Load carriers for the beverage industry

In addition to hygiene and safety, durability and economy also play a significant role in producing, filling and packaging of beverages. Craemer Group, a world leader in plastic logistics solutions, has developed a new generation of sturdy, hygienic, non-slip beverage pallets. Also interesting for the beverage industry are pallet boxes from Craemer.

When it comes to hygiene and safety, processes in the beverage industry are subject to stringent requirements and legal regulations. Plastic pallets make a decisive contribution. Craemer Group, an experienced partner in beverage logistics, is a pioneer in plastics processing: Back in 1967, Craemer developed the world’s first one-piece injection-moulded plastic pallet. Sturdy, hygienic, durable, safe, hard-wearing, versatile, maintenance-free – these are the main characteristics of today’s load carriers that are made of high-quality, food-safe and recyclable polyethylene (PE).

In the brewing and beverage industry or in the beverage wholesale trade, the following applies: When producing, filling, packaging, transporting and storing sensitive raw materials and goods, hygienic and absolutely reliable handling must be ensured. For safe (production-) technical and (intra-) logistical processes, Craemer provides load carriers made of robust plastic that are characterised by high functionality, load-bearing capacity, process reliability, cost-effectiveness and sustainability.

The innovative industry solutions are pool-compatible and can be used universally along the entire logistics chain. They guarantee safe beverage handling in automated systems, when using forklift trucks, in high racks or when storing, for example, containers with concentrates in a refrigerated environment.

Versatile in use

Whether light or heavy beverage packages, Craemer develops customised solutions for storing and transporting barrels and containers, cardboard boxes and plastic crates containing bottles or six-packs of cans. The CR plastic pallet, for example, is one of Craemer’s successful load carriers used in the beverage industry around the world. Perfect for heavy loads and all types of containers: the Euro L1 in the size of the Euro wooden pallet (load-bearing capacity in high racks 1250kg) and L3, the multi-use pallet (2000kg) with evenly closed runners, optionally available with Palgrip anti-slip plates (L3) for even better material flow. The TC Palgrip is easy to clean with completely closed top deck and smooth lower deck.

Thanks to the Palgrip anti-slip coating on the top deck, which is a standard feature, all these heavy-duty pallet models hold the load safely even in damp conditions or inclined positions. Controllable via the conventional stacker cranes, palletisers and depalletisers, they run maintenance-free and smoothly on all standard hoists and conveyors, and are suitable for roller conveyors, chain conveyors and automated high-rack warehouses.

Another novelty in the Craemer portfolio is the large-volume CB3 High pallet box. With a height of 1140mm, it provides extra protection during transport and storage in the beverage industry.

Heavy-duty pallets

Whether milk, mineral water, lemonade, juice or alcohol – each type of beverage places its own demands on the packaging and on handling the various processes. Craemer pallets permit a wide range of applications. With its external dimensions (l x w x h: 1200 x 800 x 150mm), the Euro L1 corresponds exactly to the wooden Euro pallet. Unlike wood, the one-piece PE injection-moulded pallet is extremely robust and durable – without any signs of wear or chipping. The pallet is provided with five reinforcement profiles, permitting a load-bearing capacity of 7500kg in static condition and 1250kg during transport or in high racks.

Craemer’s new L3 plastic pallet, a further development of the C3-5 pallet, is also particularly hard-wearing and durable. It is the ideal all-purpose pallet for the brewing and beverage industry. Whether for transporting and storing packages with PET or glass bottles, aluminium or steel cans, composite beverage cartons or HDPE bottles in beverage crates, foil or cardboard containers, it is suitable for all purposes. The L3 boasts a high load-bearing capacity (7500kg static load, 2000kg dynamic load, up to 2000kg in high racks) and slip resistance.

Other features: In industrial size with dimensions of 1200x1000x160mm (L x W x H), it is equipped with three welded runners, 5mm outer rims and five corrosion-protected reinforcement profiles.

Craemer says its completely closed plastic pallets of the TC series with full-surface Palgrip anti-slip deck also perfectly meet the requirements of the beverage industry. The coated top deck and smooth lower deck of the TC Palgrip are characterised by excellent cleaning properties, while the cavity- and rib-free design of the sturdy and durable hygiene pallet reliably protects against contamination or water ingress.

The load-bearing capacity in the rack can optionally be increased to up to 2000kg with the help of integrated, corrosion-protected metal reinforcement profiles. Chamfered edges on both sides of the non-welded runners allow for optimal transport with ground conveyors. The dimensionally stable TC Palgrip is available in Euro size of 1200 x 800mm with three runners (TC1) and in industrial size of 1200 x 1000mm with three (TC3) or five runners (TC3-5). The height of the TC pallets is 160mm.

All reusable pallets from Craemer have the same properties: Thanks to their high quality, they retain their shape even with intensive use and increasing number of trips – thus making them durable, sustainable and economical. In addition, the robust load carriers can withstand temperatures of -30 to +40°C, with short-term heat resistance of up to 90°C. For seamless tracking and tracing, Craemer pallets are optionally available with RFID transponders. Dedicated fields for prints provide space for individually stamped logos, lettering or numbering.

