PPB February 2018

Cus t om The rma l Dr i nkwa r e T he glasses are more than half-full at supplier HOWWManufacturing in Barrington, Illinois—they, and the HOWW Line catalog of U.S.-made products, are practically overflowing with American ingenuity. Of course, there’s more going on under the smooth surface of the company’s popular double- walled drinkware, says Mike Kalamaras, president and owner of HOWWManufacturing. “There are many steps involved in manufacturing our thermal drinkware,” says Kalamaras. “We have order entry, art department approvals, preproduction samples as needed, bringing the molding product to production, then decoration, assembly, packaging and labeling, and finally shipping.” Even with a seemingly straightforward production process in place, nothing is foolproof, he says. “There are challenges every day with manufacturing, and if I said that every day went along as planned, I would be lying to you.” That said, he points out, “Manufacturing is all about having dependable equipment and staff. We have been doing this for 34 years, and when you have a great team to work with, and a set procedure filled with checks and sign- offs, the process becomes fairly simple. To see our production in motion, picture a choreographed dance. Or, picture the ‘I Love Lucy’ episode with the chocolates coming down the conveyor. Things are moving at all times!” The HOWW Line staff are professionals trained to accomplish a variety of manufacturing tasks; but, says Kalamaras, as with any skilled trade, some techniques are learned only through experience. “A company is only as strong as its weakest link, so we build and grow together.” The process is applied to every product in HOWW Line’s catalog—it’s all made in the U.S., says Kalamaras. And if HOWW Line is tasked with a challenging order, the team works hard to make sure it is fulfilled on time and to client specifications. “We had a customer the other day asking for 48,000 lighted glasses to be made in one week,” notes Kalamaras. “Well, my first thought was, somebody goofed in marketing! The next thought was, let’s see how we can satisfy this customer.” After determining that the customer had a little more wiggle room in their schedule, the team at HOWW Line developed a plan to deliver the glasses as expected. “We can make things happen because we make products here in the USA,” he says. It’s hard to pinpoint the most popular items among the thousands in HOWW Line’s catalog, says Kalamaras. Each year the orders are different, and he believes it’s important not to rely on repeats of orders or programs. That said, HOWW Line’s drinkware options are popular and include barware, thermal and lighted drinkware lines. The thermal drinkware is a consistent pick among his company’s clients. HOWW Line’s thermal pieces feature a four-color process, contoured-cut decal insert. After the art is approved, the decal is printed in house and laser cut, then stripped from the print sheet and applied to the inner sleeve of the glass. The cup is then sonically welded and packed out. “This process is a beautiful way to decorate the cup, providing outstanding detail with a low cost for the consumer,” he says. “Our thermal drinkware line is used for both corporate and retail use, is dishwasher safe and includes a lifetime seal warranty.” A Toast To American Quality HOWW Line produces affordable custom thermal drinkware to ‘woww’ the recipient. by Jen Alexander 70 | FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECT