STURTEVANT, Wis., August 7, 2025—Contract Packaging Industry Veteran Russ Stone on How Spee-Dee Serves as the Heart of CW Resources’ Packaging Line
Q: Russ, go ahead and introduce yourself, and tell us a little about your background?
A: My name is Russ Stone. I’m the Operations Manager at CW Resources, responsible for our River Valley production facility. We package food products—primarily coffee and gravy for U.S. military contracts. My role includes managing day-to-day operations, overseeing audits, supporting our management team, and ensuring our packaging processes run efficiently.
I got my start right out of high school when I was offered a position with U.S. Motors. I entered an 18-month training program that included metallurgy, electrical work, and coursework at the Connecticut School of Electronics. That’s where my engineering background began. 
Q: What are the biggest challenges that CW Resources faces when working with the US Military and government contracts?
A: Our main focus at CW Resources is packaging products for government contracts, which comes with very strict quality and timeline requirements. In addition to machine-packing, we also perform hand-packing for private label customers, particularly local companies. What makes our operation unique is that much of our team consists of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This means our equipment not only needs to perform with precision—it must also integrate with workflows that allow our team to succeed.
We’ve designed our processes so that the machines, particularly our Spee-Dee fillers and checkweigher, do the heavy lifting on the front end, allowing our team members to complete the manual packaging confidently and safely. If our equipment fails, we don’t meet deadlines, and in the world of government contracts, that can lead to severe penalties. So, reliability is absolutely critical.
Q: You mention reliability, but why is dependability equally important when it comes to your equipment investments?
A: Some of our packaging lines—particularly coffee—require products to be roasted, ground, and bagged within eight hours. Missing that window means we have to dispose of product, which could cost us $20,000 to $25,000 per day. That’s why dependable, accurate equipment is not optional—it’s essential.
I first came across Spee-Dee after visiting a facility that had tried (and intially failed) to run a product we also struggled with. But at that facility, they were now running it flawlessly—triple the throughput we could achieve—with Spee-Dee fillers. What stood out was their vacuum tooling, which prevents product from continuing to drop after dosing. That one innovation alone was a game-changer.
When we toured Spee-Dee, their team—sales, engineering, service—opened their doors and let us interview them. Not the other way around. I was impressed by their transparency, expertise, and how seriously they took our needs. Even though we were only buying one filler, they treated us like a key partner.
Q: Spee-Dee takes great pride in being a mission-driven organization, how does that commitment to serving its own employees, its customers, and the industry a great fit with CW Resources?
A: We’re a mission-based organization. We serve people with disabilities. We serve the military. And we’re proud to support U.S.-based manufacturing whenever possible. With Spee-Dee, we’re not just buying equipment—we’re investing in American-made quality that’s backed by responsive service and parts availability.
I’ve been in this industry for 45 years. I’ve worked with manufacturers all over the world—120 countries, to be exact. Spee-Dee is one of the few that checks all the boxes: performance, support, quality, integrity, and culture. And culture matters.
From sales to install techs, everyone at Spee-Dee cares. They’re happy to be there. They treat us with respect. They follow through. You can’t teach that. It comes from leadership—and I know Spee-Dee has that at every level.
We once had a German-built machine go down and waited 30 days for a part. That’s not sustainable. Spee-Dee stocks inventory for high-lead-time items and builds for reliability. In the past year, we’ve purchased three Spee-Dee fillers. I hope to buy more as we expand.
Q: From a production standpoint, your operation is unique. How does your Spee-Dee equipment check all of the boxes to keep your line running at peak performance?
A: We spec’d our coffee line to run 25 bags per minute, considering the manual packing pace of our team. On install day, the line ran 45–50 bags per minute, right out of the gate—double what we planned. That extra capacity will support future growth without a reinvestment.
Our equipment uses quick-change tooling—no wrenches, no hassle. It’s easy to sanitize and maintain. On day one of install, we identified the need for more nitrogen in the coffee bags. The technician had already ordered the part overnight. By the next day, it was installed and running. That level of proactivity is rare.
On the gravy line, we didn’t initially use vacuum tooling but saw its value in another facility that packages powdered milk—a product we previously failed to run. Spee-Dee’s tooling eliminated dust, improved fill accuracy, and brought a line from 10 bags per minute to 45. We’ve prepped our system to add vacuum tooling in the future and plan to pursue that contract again with confidence.
Q: You have the unique perspective of using Spee-Dee fillers and checkweighers in unison. How are those integrated systems working for you?
A: Spee-Dee fillers offer remarkable accuracy. Our old system fluctuated constantly—every few bags would trigger a weight error. With Spee-Dee’s servo-based system and integrated checkweighers, our line stays in the green all day. No rejects. No missed specs. That level of consistency is rare, especially with variable-density products like gravy.
Q: In addition to the military, CW packages other products, as well. What were some of the challenges of finding a filler for your multi-ingredient packaged oatmeal line?
A: We also worked with Spee-Dee on a custom multi-head filler—two cup fillers and one auger—to dose three components into a single pouch. That brought us from hand-packing 60 units an hour to producing 2,000 units an hour. It was a complex design, but their team took the time to get it right.
At the time, I didn’t even know Spee-Dee sold checkweighers, but when I found out, I added one to that line. It provides feedback to the filler to adjust weight in real time. It’s a game-changer.
Q: Getting back to the requirements of your government contracts, how big of a component is sanitation for you?
A: Sanitation is vital for us. We handle both allergen and non-allergen products, so equipment must break down easily and clean thoroughly. Spee-Dee equipment is designed with no dead spots, no unnecessary fasteners, and finishes that are easy to wipe down and sanitize.
In one case, a competitor’s machine had internal bolts that came loose during a run. We caught it with an X-ray, but that’s not a risk we ever want to take again. Spee-Dee’s tool-less design eliminates that issue entirely.
Safety is also a top priority. Their machines have interlocks and guards in all the right places. But more importantly, the equipment runs well, so our team doesn’t have to interact with it during operation. That’s the safest environment you can create.
Q: As a not-for-profit, making smart choices with your capital investments is paramount. How has Spee-Dee delivered value for you and the company?
A: ROI matters, of course. But for us, it’s not just about dollars—it’s about confidence. If I know a line is going to start up every day, I can confidently pursue new contracts without worrying about disappointing customers. With Spee-Dee equipment, I have that confidence.
If we ran our current fillers at full speed, we could double production. Even running at half capacity to match our hand-packing pace, I’d estimate an 18-month ROI. That’s solid, but again—it’s about the whole package: service, design, reliability, and long-term value.
Want to learn more about how Spee-Dee can help revolutionize your filling and packaging operations? Contact us today to get the conversation started!
About Spee-Dee Packaging Machinery, Inc.
Spee-Dee Packaging Machinery, Inc. supplies dry filling solutions and checkweighers for the food, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Designed for specific applications with simplicity in mind, Spee-Dee® systems achieve accurate, reliable filling and checkweighing, and are backed by a commitment to service and quality. Since 1981, companies around the world have trusted Spee-Dee fillers and checkweighers to improve efficiency, productivity and profitability. Visit www.spee-dee.com for more information.