It is all in the Design

“Packaging is about so much more than designing a box or a crate” – Sam Ogle

There is a lot more than the design process of packaging but that is where the real benefits are realised whether that is in the form of cost, environmental or efficiency. It all begins at the outset.

A key element of the design process is gauging the amount of materials required, this can then have a considerable impact on the benefits when the packaging is in use. The less plastic used leads to lower costs; this is a quick fix to making savings before the customer experiences the other financial benefits of using containers in their supply chain.

As well as reducing production costs by using less plastic, it also means using less resin which reduces the weight and has environmental effects. Ensuring that a design looks at the maximisation of weight is essential as it is now important to ship as much as possible in a short space of time. Using fewer raw materials is environmentally friendly in the production of the packaging and also being able to transport more per container will help to reduce transportation costs which are directly linked to the effects on the environment.

Looking towards bespoke returnable packaging is the movement away from off-the shelf options. Returnable packaging is now offering innovative methods of transporting goods. There is a perception that off-the-shelf returnable packaging is has stagnated and seeing a drop in quality.

So now there is no reason to say no to returnable packaging.

Do away with your Cardboard Boxes

Where is the fresh produce market going in terms of packaging?

The two key questions that contribute to this are along the lines of – what do they require to grow and how you do you deliver on these requirements and make savings?

As a grower of fresh produce, how would you feel if you could transport your goods with using cardboard?

Cardboard is an age old packaging material that has been used to transport a whole manner of goods in all shapes and sizes.  Have you looked at alternative solutions that you could move to for the same costs but improve all round efficiency and quality?

Fresh produce are a delicate yet heave good to pack and transport. The durability of cardboard is an issue when weight is concerned.

The other concern with cardboard and its durability is when it is stacked or becomes damp. This then has a direct impact on the products it contains. These disadvantages can become quite costly both financially and to a company’s reputation.

An additional issue is freshness and quality that is essential for the customer. If the packaging is susceptible to collapsing or deforming when in transportation there is going to be a negative impact on the quality of the product as a result of damage which incurs costs. As cardboard boxes wither have solid surfaces or slight perforation at best and then an open top, therefore there is a restriction to the air flow which has a knock on effect in reducing the freshness.

At Macro Plastics we have an affordable one trip plastic merchandising box which goes straight onto the shelves of supermarkets. This is a direct alternative to the cardboard packaging, which is exactly what the supermarkets are looking for.

With the solution that we provide also fits in with the supermarkets desires of limited contact in the supply chain process. The application ensures that the produce is only touched once in the supply chain which is the grower before being purchased by the consumer. This removes the whole process of handling, which saves costs and reduces the chances of damage. A perfect alternative to cardboard.

Macro Plastics are continuously looking at how efficiency and quality can be improved, looking towards new plastic alternatives is continuously on the agenda.

Plastic is the packaging material of choice for the coming period of logistics. How would you like a packaging solution that provides the following elements?

·         Ensuring your produce is fresh for up to three days

·         Cooling produce 60% quicker than cardboard

·         Stop the crushing of products on the bottom layers

·         Zero contamination

·         Option for 100% recycle of reuse

·         Direct merchandising solution

Fruit Logistica – What exactly is it?

Fruit Logistica isn’t too far away now, so that means that the launch of the Macro Plastics Hybridbin is nearly upon us.

Fruit Logistica is running from the 5^th – 7^th February in Berlin and is the largest exhibition in the fresh produce industry. It is not just about the fruit and vegetables, the event brings together anything connected to the industry into one hub.

There will be in the region of 2,500 companies being represented in Berlin, me being one of them as the front for Macro Plastics. The large number of companies attending will range from producers to packaging, press to internet solutions. Any function that is involved with fresh produce from growing all the way through to the end of the process in arriving to the consumer will be present.

That is why this is the ideal location to launch the Hybridbin to the fresh produce market. In this day and age in business as well as in life there are two main aims. Firstly, to save as much money as possible and reduce costs. Secondly, get as much for your money as possible. The Hybridbin delivers both of these to the fresh produce industry.

People attending Fruit Logistica are looking for the new additions to the market and getting value for money. For producers looking to get value for money Fruit Logistica is the best shop window in the world, with everything on offer. If a product or service associated with the fresh produce industry isn’t at the exhibition, it is not worth considering. This goes back to why I am launching the Hybridbin in Berlin.

I will be in the US Pavilion in Hall 23 Stand A03, come and see how the Hybridbin can improve your fresh produce supply chain, saving you money and improving quality of your product. 

Fruit Logistica – Hybridbin

Why is Plastic the material of choice? Why do we all love plastic bins for handling fruit?

The New Hybridbin by Macro Plastics caters for all the packaging requirements in order to help the agricultural industry deliver quality, fresh produce to their customer. I will be launching the new Hybridbin at the Fruit Logistica Exhibition in Berlin from the 5^th - 7^th February.

As Fruit Logistica is the world’s largest trade show for the fresh produce industry, there is no better venue to launch Macro Plastics’ latest product that is aimed at helping fruit and vegetable producers improving their storage and supply chain solutions.

Using plastic as the material of choice to store fresh fruit has far ranging benefits which contribute to the quality of the product when they are bought by the customer.

