Come and see the ISO Bin at the Auto Supply Chain Congress, Liverpool

In June Macro Plastics are one of the sponsors of the Auto Supply Chain Congress in Liverpool and we will be exhibiting the ISO Bin.

During the congress the bin will be there so come and see for yourselves what it can do for your automotive supply chain. Saving time and money whilst helping you to improve the efficiencies throughout your logistics process, you can’t afford to ignore what this product has to offer.

What are you currently using in your Global supply chain to transport components from tier suppliers and OEMs?

Are you using returnable packaging at all? If not, why not?

As with anything new, there is always a little hesitancy and apprehension which is understandable but, when it comes down to business and an industry which is as fast paced as the automotive manufacturing, hesitancy can result in being left behind.

Therefore, Liverpool is the ideal opportunity to come and look at the ISO Bin first hand to gain a better understanding of returnable packaging and the ISO Bin in particular.

As the industry increases in complexity on a global scale the need to increase volumes and frequency whilst reducing costs is heightening. You have to ask yourself, are your current packaging solutions going to be up to the tasks you are facing?

Integrating the plastic ISO Bin into your global supply chain optimises pack densities utilising 97.2% of floor space in ISO Sea containers and can be stacked 3 high. The durability of the plastic used by Macro Plastics reduces the risk of damages during transportation. In comparison to using wood in your supply chain, plastic reduces the overall weight and in turn, shipping costs.

The ISO Bin has been designed so that it is able to go direct to line-side further reducing costs by removing the need for handling processes or repack. Having a packaging solution that allows components to arrive at the manufacturing plant and be transported directly to where it will be assembled onto the vehicle significantly reduces the risk of damages, improves speed and preserves quality in transit therefore reducing costs in the supply chain further.

Those are just some of the benefits of the ISO Bin concentrating on the first leg of the journey shipping the parts. We haven’t got into the results it can produce for you on the return journey; I will be covering this in my next blog.

As I have said earlier in this piece, the Auto Supply Chain congress is the perfect opportunity to get your head around the ISO Bin and have all of your questions answered. 

The Importance of Globalisation

Last week I chaired the Returnable Packaging session at the Automotive Logistics Europe Conference in Boon, Germany.

It was an extremely insightful and productive discussion with one of the main topics was the importance of globalisation.

Previously, automotive manufacturers would operate on a regional basis, selling models especially into continental and national markets. There was a requirement for global supply chains but for the standardised parts that were used in all models.

Now more than ever models are being manufactured and sold internationally. Tier suppliers are now required to ship globally as opposed to regionally. With this trend set to continue and grow there is a heightened need for an agile global supply chain.

Returnable packaging plays an integral part of building a global supply chain. It is no longer a matter of packaging components that will be transported within the same country or continent. Components are required in larger quantities in numerous locations around the globe and are travelling longer distances.

To create a sustainable supply chain that is able to keep up with trends and developments in the automotive industry only points in one direction – returnable packaging.

The industry now requires packaging that ticks the large as well as the small boxes. The large boxes are durability and size. If components are passing through numerous countries on their trip across the world using more than one form of transport, a solution needs to ensure quality upon delivery and comply with transporting requirements in terms of size in the various jurisdictions.

These were the areas that I am pleased to say came up during the session. It provides an indication to me that the OEM’s, tier suppliers and manufacturers know that they have to move and modify their supply chains in order to produce results.  

Can Packaging make your workplace a Safer Environment?

Health and safety is on the top of everyone’s list of priorities. When people talk about health and safety a number of areas spring to mind.

The question is, is packaging one of them?

The IsoBin, which has been designed by Macro Plastics, is for the automotive industry with safety at the forefront along with the crucial elements of weight and capacity.

The automotive industry has always been a leader when it comes to keeping high standards of safety throughout their lengthy manufacturing process.

Irrespective of how heavy something is components in the automotive industry pose some degree of risk to the safety of the handlers. This is where Macro Plastics have identified where they can help with a packaging solution that meets all of the industry’s requirements.

In recent years there has been a decline in the durability and safety of bins used in the manufacturing of automotive vehicles. This has been due to the cost pressures facing business, the price of virgin resin and the encouraging demand to recycle packaging.

Macro Plastics are now able to deliver the IsoBin which is stronger, more durable and lighter but more importantly safer than other designs already on the market. This delivers a cost effective package to transport components internationally which is integral in today’s market and ensures the safety of the contents and of the handlers involved in the process.

Automotive manufacturers are increasingly looking towards international business models which need to be effective at every stage. The IsoBin is exactly what they require in order to transport from continent to continent.

The IsoBin is a great alternative form of returnable packaging compared to cardboard and steel, the benefits include reduced noise pollution, contamination and damage to components arriving at the line.

A plastic IsoBin is able to go straight to the assembly line which improves time efficiency and reduces the cost as it reduces the processes required to handle other forms of packaging. Commonly when cardboard is used the components have to be unpacked before then being taken lineside.

The weights of the plastic bins add to the cost effectiveness as opposed to metal pallet boxes. Due to the weight of the metal boxes it reduces the amount of components you are able to transport in a sea container.

The Macro Plastics ISO Bin is also available as a “One Way Rental” option across all Deep and Short Sea Supply Chains. This means you can use a Returnable Packaging option but only pay for sending your goods one way. So for example an automotive part made in US to be put on a vehicle assembled in Europe can be sent from US to European assembly plant only paying for this one way passage. Compared to other methods where there is a cost for the package to be sent internationally and an addition cost for the package to be returned.

With the movement towards international models shipping requirements differ across continents. The IsoBin has been designed to meet US, European and Asian footprints. This is standard for use around the world, increasing safety, durability and capacity.

I find it crazy that up until now plastic has not been standardised for ISO sea containers. As a result of the IsoBin being the first use of plastic in this way we have had to put the design through rigorous testing to comply with all the regulations, this resulted in our testing budget being tripled.

The IsoBin will go a long way to improving the costs and effectiveness for returnable packaging for the global automotive industry.