Why is Europe behind in design and manufacturing of strong plastic returnable packaging solutions?

European pooling companies, OEM’s and tier suppliers in the automotive manufacturing industry have to go the US for plastic folding containers - isn't it time that 900kg folder plastic containers are made in Europe?

I have always wondered why the European and UK industry are still going to the US; why haven’t they looked at improving injection moulding capabilities on the continent.

The demand is there and the use of steel packaging is costly and in some cases logistically unviable.

It is clear in Europe that manufacturers do not have the design and technical capabilities compared to their US counterparts. But this is no longer an excuse, if packaging suppliers had taken a sensible view on this gap in the market and invested in acquiring individuals with the required expertise, the European market could be on a par with the US.

Could it also be the fact that existing injection moulding specialists did not want to see the opportunity before them? If they ignored developments in other markets around the globe, their clients would be satisfied with their current offering.

If a 900kg folding plastic container is manufactured in Europe, it significantly reduces the cost of importing and transporting products rather going across the pond to source their supply chain solutions. Why hasn’t this opportunity been seized upon pooling companies who use US products?

Maybe it is now time for US expertise to arrive in the European market, it is now time for someone to realise the opportunity within the automotive supply chain.

Whilst on the topic of how far behind the European automotive market is with injection moulded containers, Macro Plastics will be launching the EuroBIN 1210 in Q3 of 2016 which can be stacked 10 high folded and has 900kg capacity.

This is an example of how the US and, more specifically, Macro Plastics have grabbed the bull by the horns and developed an innovative 900kg returnable plastic container which fits seamlessly into the global automotive supply chain.

The design of the EuroBIN has focused on -

More Product + Less Packaging = Less Cost.