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Tag: pallets

AI-driven Forklift Safety Solution for Pallet Network

Posted on by David Priestman

Pallet-Track has developed an innovative solution to forklift safety after partnering with Samsara, the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Cloud. The Wolverhampton-based pallet network has partnered with Samsara to develop a bespoke AI tracking solution for its fleet of forklift trucks – claimed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

Pallet-Track has invested over £100,000 in installing tracking, camera, and AI technology as part of its ongoing commitment to improving warehouse safety. While camera technology for HGVs is readily available, similar software for forklift trucks is yet to make it to the UK market, which led Pallet-Track to be the first to market by seeking a tailor-made solution. The sophisticated technology can record and analyse harsh braking, identify areas for improvement and, with the help of AI, even detect when a driver is feeling drowsy.

Anthony Ratchford Head of Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality (SHEQ) at Pallet-Track, said: “We are proud to be investing heavily in SHEQ and leading the way for forklift safety in the industry with this innovative solution. We want to ensure the behaviour of every forklift driver at Pallet-Track remains first-class, which is why we continually review our performance and look at how we can perform better.

“Our goal is to set a target safety score for all forklift drivers at our hub(s) and ensure this score is maintained by providing our drivers with familiarisation and refresher training, if, and when required.
Working with Samsara has enabled us to develop the technology we need to drive our commitment to safety forward and to utilise AI to detect, notify and report any unsafe behaviour in the warehouse.”

Philip van der Wilt, SVP and GM EMEA for Samsara added, “At Samsara, we’re dedicated to empowering our customers with innovative technology that drives safety, efficiency, and operational excellence. Pallet-Track’s innovative approach and use of multiple Samsara products to create the UK’s first AI-driven forklift safety solution is a testament to their commitment to setting new industry standards. We’re proud to support them on this journey of safety innovation.”

Stuart Godman, CEO at Pallet-Track, added: “Pallet-Track is undergoing a period of rapid growth and change, so it is vital that we continue to invest and prioritise the safety of all our colleagues. This technology is game-changing and leading edge for the industry and will continue to ensure that safety is not compromised as we continue to grow at this pace.”

Pallet-Track has a shareholder member network of more than 90 distribution specialists, which transport more than 4m pallets per year.

Food Manufacturer Transforms their Pallet Management

Posted on by David Priestman

Chelmer Foods, a leading supplier of dried fruits, nuts, seeds, and pulses for industries including cereal manufacturing, bakeries, snack foods, and food service suppliers, has partnered with Tosca to streamline its pallet management operations. By switching to Tosca’s pooled plastic pallets, Chelmer Foods significantly reduced complexity, achieved quality consistency, and bolstered customer satisfaction.

Addressing Operational Challenges with Innovative Pallet Management

Due to its business growth, Chelmer Foods faced mounting challenges associated with managing thousands of pallets across four internal locations. With a global sourcing network spanning over 20 countries, Chelmer Foods was managing around 6,000 second-hand plastic pallets, whose inconsistent quality led to ongoing issues with durability and reliability, creating operational inefficiencies. Breakages and repairs not only took up valuable resources but also impacted customer satisfaction. Additionally, Chelmer Foods needed a reliable, efficient solution to meet its customers’ fast-growing demand for food-grade plastic pallets.

Chelmer Foods recognised that a more sustainable, efficient approach was essential to meeting both operational needs and customer expectations. Simon Heather, Director at Chelmer Foods, reflects on their initial situation and the search for a dependable partner: “Since the initial discussions with Tosca began, the process has been extremely straightforward and has genuinely reduced the noise surrounding plastic pallets & associated issues.”

Tosca’s Solution: Reliable, Cost-Effective, and Customer-Centric

Chelmer Foods switched to Tosca’s MP3/DIC 1210 pooled reusable plastic pallets, immediately experiencing the benefits of this solution. Tosca’s food-grade MP3/DIC 1210 pallets offered consistently high quality, immediately eliminating the issue of broken pallets that had previously complicated Chelmer Foods’ operations. The seamless transition not only improved customer satisfaction but also built on existing relationships, as many of Chelmer Foods’ customers were already familiar with Tosca’s reliable service.

Tosca’s pooling system also relieved Chelmer Foods of the burdens associated with pallet maintenance, repairs, and logistics. No longer needing to worry about pallet tracking or breakages, Chelmer Foods was able to refocus efforts on its core business. With Tosca handling all aspects of pallet management, the efficiency gains also extended to significant savings, as the time and effort Chelmer Foods previously spent on pallet repairs and collections were drastically reduced.

