Exton, West Chester and Malvern: totes in and out of the lab parks
Exton, West Chester and Malvern are Route 30 and Route 202 office, lab and light-industrial parks. Pharma, medical devices and specialty chemicals put out small, clean lots.
01What sits here
The district’s ZIPs are 19341, 19380, 19382, 19355 and 19335. Pharmaceutical, medical device, specialty chemical and food manufacturing sites share the parks. They are neat, planned places with loading docks and labelled bays.
| ZIP codes | Industries here | Agency to ask about empties |
|---|---|---|
| 19341, 19380, 19382, 19355, 19335 | pharmaceutical, medical devices, specialty chemicals, food manufacturing | Pennsylvania DEP |
02Who has empties, who needs totes
Lots are small and records are good. A device maker may have a few totes of cleaning solution in a quarter, and a specialty chemical maker a pallet. Food makers send out ingredient empties. The matches are close: growers in the mushroom belt to the south, and blenders in Montgomery County to the north.
03Roads, rules and the move
US 30, US 202 and PA 100 cross the district, with the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Downingtown and Valley Forge interchanges nearby. The state agency for empty containers is the Pennsylvania DEP. A short ticket with the last contents named is usually all the desk needs.
04Next door
| Place | ZIP codes | Industries |
|---|---|---|
| Kennett Square and the mushroom belt | 19348, 19374, 19390, 19311, 19350 | mushroom farming, food packing, compost, nurseries |
| King of Prussia, Collegeville and Upper Providence | 19406, 19426, 19468, 19460, 19403 | pharmaceutical R&D, biologics, distribution |
05On the ground
Exton and West Chester offices and labs often keep their totes in a locked caged area behind the building. Say which door, who holds the key and whether a lift gate truck can reach the dock. The Route 30 and Route 100 interchange is the crowded point of the district, and a driver prefers to arrive before the morning rush or after the afternoon one.
06Weather, season and timing
Exton and West Chester companies often hold tickets for a quarter before they clear, because lab and device work produces totes in bursts. A seller can post a lot early and name the date it will be ready. Buyers in the mushroom belt should ask for the retest date because their tanks stay in place for years, and an expired date poses no problem there but can matter for a resale.
07A ticket from here
- Put one of the ZIP codes from the first table on the ticket.
- Name the last contents, even if it is a product code.
?Questions on this page
What size are lots here?
A few totes to a pallet. Records are usually good.
Which ZIPs are covered?
19341, 19380, 19382, 19355 and 19335.