Set against the ubiquitous cardboard carton, there are clear advantages associated with the use of plastic containers for both shipping and storage purposes, say advocates SSI Schaefer, who have advanced their container offering with new technology in design, moulding and materials.
For proponents of the plastic cause, the fact that there are many thousands of containers available on the UK market will come as no surprise. The demand is growing as manufacturing, warehousing and distribution operations discover their versatility in terms of their longevity through continued re-use and the fact that they offer an alternative to the constant requirement for removal and disposal.
Add to this the enhanced level of protection they offer for contents, along with the added security through strapping and sealing, and the case for introducing them to an operation becomes attractive.
Selecting the correct container for the intended purpose is paramount and there are well recognised ‘horses for courses’. Designed for everyday use and among the most competitively-priced, the new SSI Schaefer ELB is a range of standard euro containers manufactured from a new patented material compound, making them approximately 30% lighter than standard euros. This offers savings in transport costs and improved manual handling due to their reduced weight, but they are still extremely strong due to their unique material and design.
KLT, a complete range designed to meet the demands of major car manufacturers through the German VDA standards board, has developed over the years from the initial heavy duty C KLT (Classic) to the L KLT range (Light), of which SSI Schaefer manufactures the full range. These containers have proved very popular over the last 12 months with over 100,000 units sold in the UK alone.
However, the latest advancement for the automotive manufacturing and assembly process is the unique Schaefer QX range. Developed in response to new dry cutting technology within the engine manufacturing industry, QX containers offer two new, better footprints for the automotive sector, 600 x 500mm and 1000 x 600mm, with eight different heights. They are ideal for use with robotic automation as the side walls only allow minimum deflection and also offer a unique multi-colour, high visibility interchangeable frame coding inserts. QX containers are also the first to be given an IP44 rating as they offer complete protection from water or any harmful substances when stacked.
For the FMCG and rapidly developing E-commerce industry standard ALC stack and nest containers are frequently used and Schaefer has also developed highly competitive folding containers produced using new one shot tool technology. This means base and sides are all produced on one moulding tool, bringing down production costs. The latest development in this area is the Eco Tech folding container, which has won design awards for its unique folding operation.
SSI Schaefer
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