The switch to Tosca’s pooled reusable plastic pallets enabled Chelmer Foods to meet the growing demand for plastic pallets and strengthened its customer relationships, as well as improving supply chain reliability. Additionally, Tosca’s established connections with many of Chelmer Foods’ customers, ensured a seamless and trusted process.

Simon Heather, Director at Chelmer Foods, is impressed with the smooth transition to Tosca’s solution: “Tosca’s pre-existing relationships with our customers have certainly made for a smooth transition, and it has gone exactly as planned.”

Collaborating for a Sustainable and Forward-Looking Supply Chain

Looking ahead, Chelmer Foods is actively collaborating with Tosca on several initiatives supporting its efficiency and sustainability goals. The two companies are exploring the potential use of Tosca pallets for inbound overseas deliveries, an initiative that would further streamline the supply chain. Chelmer Foods is also considering the introduction of Tosca’s foldable bins, aligning with industry trends that increasingly favour plastic for regulatory compliance.

Heather speaks to the value of Tosca’s adaptability and long-term collaboration, sharing, “Looking forward is always slightly tricky with demand from our customers ever-changing, but in Tosca, I know that we have a partner that is flexible and has a willingness to try to solve those demands alongside us.”

Through its partnership with Tosca, Chelmer Foods has redefined its pallet management approach, achieving operational efficiencies, enhancing customer satisfaction, and embracing a sustainable future. This successful collaboration showcases how a tailored, high-quality pooling solution can address complex supply chain needs, empowering businesses to meet evolving market demands while reducing operational burdens.

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Navigating Black Friday Logistics

Velcro Solutions for Pallet Stabilization

Posted on by David Priestman

Kite Packaging, a British B2B packaging supplier, has unveiled a versatile range of Velcro solutions for efficient cable management, pallet stabilisation and display applications.

Kite’s adjustable straps, available in black, and cable ties, available in black, red, yellow, green and blue, are designed to bundle and organise cables efficiently. Their adaptability accommodates different cable sizes with the option for colour-coordinated organisation, ensuring a neat and professional appearance while minimising tripping hazards. The combination of Velcro and a plastic buckle keeps items securely fastened, while the soft material reduces wear and tear on cables for longevity.

Available in white, Kite’s adhesive Velcro dots offer a convenient alternative to traditional fastening methods. Their reusability provides flexibility for repositioning and rearrangements, making them ideal for frequently changing environments, such as retail settings, educational institutions and healthcare facilities, where there may be temporary displays. A cost-effective and eco-friendly solution compared to single-use adhesives, these dots are designed for damage free removal, leaving no residue behind, and are suitable for various surfaces, including walls, glass, metal, plastic and fabric.

Likewise, the company’s Velcro pallet stabilisers offer long-term cost-savings and environmental benefits thanks to their reusability when it comes to securing and stabilising palletised goods. They reduce on-site waste compared to single-use counterparts, aligning with the ongoing shift towards sustainable practices. Available as a wide wrap and a single strap with a metal buckle, the durability of Velcro grants resistance to wear and tear, providing dependable, reusable option for stabilising pallets.

Rotom acquires Go Plastic Pallets

Posted on by David Priestman

Rotom has acquired Go Plastic Pallets (GPP) and All Pallets (AP), thus expanding its load carrier services in the UK and further strengthening its activities in Europe. GPP and AP are privately owned companies located in Eastbourne and New Haven.

GPP is a leading plastic load carrier distributor in the UK with a broad range of plastic pallets, boxes, (small) containers, crates and trays. With over 160 years of experience in logistics, GPP has a highly dedicated team of industry experts with a strong focus on sustainable load carrier solutions for its clients, in which 93% of sold products include recycled plastic.

All Pallets Ltd is a specialist in new and used wooden pallets, cases and crates to customers throughout the UK. With more than 20 years of experience, AP has strong trade and reconditioning activities, including inhouse transport activities providing attractive short notice delivery and pick-up of pallets from clients or suppliers.

“Both companies have been growing very rapidly in the last years and we are ready for the next phase of growth. We are very enthusiastic to have found a great match with Rotom in terms of complementary activities, business culture and ambitions for the years ahead. We see clear opportunities to expand our client services with the product and service portfolio of the Rotom group and are very excited about the potential of the combined companies in the UK and Europe,” says Jim Hardisty, MD and Co- founder of GPP/AP.

According to Rotom Europe CEO Arjan Kuiper, “GPP/AP’s extensive product/service portfolio and best practice business model in plastic load carriers will create a leading position in the UK and greatly strengthen our market approach in neighbouring EU countries. The activities in load carriers of recycled plastic and reused wooden pallets are furthermore a perfect fit with the sustainable mindset of Rotom.”

