What Is Contract Converting and Why Converting Companies Are Crucial Partners in Product Development

What Are Converted Goods?

Converted goods are a ubiquitous part of our everyday lives—they are everywhere, though most people may not realize it or even think about how these items are made.

A converted good refers to any product that begins as a larger rolled raw material and is processed—by slitting, cutting, sheeting, perforating, or otherwise modifying—into a smaller, more manageable size. Converting allows manufacturers to customize materials for specific applications and ensures that goods are easier to handle, package, and use by consumers or in industries like healthcare, automotive, and construction.

Examples of converted materials include tapes and adhesive rolls, non-wovens, foams, and more. If a product starts in rolled form, it undergoes conversion at some stage of production. Everyday goods like wrapping paper, rolls of tape, toilet paper, paper towels, and wet wipes are all examples of commonly converted items.

Take a moment and look around the room you’re in right now—how many items can you spot that exist in their current form because of the conversion process? The carpet on the floor and the foam padding underneath? The upholstery fabric on your furniture? The curtains on the windows? Even a bandage on your finger was likely converted during its manufacturing process.

How Are Converted Goods Processed?

In most production processes, raw materials begin in large, unworkable quantities that must be converted into manageable forms before they can be used to create the final product. For instance, the non-woven material used in Clorox wet wipes initially starts as a massive roll over 120 inches wide and 80 inches in diameter. Such a large roll of material is far too unwieldy for direct use in production. Instead, it undergoes a conversion process that reduces it to the appropriate size and form for consumer use.

Continuing with the wet wipes example, a machine called a slitter rewinder plays a critical role in the production process of this everyday consumer product. The machine works by unwinding the raw material from its large roll, slitting it into the correct width, perforating it, and finally rewinding it onto smaller, more manageable rolls. Once the material is converted, it continues through the production line, where several additional steps occur both upstream and downstream of the converting phase.

Production facilities often face a key decision regarding the converting process—whether to handle it in-house or outsource it to a third-party provider through contract converting. Bringing the converting process in-house can offer tighter control over product quality and turnaround times, but the downside is that it requires a significant investment in machinery, training staff, and ongoing maintenance costs. On the other hand, outsourcing the converting process may reduce upfront costs and free up internal resources, though it introduces dependencies on external partners, so the choice of a partner must be taken with great care. We go into detail about the process of making this decision in this article: To Contract or Purchase: Is Converting Equipment Worth the Investment?

What Is Contract Converting?

Contract converting plays a critical role in the production process for many consumer goods manufacturers. In short, contract converting involves outsourcing the transformation of raw materials to specialized third-party providers. This approach allows manufacturers to focus on other critical aspects of production while ensuring their materials are processed and ready for the next stages of manufacturing. For facilities that lack the footprint, equipment, or bandwidth to manage raw material conversion in-house, contract converting can be a workable solution.

Typically, raw materials are sent in large, unconverted rolls to the converting company. These companies use their converting equipment to process the materials, converting them into smaller, more workable sizes that are easier to integrate into the next production stage. The smaller rolls are transported to the manufacturer’s facility to continue with the production process.

By delegating this process to experienced contract converters, manufacturers maximize productivity while minimizing the logistical challenges associated with in-house conversion, such as housing conversion equipment and the labor required to manage this machinery.

Unraveling the Mysteries of Production

Understanding “how it’s made” is a frequent question for curious minds of all ages. Many of the tools, processes, and procedures involved in manufacturing remain a mystery to consumers, but we are excited to shed some light on at least one critical step in the production of so many of the products people use on a daily basis.

Finding the Core Cutter You Need

Selecting the right core cutting machine can be consequential for your business. To start, you must understand both your manufacturing needs and the types of core cutters available to you. This will allow you to make an informed decision that balances your needs with your budget.

If you’re unsure where to begin, contact our team at Pinnacle Converting and we can help you choose the best core cutting machine for your process.