Subscribe

Tag: loadhog

Returnable Packaging Reduces Costs, Boosts Efficiency

Posted on by David Priestman

With rising labour, fuel and packaging costs, many companies today are seeking solutions that deliver lower logistics costs. Returnable transport packaging (RTP) solutions from Loadhog – including durable plastic containers, reusable pallet lids and sturdy transport dollies – enable you to secure savings that really add up.

Short payback

Loadhog’s solutions avoid the ongoing costs of buying single-trip packaging. By replacing cardboard packaging with rugged plastic containers, you not only reduce your packaging costs within a short payback period but also provide better protection for your goods, slashing the cost of damaged items. In addition, the containers are designed to boost productivity. They feature handles and grip points that enable ergonomic handling, while the attached lid containers allow fast and easy access to goods without the need for time-consuming opening and resealing.

For pallet loads, Loadhog has developed the award-winning Pallet Lid – available in UK, Euro and Half Euro sizes – as an alternative to stretch wrap. The reusable plastic lid features retractable straps and an integrated tensioning mechanism to secure the load. It not only eliminates the cost of single-use stretch wrap, but also secures labour savings – taking an average of just 20 seconds to secure a load, compared to 180 seconds for shrink wrapping – to give a typical return on investment of less than 12 months.

Loadhog’s various containers – along with foldable sleeves for bulky items – can be stacked on the company’s Dolly Max wheeled platform and secured with a Pallet Lid to create a rolling container system. With its mix-and-match design, Loadhog’s Dolly Max is the most versatile rolling container system on the market, providing flexibility for your supply chain. And, with Dolly Max units simply wheeled from vehicles into delivery points, you avoid the need for a pallet truck, saving even more.

Better vehicle fill

In addition to reducing packaging costs, RTP can secure transport savings in terms of both fuel and labour. The Pallet Lid enables double stacking of loads to optimise use of space in delivery vehicles, thereby reducing the number of journeys and the fuel required. Using the Dolly Max system instead of traditional roll cages also improves use of vehicle space. With 64 Dolly Max units fitting in a 40 ft trailer – compared to just 45 roll cages – vehicle fill is increased by over 40%.

In fact, the sheer weight of metal roll cages often means that loading capacity is reached before a vehicle is full, so the savings can be even greater. There are savings when it comes to return journeys too, as Dolly Max is designed for fast deconstruction and space optimisation. With containers nesting, sleeves folding and the Dolly Max frame featuring castor cups for stable stacking, the return ratio is typically 3/1.

Security is another area in which savings can be achieved, in terms of safeguarding both goods and packaging assets. Loadhog offers sealing, labelling, tracking and branding options for its entire RTP range.

similar news

New Loadhog Branding Aims to Highlight Sustainability Focus

 

Versatile Rolling Container System

Posted on by David Priestman

Returnable transport packaging (RTP) has moved on significantly since the emergence of that retail staple, the metal roll cage. Manufactured from durable plastic, Loadhog says its Dolly Max Rolling Container System delivers more versatility, a safer user experience, greater manoeuvrability and improved vehicle fill.

Many retailers are turning away from single-use packaging and looking to RTP to provide sustainable and costeffective transport of goods between their distribution centres and stores. While pallet loads are usually stretch wrapped on automated wrappers and ship from the DC, returning goods from the stores requires time-consuming manual wrapping or boxing up. Roll cages have helped overcome the drawbacks of pallets and boxes in the supply chain but they have their own disadvantages, being notoriously difficult to handle and often featuring sharp metal touchpoints.

The latest Dolly Max Rolling Container System from Loadhog takes the humble roll cage to a new level, according to its manufacturer. This modular system features the Dolly Max wheeled deck, which can be used in conjunction with containers (for segregated products), a foldable sleeve (for bulk items/uglies) or – with the addition of a shelf – a combination of the two in a hybrid solution for mixed goods. The sleeve is fixed to the Dolly Max by two foot-operated locks avoiding the need for staff to bend down to secure it in place. It also features a drop-down door for easy access with picking in warehouses and replenishing at store level.

With its mix-and-match design, Loadhog says it is the most versatile rolling container system on the market, giving users the flexibility to adapt to the fluctuating nature of goods within their supply chain. Loads can be secured with Loadhog’s reusable Half Euro Pallet Lid, which features retractable straps and an integrated tensioning mechanism. Other accessories include a quick-connect
pull handle, a sleeve tray for containers to be stacked on and a tow hitch to link dollies in a train for easy manoeuvrability around warehouses and stores.

One-Touch Brake

The lightweight Dolly Max is easy to manoeuvre and features an easyaccess, one-touch brake that is more ergonomic than the simple castor brakes found on roll cages. The ease of brake
application encourages use, enhancing safety for employees, and the innovative mechanism ensures the unit remains still even on a sloped tail lift.

Loadhog says the Dolly Max system offers 20% more vehicle fill compared to standard roll cages, reducing carbon footprint. In addition, the embodied carbon of the recycled polypropylene system is significantly less than that of roll cages manufactured from coated metals, securing further sustainability gains. Also, the tare weight and footprint of the Dolly Max system enable it to be utilised on all vehicle types, even smaller sprinter vans.