Pallet box in industrial size

The large-volume CB3 High is a versatile, pallet box for the beverage industry. With a height of 1140mm, a capacity of approx. 1000 litres and a weight of 46 or 49kg, it is suitable for particularly large quantities – with extra safety. The sturdy ribbed lower deck provides additional strength to the container floor, integrated stacking cams secure the hold. The hard-wearing, sturdily constructed CB3 High is available in industrial size with closed walls and three longitudinal runners or nine feet. Additional ribs above the entry openings provide increased impact protection against forklift tines, while the seamless construction and smooth interior walls ensure easy emptying, cleaning and drying.

The pallet box is optionally available with one open 1” and one open 2” drain port. If necessary, markings facilitate the later drilling of the standard closed holes with integrated thread. Custom-fit lids are available as additional accessories.

 

Exporta launches new technologies

Exporta has installed two new pieces of technology at its Kinross manufacturing facility in the UK, which it says will be of huge benefit to its customer base.

Digital Printing Machine

Exporta says product branding is key to its customers – this could be five Euro Containers with a logo on the side or thousands of pallets with a logo and sequential numbering. Exporta has long been offering this service, but has installed a new digital printing machine in-house, meaning it can provide product printing quicker and to a higher standard.

Head of technology and product development, John Wilkin, has been involved with this project from the start and is delighted to see his plans come to fruition: “We know how important branding can be, so to make it easier for customers to get this from Exporta has been an important goal. This investment is something that will immediately add value to our offering.”

The new machine, installed at the end of June 2022, is up and running and ready to go. It’s designed to work on any plastic product with a large enough surface area to print on, meaning it will work with the majority of products in the Exporta range.

The benefit of branding goods include brand exposure, identification, and the prevention of lost or stolen goods. Sending out goods within branded containers or pallets provides a strong opportunity for additional advertising and brand exposure. Details such as a phone number and a web address can also be added. This also helps to ensure goods aren’t lost or stolen as they are clearly marked. In terms of identification, printing can be used to add things like sequential numbering or colour coding to products to aid in picking and general warehouse operations.

Pallet Load Testing

How often have you been on the cusp of purchasing a new pallet for your system, but you’ve been unsure how the pallet will perform with your standard goods load? This no longer needs to be a concern, as Exporta has installed a load testing machine to test your load on a potential pallet.

Exporta claims that this is a unique offering to the UK market and something that has taken months of planning. The system allows Exporta to measure the performance of a pallet on racking and on a forklift. The width of the racking can be tailored to match the racking the pallet will be used on. Exporta can test both racking pallets as well as testing nestable pallets for their dynamic load and it can then provide an approved report on the results to give you confidence when you’re purchasing a pallet for your warehouse or shipping system.

Exporta measures the deflection of the pallet with your load over a 24-hour period, and then measures the time it takes to return to its original form once the load has been removed. It can then ensure that the pallet meets the regulation deflection tolerance as required by ISO8611.

 

 

35 Years of Plastic Innovation

2020 was a big anniversary year for a big name in the transport and logistics packaging sector, writes Paul Hamblin.

The bekuplast group of companies is one of the leading manufacturers of reusable plastic transport packaging in Europe. This year the company celebrates its 35th anniversary. The administration building at the company headquarters in Ringe, Germany catches the eye even from a distance. The green façade elements are reminiscent of containers stacked on top of each other. The resemblance is appropriate because competence in reusable containers is the USP of this family-run company. The green concept has a long tradition at bekuplast: the first plastic containers the company produced in 1985 were intended for transporting plants. Today the bekuplast group of companies develops, produces and sells reusable solutions worldwide, which are used in all industries.

The plastic containers, trays and pallets are produced at two locations, in Germany and Poland. At the German head office alone about 20 million products are manufactured annually. On a production area of 12.1 hectares, production is carried out with energy-efficient, high-performance injection moulding machines and modern robot technology. In addition to production, the development of innovative reusable solutions for special logistical requirements is one of the core competences.

Driving logistics forward with sustainable solutions is not only the goal, but also the motivation of the company, which developed the first such solutions back in the early 1990s. Hinged containers have revolutionised logistics, and in many sectors, such as fresh produce logistics, it is impossible to imagine life without these volume reduction containers today. Empty collapsible containers from bekuplast can be simply folded up after use, reducing volume by up to 80%.

The innovative strength of the company is also evident in many other areas. As a partner of leading system suppliers bekuplast knows the requirements of intralogistics precisely and so brought
the ‘contecline’ onto the market at the beginning of 2020. The contecline container series is specially designed for use in miniload and shuttle systems and is convincing with its extremely quiet, safe and trouble-free operation in conveyor technology. Solutions such as the company’s award-winning universal tray also demonstrate this innovative strength. Even in economically
turbulent times bekuplast is looking ahead positively. The company is well positioned for the future with new challenges and great opportunities.

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