Berry Plastics

Berry plastics in Lawrence KS was a manufacturing plant that made plastic cups and containers for companies such as Taco Bell, McDonalds, and Starbucks. They formed their cups and containers using both injection molding and thermoforming technologies. The thermoforming was far more interesting, based on the fact that at the start of the machine, the plastic was made and developed into plastic sheets, and then stretched over and over again before being almost hole punched into the shape of the desired cup. At the end of the machine, the product was almost ready for shipment, only needing its paint. I found it interesting how the workers could work there week in and week out with the quality of the air, which seemed to be pretty poor. Another thing that was neat was the fact that the building was constructed around the railroad track, making it easier to receive shipments and export their products.