The operations of both companies will be gradually integrated with Rotom and the owners Hardisty, Chris Adam and Denzil Davies will continue to lead the companies and support further business development within the Rotom group.

Rotom supports companies with sustainable circular solutions for load carriers in 11 countries in Europe. It is able to manage the entire logistics of load carriers throughout a customer’s supply chain, from the production location up to the retrieval at the end of the chain, with a single point of contact supported by a dense network of European locations. Rotom says its load carrier solutions ensure a more efficient and sustainable customer supply chain (including a reduction of supply chain costs and an increase of reused equipment and materials).

Wooden Pallet Manufacturing and Re-use Uplift

Posted on by David Priestman

Manufacturing and reuse of wooden pallets increased significantly according to the most recent survey commissioned by the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) and the research arm of the Forestry Commission, Forest Research.

The UK Wood Pallets & Packaging Market survey showed that UK manufacturers produced an estimated 48.6 million in 2021, up 8.3 per cent from 44.9m the previous year. These manufacturers repaired and sold on for reuse a further 16.2m pallets, up from 15.6m in 2020. Overall, pallet repair was down slightly, at 48.1m, compared with 49m the year before. The annual survey is based on a questionnaire answered by TIMCON members, who manufacture approximately 80 per cent of the 50 million new pallets produced in the UK every year.

Commenting on the figures, TIMCON President John Dye said: “It is encouraging to see that this report shows a substantial uplift in the number of new pallets manufactured. While there was a small drop in the reported number of pallets inspected and repaired, this number is still similar to the number of new pallets – and I would expect to see it start to rise again in the months ahead, and also be boosted by the formal implementation of the UK Government’s eagerly awaited reuse incentive in 2025.”

Dye added that the manufacturing increase has led to corresponding growth in sawmilling output into the pallet and packaging sector of around 13 per cent, to 1.61m3. He also noted that employment in the pallet and packaging industry had risen to 4,221, a year-on-year increase of 23 per cent.

The report was presented to TIMCON’s general meeting held in Manchester during March, which also heard updates on TIMCON’s work with the UK Government, including the recent consultation on the reform of existing Packaging Waste Regulations and the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging Waste, due to come into force in 2025. As a result of this work, said Dye, Defra announced earlier this year that it was still considering the recycling target for wooden packaging and, rather than setting recycling targets for wooden pallets, it is now considering options for reuse obligations before recycling.

Thomas Hare of environmental consultant Valpak gave a further update on the expected timeline for implementing the EPR for packaging, which he said would significantly increase admin and was expected to generate a £1.7 billion in total annual costs for obligated businesses.

FEFPEB President Rob van Hoesel and General Secretary Fons Ceelaert attended the meeting. Ceelaert gave an overview of the latest developments in European environment-focused legislation as part of the European Green Deal, including the EU Circular Economy Action plan to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030. He said the wooden pallet and packaging industry was engaging with the review of packaging and packaging waste regulations (PPWR) and that FEFPEB now has an PPWR taskforce to manage the process and highlight the “unique contribution of the sector to a sustainable world.”

Charlie Law, Sustainability Director at Timber Development UK, presented the timber industry’s Net Zero Roadmap to the meeting. Timber Development UK signed up to the SME Climate Hub Commitment in January 2022, pledging to support its members in halving greenhouse gas emissions before 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Law highlighted that timber related industries in the UK are responsible for around 1.58 million tonnes of territorial CO2 emissions annually, around 0.35 per cent of the country’s total. This, he added was ‘very low compared to other industries’, such as steel (12m t, 2.7 per cent of the total) or concrete (7.3m t, 1.5 per cent of the total). He said that it was essential to measure product flows in every timber industry in order to start reducing carbon emissions, something he added the pallet and packaging sector ‘has a really good handle on’.

The TIMCON meeting heard updates on the organisation’s other work, including its collaboration with the NWPCA in the US, and the Global Wood Packaging Forum and engaging with the UK government on issues such as sourcing workers from overseas and the post-Brexit Windsor Framework.

Dye was among the members of the pallet and packaging sector who said goodbye and thank you to TIMCON Past President Gil Covey, who is retiring from the industry at the end of April, after 33 years. Covey also served as FEFPEB President for more than 10 years before becoming Treasurer of the organisation, and is currently Non-Executive Director of James Jones & Sons (Pallets and Packaging) Ltd.

