Charles Rick gets ideas. Sitting in his office in the Bellerose section of Queens, New York, the 33-year- old president of M&G Packaging Corp. is quietly sipping one of those giant-size containers of coffee that New Yorkers enjoy with the top peeled back allowing the brew to stay warm.

While Mr. Rick's mom Gladys sets up the weekly checkbook at a nearby desk and his wife Jami pores over paperwork at another, Charles Rick may have had the biggest idea of his life.

"We invented something so simple and low cost that everybody in transportation can use it.

"TamperThff is a security bag made of a clear resin plastic that is puncture and tear-resistant and comes in any number of different sizes.

"For air cargo or the airline passenger business, Tamper Tuff can enclose anything.

"After check in or acceptance, a built-in adhesive bond exposed by removing a paper strip is permanently sealed around the article.

"If anyone attempts to open, add or subtract from the piece, the tampering is easily spotted.

"Right now, post 9/11, with airline and airport security on high alert we think that Tamper Tough's low cost, total security can be of use everywhere.

"Tamper Tuff is easily dispensed from compact insertion stations that can be located at baggage stations or build up areas in air cargo or in some cases at manufacturers themselves.

"As example, cell phone and other high-valued goods shipment pilferage can be a thing of the past with Tamper Tuff.

"Our idea is simple. Tamper Tuff is not one of those clear plastic wraps that you see in airports. Those are expensive and wasteful.

"Tamper Tuff is simply a low-cost, high quality poly bag that allows for luggage tagging and complete visible security throughout the entire airport process from initial inspection all the way to the airplane and everywhere in between."

How original is this Charles Rick idea? Well before you go out and try and do this yourself, be forewarned that two U. S. Patents protect Tamper Tuff.

As mentioned earlier there is family around the place at M&G Packag- ing Corp.

In fact RicK's dad and mom launched the business in 1960 as a Manhattan based packaging company.

Manny Rick died last year from complications brought on by diabetes.

The company, which the senior Rick named after himself and his wife Gladys, moved from what might have been an uncertain future into safe l1ands with son, Charles.

Thinking about it, both the company and Charles were lucky.

First of all, Charles is inventive, inquisitive, full of ideas and smart.

The other part of the luck is that although he was issued a silver spoon, as we say in New York, Rick got nothing for nothing and was sent out to sell scotch tape and boxes to the trade at no salary until he proved himself.

"Dad was tough. He said that one could have a commission on what one sold, period."

What was also apparent to Charles right away as he traipsed through the cargo area around JFK, New York, was the big market for all kinds of plastic sheeting.

"I also discovered that customers were being shorted in terms of getting the lengths of rolled up sheeting they were paying some providers."

So with customers who were more than willing to do business with someone that would save them money by delivering 1,000 feet instead of less per roll, M&G moved into a new business.

A partnership was struck with I Strout Plastics, a Minnesota company which specializes in all kinds of ex- truded polyethylene-based film products.

But Charles Rick didn't stop there.

Realizing that air cargo was changing quickly due to consolidations and new products and services were needed, he began taking the broad look at commodities being shipped, while Iseeking various solutions.

"We came up with Super Absorba Mat for the shipment of perishables. Absorba-Mat is a thin layer which is placed in Icontainers that reduces damage to container and aircraft due to couosion. Super Absorba Mat is able to take up fluids turning water into gel through tiny holes in the liner.

"Available in a handy tear off roll, the biodegradable recyclable Absorba " Mat is perfect for fish, flowers and many other perishable merchandise." Super Absorba Mat is another Charles Rick & Co. fresh idea that is also patented.

There is a good feeling around the offices of M&G Packing. The place is a beehive with products everywhere.

This day, Charles Rick is working ;" on a proposal for 1-800 Flowers that would replace the styrofoam which lines the boxes that fresh flowers are ) shipped in with another product idea called Thennal Shield.

Like the other products mentioned here, Thennal Shield comes delivered in a manner that is easy to use off of rolls sized to line LD3 and other con- tainers.

But Thennal Shield is also available in various other sizes and configura- tions.

"We came up with Thennal Shield to eliminate the need for styrofoam. In the fIrst place our product works better. It is also degradable, can be recycled and does not end up as landfill.

"TempKraft is thinner and much more efficient than styrofoam."

While we are talking the office is alive with phone fax and computers chatting away.

Off in the distance in a small room an elderly gentleman is pouring over the books.

There is a good feeling about this place. This is part of the air cargo business that you might think had disappeared. But more than 80% of M&G's business nationwide is with small to medium companies. Sure there are big, high profile operators such as American Cargo ("they use our Absorba- Mats in containers") and AEI/Danzas ("The entire product line") and others, but attention to both what's new, and next has not caused Charles Rick to forget the hundreds of small companies that rely on M&G.

"They are our lifeblood, we are always here for them, like they are for us."

The next thing for M&G is distribu- tion nationwide. How to get these ad- vanced technology products in ready supply to Miami, Los Angeles and else- where, while not having to add both time and expense to product delivery is a new possibility as M&G just entered into a joint venture with the big national supplier, Victory Packaging.

"M&G and Victory Packaging offer total solutions for the entire menu of shipping supplies. Also customers can one source all their needs because of Victory's 50 strategically located warehouses throughout the Continental USA."

IWe assume that Victory (total annual sales of $800 million) most likely wanted to purchase M&G ($10 million) outright but Charles Rick, who will also serve as national director of sales in the new set up says right away that another thing he has learned in the air cargo business is that slow and easy offers the chance to take care of everybody's needs.

"We will let the future develop. Right now M&G customers can expect the same great service and diverse product line made even easier and more readily available throughout their systems because of the Victory/M&G joint venture."

Outside on the sidewalk some more shipping boxes are moving across the street enroute to JFK International Airport.

Inside M&G Packaging the phone rings, the Fax beeps, the checkbook closes up and everybody thinks for a moment about the next big thing. . . .lunch.

Somewhere up above Manny Rick must be smiling as the beat goes on.