As well as avoiding the need for a forklift or pump truck, the system can also be attached to automated guided vehicles (AGVs) for easy manoeuvrability around the DC. The system has been designed for fast deconstruction to ensure efficient returns, with containers nesting, sleeves folding, and the Dolly Max frame featuring castor cups for stable stacking. The return ratio is typically
Loadhog also offers labelling, tracking and branding options for all elements of the system to safeguard both packaging assets and goods. Of course, branding enhances the in-store aesthetic,
especially if the packaging doubles up as a product display unit.

The versatility of the Dolly Max has resulted in a recent order for 10,000 units, which will be used for nationwide distribution of automotive products. Having supplied RTP solutions to many high-street brands – including Harvey Nichols, Pets at Home, Sky, TK Maxx and Dunelm – Loadhog says it has considerable expertise in meeting the logistics needs of today’s retailers.

similar news

Next Gen Rolling Container System

 

Next Gen Rolling Container System

Posted on by David Priestman

Packaging innovator Loadhog has been working with its customers in the post, parcel, and ecommerce industries to design a new versatile rolling container system. This system offers increased versatility, better vehicle fill, improved handling efficiencies, and carbon reductions vs existing systems on the market today.

Loadhog’s new modular system can be adapted for transporting and storing. The versatility offers possibilities for segregated goods within various container types, loose goods within a bulk sleeve, and mixed goods within the same footprint by utilising Loadhog’s Sleeve Stacking Tray. The new dolly base enables users to adapt to the fluctuating nature of goods within their supply chain.

The versatility of the unit has won an initial order of 10,000 units, which will be incorporated into a new project for a global automotive parts distributor. The distributor will utilise the unit for delivery to independent garages, automotive retailers, and home delivery.

Loadhog’s R&D team began investigating the development of a new rolling container system after establishing a trend in the market, with numerous customers enquiring about alternative substitutions to the traditional roll cage, wrapped pallets, and pallet shippers.

Loadhog’s new dolly base, Dolly Max, boasts an innovative easy access one-touch brake mechanism, which is quicker and more ergonomic than the simple castor brake found on most cages today, ensuring the brake is always applied. The rolling container system also offers maximum transport efficiencies with +20% increased vehicle fill vs standard roll cages due to the standard ½ EU footprint and max capacity design.

Both systems have been designed to be deconstructed and returned as efficiently as possible. The bulk system has a 3/1 return ratio and ergonomic sleeve locks, with large safety shoe access to speed up system deconstruction. The rolling containers can be linked and manoeuvred by AGVs to reduce marshalling time. It can also be nested and stacked on MHE to transport multiple empty units, speeding up the returns process significantly.

The rolling container system has various features making Loadhog’s Dolly Max safer than substitute systems, including the brake’s coefficient of friction ensuring the unit remains still even on a sloped tail lift. The unit also presents no sharp metal touch points unlike roll cages, it doesn’t require MHE unlike pallet shippers, and the ease of brake application ensures the brake is always applied.

Innovative designer, Loadhog, won a King’s Award for Innovation in 2023 for their Pallet Lid invention. The Pallet Lid sits on top of the rolling container system to consolidate the load ready for transportation, no stretch wrap or banding required.

New Wheeled Dollies Tailored to the Supply Chain

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Reusable packaging innovator, Loadhog has recently launched wheeled Dollies which have been designed specifically to add benefits at every stage of the supply chain.

Achieving a lean operation relies heavily on handling efficiency, allowing users to move multiple and heavy payloads as capably and easily as possible.

With customer journeys changing, buying habits fluctuating and product popularities varying continually supply chains have never needed to be as versatile as possible right now.

As digital adoption increases, local stores have begun implementing home delivery distribution networks for groceries, causing a rise in the need for transportation aids and complete end-to-end packaging systems. As businesses also look to cut costs, and future proof their operations, their attention is focussed on improving efficiencies.

Whether for an application within the light and fast e-commerce world or a heavy-duty industrial operation a Loadhog Dolly can add significant value. It can be manufactured in recycled polypropylene making for a greener, more environmentally friendly transportation assistance.

The wheeled Dollies enable the safe, effortless movement of either 600 x 400 and 300 x 400 containers, crates or collapsible boxes. Most Loadhog Dollies will transport up to 250kg and the strongest deck will move a payload of up to 500kg.

The Loadhog Dolly-64-210 and 250 incorporate the uni-link feature which allows short side and long side linking to maximise the versatility of load movement.

Loadhog managing director, Shaun Khan commented: “At this time, the ability to manoeuvre a diverse range of goods from one end of the supply chain to the other is essential. More and more companies are utilising wheeled bulk containers and other more modular transportation systems.”

The wheeled Dolly can be combined with the Pallet Lid to create a mobile packaging system offering increased vehicle fill and return efficiencies in comparison with any roll cage.

Standard Loadhog Dollies can be customised with alternative wheel material, braked casters, customer colours, printed and embossed branding, labelling and RFID.

Loadhog has unveiled new branding last year to “emphasise its constant determination to drive innovation in returnable packaging”.

 

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.