LoBoy - The Bear Facts Lifestyle Blog"The Bear Facts"

The Official Lifestyle Blog Brought To You By LoBoy

     The Bear Facts focuses on the lifestyles and interests of the End Users (or, better put, Customers) who enjoy their leisure time and who just happen to bring along their LoBoy Foam Coolers when they're living life to the fullest.  We also like to let everyone know about the latest happenings in our industry as it relates to the businesses who promote and use all of our products and services.  In the end, it's all about the people whose lives are impacted by what we do, but we also like to showcase some of the great fun we have here at the company so that everybody gets to see that we enjoy using our products as much as our wonderful friends.

LoBoy Supplies Coolers for Offshore Catering and Remote Site Food Service Companies

A Big Welcome Aboard to our Catering Suppliers to Offshore Oil Rigs, Natural Gas Platforms, and Remote Drilling Locations

LoBoy catering coolers for offshore and remote site food service suppliersMagna Manufacturing (makers of the LoBoy & Insul-Pak foam coolers, thick-wall ice chests, and foam shippers brands) has enjoyed a phenomenal business quarter that has included the coming aboard of several new offshore catering companies, clients providing food service logistics and resupply for personnel who work at distant oil and natural gas exploration and drilling sites in the wilderness and abroad at sea.

Some of these organizations not only cater the food itself, but handle the administration, recruitment, as well as transport and lodging of related staff, cooks, equipment and everything else – a logistical challenge level that is extraordinarily complicated, especially in regards to getting goods, products, and hardware prepped for shipping, loaded onto onto supply vessels that ply the ocean to safely transfer cargo onto at-sea platforms.

Whether a catering company’s operations are limited to simply packaging foodstuffs at a distribution center for transport to the drilling location or are involved in a much more complex process from distribution to meal preparation, LoBoy thick-wall foam coolers and Insul-Pak foam shippers offer both a cost savings (profit-boosting) and customer satisfaction advantage.

The Cost Savings of EPS Foam Coolers for Catering Companies

Although our coolers are manufactured with quality as the top priority, we ensure to strike just the right balance between costs and pricing so that our customers benefit from higher profit margins on their end.  EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) Foam material is less expensive than hardshell plastic, reusable, and recyclable.  Its reusability means a caterer can have custom branding applied and save money by using the same containers repeatedly.  Additionally, EPS’ anti-microbial qualities help prevent the spread of nasty contaminants when reused over time.

Increased Customer Satisfaction for Drilling Rig Crews and Remote Site Personnel

Labor in the oil and gas industry can be very demanding, with long hours of challenging work in isolated locations, so one of the small things that crews look forward to is a satisfactory meal with good food and tasty beverages.  In order to make that happen, foodstuffs must arrive onsite in prime condition whether fresh or frozen.  Maintaining an effective temperature range requires a storage container that can handle wide swings of head and cold during transit.  Because many products must be kept within specific thermal guidelines for best preparation and cooking results, companies look for the right tools at the right costs for packing, storage, and transport.  When the needs for each of these factors are met or exceeded, the food is good and employees have something to look forward to.  LoBoy is proud to be the product that meets and exceeds these requirements.

Contact The LoBoy Client Solutions Team For Wholesale & Custom Orders

 

Watch The New Cypress Wood Cooler Assembly Video

How To Assemble the LoBoy 68 Quart Cypress Wood Taligate or Deckbox Cooler

We here at LoBoy are very proud of our Cypress Wood Deckbox Coolers, including the College Logo Tailgating Cooler and the Custom Business Logo Version.  Thousands have been ordered over the past year and with so many being shipped by mail we want to ensure that customers have a simple, easy-to-follow instructional video as reference (see below)…

 

Quick Quiz – Why Use Foam Shipping Coolers For Meat & Seafood Mail Order Shipments?

We Answer The Question Of Why Mail Order Meat & Seafood Shippers Should Package and Ship Steaks, Chops, Shrimp, Lobster, and Other Temperature-Sensitive Cargo Using Foam Shippers

Mail Order Meats Using LoBoy EPS Foam Shipping Coolers

In our most recent web article on Cold Chain Shipping Solutions, we address the reasons meat and seafood companies offering mail order services find peerless practical value in using EPS foam shipping coolers to ensure customer satisfaction and a healthy bottom line.

Mail order meat and seafood shipping involves sending packages to customers by way of high-priority U.S. mail, FedEx, UPS, and other carriers, usually under a 24 to 48 hour in transit window so that there’s less chance of spoilage, customer complaints, or the ever-undesirable demand for a refund.

The business models for these types of mail order operations demand merciless levels of efficiency to prevent low profit margins, so the supplies and methods that are part and ‘parcel’ of any business’ methodology must make things easier, faster, and cheaper (while maintaining the precious balance between capital inflow vs. client happiness).