Calls to Reform Plastic Packaging Tax

Posted on by David Priestman

Less than one in five of forecasted businesses have registered for the UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) since its launch in April 2022, casting doubts on the effectiveness of the levy and whether it is achieving its environmental goals. The low registration rate and “baffling qualifying criteria” has led to calls to thoroughly reform or completely scrap the tax.

A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request from goplasticpallets.com has revealed that only 3,426 businesses (17%) of HMRC’s forecasted 20,000 manufacturers and importers of plastic packaging signed up for PPT between its introduction on 1 April 2022 and 16 February 2023. PPT applies to plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into the UK, that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic. A lack of clarity surrounding the qualifying criteria has been cited as one reason behind the low registration rate, whilst HMRC has also received criticism for determining which companies and products are subject to the tax.

goplasticpallets.com argues that it has been unjustly targeted by the PPT, bearing a disproportionate financial burden despite their environmentally-friendly practices and products. The company offers the largest range of sustainable plastic pallets and pallet boxes in the UK, the majority of which are made from recycled plastic; however, a limited number are made from virgin plastic, and therefore subject to the tax.

Jim Hardisty, Managing Director, said: “I do believe HMRC started off with good intentions by looking to drive down the use of single-use and limited-use plastics and packaging, such as plastic water bottles, food packaging, shrink wrap, etc. However, as more people asked questions due to a lack of clarity, it became apparent there was no logic or consistency around qualifying criteria. It was at this point that we were informed our virgin products would be subject to the tax. It’s baffling.

“The plastic pallets we supply to our customers are robust, durable and will often last 10 or 15 years within the supply chain – they should not be considered “packaging”. In fact, they offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional wooden pallets, which are often discarded after a few supply chain cycles and contribute to deforestation. We have long been a sustainability-focused business, through our products, our industry-first recycling scheme, and the work we do with charities and environmental organisations. It’s bizarre that we are being penalised for something we are fighting against – the prevalence of single-use plastic.”

According to the same FOI request, HMRC’s revenue target for PPT appears to be on track despite the low registration rates. The department collected approximately £195 million from April 2022 to the end of January 2023, after initially estimating £200 million for the entire year, before later revising it to £300 million.

Hardisty revealed that goplasticpallets.com has already paid £146,667 so far, covering three-quarters of the first year of PPT, with the total figure expected to surpass £200,000. “Given that HMRC originally projected 20,000 companies would pay £200 million in the first year, averaging £10,000 each, it seems that goplasticpallets.com is paying significantly more than anticipated for selling environmentally beneficial products. There’s a clear gap between the government’s expectations and the reality of the tax’s implementation. My message would be to scrap it completely and start again with a focus on single-use plastic. I’m willing to meet with Rishi Sunak, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer when PPT was devised and introduced, to fight the case of sustainably-focused businesses like us, who have been battered by a tax that just isn’t fit for purpose.”

• Only 17% of forecasted businesses have actually registered for the tax
• Companies like GPP, have been unfairly hit. The tax should really focus on cutting down single use plastic, not sustainable plastic pallets that are used for 10+ years across the supply chain
• Despite the lack of registered firms, HMRC will comfortably exceed forecasted revenue, begging the question, “are they charging too much?”
• The qualifying criteria is called “baffling” and the tax is labelled “not fit for purpose”
• Logistics expert calls for reform and wants conversation with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was Chancellor when the tax was introduced

Kite Launches Ventilated Pallet Wrap

Posted on by David Priestman

Leading UK packaging supplier, Kite Packaging, has launched an innovative ventilated pallet wrap ideal for packaging products that require ventilation to maintain their quality in storage and transit. This includes fresh produce, dairy products, meat, fish, beverages, and refrigerated and frozen goods. It is also intended for pharmaceutical and chemical products, animal feed and horticulture. The film is BRC certified, making it ideal for food products.

Small holes in the film’s surface stops condensation from forming and becoming trapped within stretch wrap layers. It does this by allowing air to escape via the holes, preventing any moisture from forming and spoiling packaged goods. Ventilated pallet wrap is 100% recyclable and uses less material due to its perforated surface, offering a cost saving when compared to other films.

Pallet Wrap Film

Manufactured from blown film, it offers great puncture resistance and strength, keeping goods stable and well-protected on a pallet during handling and transport. It comes pre-stretched to the optimum elastic point to ensure high quality adherence to products and pallets, further strengthening its protective qualities. Ventilated pallet wrap is compatible with all machine and hand dispensers.

To learn more about the products and services available at Kite Packaging, please visit www.kitepackaging.co.uk

2022: Year of 10 Million Pallet Movements

Posted on by David Priestman

Upholding its position as industry leader, between 1 January and 31 December 2022, the Palletways Group belonging to Imperial, a DP World Company, which operates in the UK, the Benelux, Germany, Iberia, Italy and Hungary, transported almost ten million pallets.

