For David Will the world is just one big refrigerator full of leftovers to be covered. Will, president of Marine Services Packaging, Brookfield, Conn., started the company in 1987 shrink-wrapping boats and doing repairs near Candlewood Lake where Will spent much of his childhood. The company expanded into commercial shrink-wrapping more than 12 years ago.
If you can think it, we can shrink [wrap] it,” is Will’s company motto.
“We have wrapped boats, planes, trains, cars, trucks, trailers, any kind of machinery, equipment, modular homes, cover-it garages, golf carts, patio furniture, snow plows, road sanders, grills, outside bars, crates, pallets of loose material, RVs, car ports, temporary structures, greenhouses, commercial and residential roofs, food processing equipment, ovens, high-tech equipment,” said Will. “Anything you would cover or tarp.”
The lifelong Brookfield resident now employs five people at Marine Services Packaging. “It can be done with one person and goes from there depending on the size of the project,” said Will.
According to Will, the process is simple. Marine Services Packaging constructs a frame around the large object to be wrapped, then unrolls sheets of plastic less than one centimeter thick.
Heat is then applied through a 150,000 btu heat gun. This fuses seams, shaping and contouring the plastic tightly around the object in question. For larger items, like boats or construction equipment, Will added, a zipper is installed so the owner can enter inside while the item is stored.
“Shrink-wrap is an amazing way to protect your valuables from Mother Nature and her elements,” added Will. “Great protection from wind, rain, snow and sun, UV rays, as well as animals, rodents and insects and bird poop. It reduces contamination.”
One of Will’s newest experiments is with a shrink-wrap that has a corrosion inhibitor in it, to add protection against the salt air.
Shrink-wrap is a light, clean, plastic material that has a wide range of uses without the damage associated with heavier covers. It can be used for safe storage of vehicles, boats, trailers, construction materials, inventory items, machinery and equipment of any size for up to a year outside, in warm or cold weather. It also can be used to protect items from damage during transport by land or sea, allowing the item to arrive at its destination in the same condition in which it was shipped. It is offered in several sizes and colors for a variety of uses. White shrink-wrap is most commonly used because it reflects the sun and allows interiors to remain cooler.
Shrink-wrap can be used to build temporary shelters for outdoor crews as well as for temporary storage of construction machinery and equipment and materials, such as lumber, concrete blocks and bricks. It also can be used for outdoor warehousing purposes or be used for temporary walls and windows.
It also may be used for environmental containment of chemicals and for asbestos and lead paint abatement. A petroleum-based product, it cannot be re-used but can be recycled and melted down for use for other products.
Shrink-wrap is cost effective and eliminates tarping, which can chafe the finish and eliminates the need for some crating.
“Shrink-wrapping is awesome for the construction industry because — besides being able to protect construction equipment from Mother Nature — it is perfect for enclosing buildings for security and heating purposes,” said Will. “We can shrink-wrap the entire scaffolding on the outside of a building or just do window boxes or parts of the roof not complete.
“It creates a tight fit and eliminates the noisy blowing from the tarps, that causes them to rip and be not very efficient, or cost effective and makes them labor intensive, repairing them daily.”
Shrink-wrapping a building can save thousands in lost heat, he added. “And with the white, makes the building bright for working. And, as stated before, we can install a zipper door for entry and exit. It is also perfect for making dust containment walls for heat, sheetrock dust or floor sanding and refinishing, etc.”
The process has been used on many buildings in the Brookfield area for heat and security purposes, including: Danbury Hospital, Western, Conn.; State University; Watertown Mall in Watertown, Mass.; and many smaller projects.
Marine Services Packaging has about 10 regular clients, but that number goes up this time of year with one-time jobs. Some of its main clients are Fuel Cell Energy, Becon Inc. and New England Crating and Packaging.
Of the many objects he’s covered in 12 years, including a diner, Will added, “We have done some crazy things and nothing seems to surprise me anymore.
“Customer satisfaction is our main goal, whether we package it here in Brookfield or we bring our talented staff to your location and complete your project. So that when your client receives his product, it’s like Christmas day all over again, in perfect condition.”
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