How does a low-cost, light weight, bacteria-resistant, thermally superior material like Expanded Polystyrene help business owners, managers, and employees accomplish this complicated mission?  Read “Why Should I Use A Foam Shipping Cooler To Ship Fresh or Frozen Seafood?” for the details.

 

 

Supplies Used By Meat and Seafood Mail Order Companies For Cold Chain Shipping

Steaks, Chops, Shrimp, Crab Legs – All Shipped In EPS Foam Shipping Containers – But What Other Supplies Are Involved To Protect Temperature-Sensitive Products?

Mail Order Steak Seafood and Other Meats Use EPS Foam Shipping CoolersWith business, transportation, and technology logistics being more efficient and far reaching than ever across the globe, companies have found a multi-billion dollar opportunity in selling all kinds of meat and seafood by phone or via internet websites.  Due to the perishable nature of the products, they are transported by mail carrier to purchasers, brokers, and end-users expeditiously using a process called, “COLD CHAIN SHIPPING“.  Cold chain allows businesses to take advantage of today’s distribution networks with a singular, profit-building goal in mind:

MAIL ORDER FOOD COMPANIES’ #1 PRIORITY IS EFFICIENT SHIPPING FOR BEST PRODUCT QUALITY UPON ARRIVAL FOR HIGHER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION!

Thus, the methodology involved in moving goods city to city, state to state, or even country to country has evolved into standard, practical, sometimes cost-saving cold chain shipping supplies that have been tested (and are known to be reliable for) for the specific purpose of providing thermal protection for temperature-sensitive fresh and frozen meat (or seafood) during the entire transit.

The High Cost Of Material Technology Vs. Cheap, Reliable ‘Workhorse” Cold Chain Shipping Supplies

The reason we use the term “sometimes cost saving” is because not all standard shipping supplies save money for the shipper, and can be more about impressive technological advances in materials than about simply getting the job done properly at the lowest price so that profit margins can expand.  Frankly, we don’t see much sense in spending a lot of capital on insulated shipping containers that cost far more than necessary to accomplish the number one priority.

Thousands of other companies see things as we do, and it is for that reason shipping supplies for moving meat and seafood across long distances now fit into a common combination of corrugated boxes, EPS foam shipping coolers, plastic or other wrapping, absorbent material, dunnage (packing peanuts, etc.), refrigerants, and sealing tape.

With this combination, companies save a lot of money on shipping while boosting both their profits and customer satisfaction, which of course strengthens business for the future.

We’ve written an article explaining these cold chain shipping supplies in detail.  Read How EPS or Styrofoam Shipping Coolers Are Used In Meat and Seafood Cold Chain Shipping…

 

 

Why A Coming Hurricane Demands Getting Thick Wall Foam Cooler Ice Chests

Lower Financial Risk And Raise Financial Sense When A Hurricane Threatens By Stocking Up On At Least A Couple Thick Wall Foam Coolers To Protect Temperature Sensitive Stuff

When Hurricanes Come Use Thick Wall Foam Coolers To Keep Stuff Fresh

Let’s go over why you need at least one thick wall foam cooler ice chest in your hurricane supply list.  First things first, though:   Learn How To Do A Hurricane Preparation Checklist With This Information From The National Hurricane Center.

There’s one responsible choice for storing temperature-sensitive goods (ice, water, food, drinks, medicines, etc.) that won’t break your bank and will keep your items fresh for days rather than hours, and that would be a thick wall foam cooler (sometimes erroneously referred to as Styrofoam Cooler Ice Chests) made from space-age, light-weight, inexpensive Expanded Polystyrene (EPS).

A well-constructed thick wall foam cooler such as the LoBoy Brand (The Junior, The Jumbo, The Versapak, and The Original) is quality-built in a superior manufacturing process to insure thermal reliability, leak resistance, and durability.  These types of foam coolers are usually a minimum of 1.5 inches thick and thoroughly tested for strength and watertight quality.

Better Insulating Qualities

Sometimes called “Foam Ice Chests,” the thermal properties derived from the material’s fusing process make them capable of keeping food and other goods cool and fresh for days without having to ‘pre-cool’ (a problem encountered with hard-shell coolers that begin melting ice right away because of their surface temperature).

Much Lighter To Carry

Their light weight makes them easier to handle than heavier hard shell coolers so that when packed with supplies requiring thermal protection, they do not add pounds that you have to carry around with you in case you need to relocate or evacuate.