When it comes to packaging solutions we all know they have to fulfil all of the following areas of criteria –

·         Weight restrictions

·         Durability

·         Easy usage

·         Value for money

The Hybridbin is a light alternative to using cardboard which absorbs moisture adding to the weight. The weight of the Hybridbin also helps when it comes to weight restrictions in the transportation process, increasing capacity which in turn helps to reduce costs.

The Hybridbin allows you to make huge savings on transportation costs when they are being returned. The new bins are nested inside each other with the wooden frames folded down; this is opposed to rigid containers that are stacked which takes up a lot of space which all comes to a cost.

When the bins aren’t being used throughout the year, you are able to make great savings on space as they sit inside each other. This provides a strong stack ensuring they are safe and won’t topple over, which also adds a reduction in damages.

Plastic is a durable material to use in a supply chain which results in little maintenance and repair costs required. Plastic is therefore an option to increase productivity and reduce running costs.

The Hybridbin is easy to use and maintain in terms of sanitation and ventilation. Plastic is easy to clean and does not absorb liquid; both of these elements reduce the risk of carrying diseases especially as the fresh produce is a global industry.

The quality of fruit is dependent on the freshness when it arrives to the customer; the ventilation in the Hybridbin allows the produce to cool quickly keeping the fruit as fresh as possible. This is in comparison to cardboard that has solid surfaces where the only way of ventilation is the open top.

The Hybridbin by Macro is recyclable, this not only helps in terms of the environment and going green. This is beneficial to the fruit industry as there is a high residual value at the end of the products life. So not only is there a decrease in waste compared to using cardboard as a packaging material, by using a Macro Hybridbin there is added value in the form of income from recycling.

I will be introducing the Hybridbin at the Fruit Logistica exhibition in Berlin from 5^th -7^th February. This is a brand new product on the market that helps producers save money and improve the effectiveness of their returnable packaging solutions in the industry.

The Marco Plastics stand will be in the US Pavilion in Hall 23 Stand A03.

How can your supply chain be improved with the Hybridbin?

A packaging solution like the Hybridbin provides an edge over competitors as it moves the fruit supply chain into the 21^st century.

Cost savings are the obvious benefit, by purchasing the Hybridbin removes the continuous purchase of cardboard and wood. Other benefits include savings on storage costs, increased capacity, freshness of products as a result of the improved ventilation, bruise buffer to reduce damages and reduction in transport costs.

The Hybridbin brings together plastic and wood in an effective product that aims to transform the supply chain for fruit producers. The wood provides a structural frame adding support and the plastic is made from FDA-approved materials and has smooth surfaces and rounded corners helping to reduce damage to the products.

The Hybridbin also significantly reduces shipping costs both the frame and bins can be effectively stored on return. The plastic bins can be nested and the frames can be collapsed and shipped separately. This is in comparison to containers already on the market that are stacked as opposed to sitting inside each other.

The storage benefits are also in relation to storing the bins when they are not being used. As they can be nested it saves on the space as you are able to have more in a stack. The Hybridbin is also safer than other containers as the stacks are more rigid and the risk of them toppling over is considerably lower.

It is known within the industry that wood is a cheaper alternative but has its downfalls; this is the reason why Marco Plastics have merged together plastic and wood. This provides our customers with the best of both worlds. This is a cost-effective packaging solution that delivers quality products.

The Hybridbin is the most economical agriculture plastic bulk bin on the market ensuring efficiency improvements and high food safety standards. 

The Hybridbin will be launched at the Fruit Logistica exhibition in Berlin from the 5^th – 7^th February in the US Pavilion, Hall 23, Stand A03. 

Is the automotive industry the sign of growth for 2014?

Can the automotive manufacturing lead the way for other industries towards financial growth? Or is it just a self contained green shoot for the coming year?

However it turns out, the growth figures from the end of last year for the industry make good reading for the manufacturers and good reading for returnable packaging.

Going into a New Year there are always predictions for the coming twelve months, over the last few years these predictions have increased in importance due to the economic downturn.

Keith Barnes, who is Packaging Advisor to Mintel Group, was quoted in the Materials World magazine saying that the packaging industry is “among the first to see an upturn as companies stock up again and look to product development”.

After the period of downturn where manufacturers made cut backs and cost savings they are going to want to capitalise on the predicted growth whilst also making efficiency savings by developing their methods and manufacturing processes. One area that can aid them in becoming more cost effective is returnable packaging.

Having a packaging solution that helps to reduce cost and increases capacity as well as being environmentally friendly is one way of improving the supply chain in the coming twelve months.

Integrating a reusable packing system is also a step in the right direction for years to come.  It provides greater value for money as there isn't a continuous expense of packing materials that are then thrown away. A manufacturer will see increases in efficiency in terms of better use of weight and capacity restrictions and fewer damages. Another efficiency saving is being able to remove unnecessary operations if the packaging solution is able to go straight to the assembly line. This saves on time and money.

Looking to make improvements now can aid the manufacturing process for years to come and returnable packaging is amongst those improvements. This area is increasing in importance due to the continued shift to international business models for the automotive industry.  

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.