Goplasticpallets.com, the UK’s leading independent supplier of plastic pallets has recently helped M-real Office Papers find a solution for transporting its wetlap pulp from Kemsley in Kent to the company’s paper mill located near Rouen in Normandy.
Wetlap pulp is transported at about 50% moisture content. The recycled matter is stacked in thick sheets measuring approximately 1400mm (L) x 1200mm (W) x 1200mm (H) and weighs a hefty 1.3 tonnes. M-real therefore required a pallet that offered optimum strength and could fit the specific sheet dimensions.
Goplasticpallets.com ruled out designing a made-to-measure pallet on the basis of high moulding costs and instead recommended the IPS 1420 x 1120mm pallet from its existing range. Although the width of the wetlap pulp sheets exceeded the width of the pallet, M-real were able to slice the sheet at any width, making this pallet fit for purpose.
Whilst Goplasticpallets.com selected this pallet primarily for its size and durability, another important criteria in transporting wetlap pulp is being able to record batch production for quality control purposes. With recessed areas for UPC bar coding on all four corners, the IPS 1420 x 1120mm is highly conveyable, allowing any batch of wetlap pulp to be quickly identified.
One problem Goplasticpallets.com had to overcome was the handling process. When offloading wetlap pulp, the pallets are lifted on rotating forks and tipped to remove the recycled matter. This tipping process together with the weight and consistency of the wetlap pulp applies considerable stress on the pallets. As a solution, during the manufacturing process Goplasticpallets.com incorporated a specially moulded section inside the pallets, to strengthen the design and offer further reinforcement to withstand manual handling.
In December 2008, M-real ordered 4,500 IPS 1420 x 1120mm pallets to transport its 1.3 tonnes of wetlap pulp, which Goplasticpallets.com delivered efficiently during a two-week period. The operation was so successful that M-real has recently placed two further orders that total an additional 1,400 pallets.
Andrew Folkard, Supply Chain Centre Manager of M-real commented: “Given our specific requirements for transporting wetlap pulp, Goplasticpallets.com was quick to respond to our enquiry and in finding a solution. Our new plastic pallets deliver on all levels. They are impervious to moisture, easily cleaned and, most importantly, reusable. Taking into account the excellent working life of plastic pallets, we feel we have made an investment for the future.”
Goplasticpallets.com
Contact: Jim Hardisty, MD
Tel: 01323 744057
Email: jim@goplasticpallets.com
www.goplasticpallets.com
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