Far Less Expensive Than Hard Shell Coolers

For the kind of money you end up paying for quality plastic or metal-surfaced coolers, you can buy, at minimum, several large-volume thick wall EPS foam coolers or ice chests.  Even the cheapest, low-quality plastic coolers cost a lot more than a foam ice chest possessing better temperature control properties.  With price ranges skyrocketing into the hundreds of dollars for some brands of hard shells, a person can buy four or six jumbo-sized foam ice chests and still have tons of money left over for other hurricane  supplies or emergency money in case serious infrastructure damage makes normal ways of doing business difficult.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE TO PREPARE!

Are you ready to protect temperature-sensitive food, drinks, medicines, meat, and other items you require when the power goes out during a hurricane or tropical storm?  If not, you should to get it done now.  Already this Hurricane Season we’re nearly halfway through the alphabet in officially named storms and experts predicts we’ve only just begun.  Even now a developing hurricane is aiming straight for the Gulf Coast and Emerald Coast regions of the United States, so the question is…

“Have you made proper hurricane preparation or tropical storm preparations with the right supplies and evacuation plan?”

Just in case you do not know how to prepare, check out this information at the National Hurricane Center because you will be well-informed.

Unfortunately, many people drag their feet, waiting until nearly the last minute before running out to grocery stores and emergency supply shops to stock up on what they need.  The problem with that is that supplies are often short by that time as logistical shipping slows down and the people who stock the shelves are busy trying to make their own families safe for riding out the storm.  Also, price-gouging can become a problem when demand far outstrips supply.  So, don’t be a last-minute casualty.  Instead, start planning early so that you have all the food, water, medicines, back-up power, fuel, and cooler storage (for temperature-sensitive items) you need to get you through potentially hard times.  That way you won’t find yourself the victim of long lines in the hot sun along with other cranky procrastinators.

 

Why Shipping Fresh Seafood Overnight Requires Leak-Resistant Foam Shipping Coolers

Using A Low-Quality Foam Shipping Cooler Can Ruin Your Overnight Seafood Shipment!

Shipping Seafood Overnight In Leak-Resistant Foam Shipping CoolersThere are times when a good seafood catch or purchases needs to be packaged and shipped out of town to friends or family enjoy.  For the general fishing public, seafood store consumers, and small businesses related to area fishing industries, using the best shipping practices helps ensure the desired outcome, which is this:

SEAFOOD CARGO STILL FRESH UPON ARRIVAL AT ITS DESTINATION!

Life on the coast often means access to doing your own fishing, shrimping, and crabbing, or if you’re not the do-it-yourself type, at least you have the ability to get the best, freshest seafood at local area seafood markets, just caught, ready to be cooked.  Still, for others, life along the shores means getting into the seafood business itself.

In each of these scenarios, shipping that seafood catch or purchase requires the most cost-effective, value-added, reliable means to get the job done, and for most people, that involves overnight shipping of seafood cargoes using thermally protective, reliable EPS Foam Shipping coolers placed snuggly inside of sturdy cardboard boxes.  Of all the supplies involved in the seafood shipping process – thick plastic bags, absorbent materials, gel packs, etc. – the most important item is the foam shipping cooler, because if its quality is lacking then everything else you do to maintain acceptable temperature ranges during transit can be a waste of time in money.

Characteristics Of Foam Shipping Coolers That Indicate Higher Quality…

Three things to look for when choosing a “foam shipper” that helps seafood packages arrive fresh are thickness, durability, and leak resistance.

You want your cooler to be at least one inch thick and of a strong, sturdy feel (not easily flexible to where it can break).  When the thickness and strength are good, then the last thing to consider is leak resistance, and this is because of the nature of the cargo being shipped – wet seafood (sometimes with sharp, pointy parts) and ice-cold refrigerants that accumulate frost which melts and drips.  The foam shipping cooler must be manufactured in a way that completely fuses the individual eps foam beads so that the bonds they form are able to prevent liquid from flowing through minute gaps while at the same time maintaining temperature integrity.

The leak-resistant characteristics of any brand or configuration can be easily tested by filling it at least 3/4 full with fresh water and timing how much time passes until the surface either begins accumulating condensation (sweating – it’s not actually condensation, but water seeping through the foam material) or until water starts beading and dripping down the sides.

Fact is, foam coolers are not supposed to sweat or drip or leak – not if the manufacturer claims to produce quality.  So, if within a few minutes to a few hours you notice these things occurring, it means you’ve either got a cheap brand or somebody rolled a bad one off the line for sale to the consumer.  If the container stays dry (especially if you test it overnight), then you have a quality foam shipper.

Importance of Leak Resistance in Foam Shippers

Logically, if the foam shipping container can’t properly hold liquid then it has no chance of maintaining temperature integrity.  We’ve just launched an online article about the added value of using only the highest quality foam shipping coolers for use in shipping seafood overnight.  Check out the article entitled “Shipping Seafood Overnight – Why Leak-Resistant Shipping Coolers Give You More Bang For Your Buck”.

 
© 2011 Magna Manufacturing, Inc.