How Charles Murray is innovating plastic pouches at PPi Technologies Group

R. Charles Murray, CEO, PPi Technologies Group
R. Charles Murray, CEO, PPi Technologies Group

Distribution & Manufacturing
FINALIST
R. Charles Murray
CEO
PPi Technologies Group 


In the mid-1990s, Charles Murray was inspired to use his knowledge of plastics, which he obtained through working in the plastic shrink-binding industry, to expand the use of plastic as a packaging material. At the time, Murray felt plastic was undervalued by American companies, which tended to use aluminum, glass or paper products.
So in 1996, he founded PPi Technologies Group, a supplier of StandUp pouch and tray machines used to package food, drinks, drugs, household products and chemicals. His business model was based on more than 30 patents to give customers an advantage over competitors and to keep the U.S. pouch machine market ahead of global competition.
He took a new approach to the pouch machinery industry by signing long-term supply agreements or investing in or with global machine suppliers to make parts of the American designed machines and then deliver these back to the U.S. for finishing with his patented technology.
During the last 16 years, PPi Technologies has expanded from producing pouch machinery to producing its own pouch beverage product. Murray, who is CEO, started Redi-2-DrinQ Group in 2008 for packing beverages into pouches and launched his own brand of shaped Redi-2-DrinQ ShotPak cocktails and STR8UP premium spirits in a patented hip flask shaped pouch.
The traditional wine in a box segment came under attack next with the launch of his patented BarrelPaQ pouch without the box. He then rounded out the beverage industry with a CarboPouch for draft beer and Chilling Rocks water pouch.
In 2008, the company was included in the Inc. magazine list of fastest growing private companies. Murray plans to lead the company into its next stage, focusing on expanding its Redi-2-DrinQ Group and providing safe, environmentally responsible beverage products to consumers in addition to going after products in the refrigerator that can be packaged and stored in one of the company’s innovative pouches.
How to reach: PPi Technologies Group, www.ppitechnologies.com