» Speciality Packaging Machines
› Compressing Machine

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