To further strengthen the network, ensure operational efficiency and enhanced customer service levels, last year the Group appointed 27 independent transport companies to work within the network with recruitment hot-spots in the UK, Iberia, Italy and Germany.

The Group also celebrated four years since it expanded its coverage across the continent with the launch of its Hungarian network in Biatorbagy. Since its launch in 2018, Hungary’s 110+-team have handled 550,000 domestic and international pallet deliveries, its 80-strong fleet have moved 240,000 tonnes of consignments – the equivalent of 10,000 fully-loaded trucks – which have covered more than four million kilometres. Members provide 100 per cent coverage across the country and the network handles the shipping requirements of more than 700 customers.

Luis Zubialde, Palletways’ CEO, said the Group is proud of its performance during 2022. “We’re encouraged with our volumes, particularly when set against the backdrop of numerous external factors including Brexit and the driver shortage.

“As we look ahead to 2023, with the prospect of global economic uncertainty and the knock-on effect on spend, I’m reassured with the resilience across the Group. I’d also like to commend our member recruitment team who have performed excellently over the past 12 months to strengthen our network. I know they’ll continue to do so as we look to increase our presence across the UK and Europe into 2023 and beyond.

“With several exciting developments in the pipeline for Q1 2023, including the launch of two new hubs in our Iberian and Italian networks, we remain focused on delivering an even greater service for our members and their customers.”

Network pallet movements

Rob Gittins, Managing Director for Palletways UK, added: “Our network of members in the UK worked exceptionally hard during 2022 to overcome a challenging market, while still providing excellent service. We also welcomed 11 new members to the UK network. It is this targeted recruitment of resilient and dedicated logistics companies that creates a buoyant and cohesive membership. Despite the economic outlook, I’m confident the robustness of our network will stand us in good stead during the next 12 months.”

Founded in the UK in 1994, Palletways specialises in the express delivery of palletised freight. It is Europe’s largest pallet network, with more depots and larger volumes than any other freight forwarder, handling more than 45,000 pallets every day which equates to one pallet every two
seconds.

About Palletways

Palletways is part of the Imperial Group. Founded in the UK in 1994, specialises in the express delivery of palletised freight. Palletways has Europe’s largest pallet network, with more depots and larger volumes than any other freight forwarder. Palletways handles more than 45,000 pallets every day. This equates to one pallet every two seconds.

Since its launch, Palletways has built a strategic network of over 400 depots and 20 hubs, serving 24 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

As Palletways’ operations continue, we’re committed to keeping essential supply chains open, despite the challenge of COVID-19. Palletways’ top priority is the health and safety of our employees, customers and communities. That’s why we closely follow government and medical advice to put safety at the forefront of our daily activities.

Survey reveals healthier alternatives to the fore

Posted on by David Priestman

The food and drink ‘reformulation revolution’ continues apace in the UK’s supermarkets, according to Christmas supermarket survey figures released by CHEP UK & Ireland.

As retailers continue to implement the new high fat, salt, sugar (HFSS) supermarket store of the future, reformulated products play an increasingly significant part in influencing consumer behaviour.

Impacted categories retain a strong off-fixture presence thanks to reformulation. Across these categories, the share of compliant food displays increased from 24% to 47% year-on-year. Breakfast cereals lead the way, with 94% of cereal displays compliant compared to just 30% last year. The usual rise in alcohol displays for World Cups and Christmas combined generated a 32% annual increase in off-fixture locations, and general merchandise surged 44%.

Sean Field, CHEP UK&I Store Solutions Category Manager – Northern Europe, said: “There is a ‘reformulation revolution’ underway in UK stores. Innovative manufacturing and creative marketing combine to generate off-fixture opportunities that more than recuperate the retreat of non-compliant foods moving in-fixture.

“For most consumers, new arrivals from manufacturers like Mr Kipling, Pringles, and Jacob’s look like any other new products with fresh flavours. In fact, they are highly effective methods to overcome the challenge of the HFSS legislation and put these brands in the familiar position of front and centre in the supermarket space race.

“Our industry toolkit recommended using the 2022 twin trading peak of World Cup and Christmas to gather data on consumer reactions to new approaches to store layouts, with different products on display in unexpected locations. Retailers and manufacturers appear to be taking up this opportunity with relish to help reimagine the store the future.”

Other survey findings

Other key statistics covering the UK’s off-fixture displays include:

  • Overall, off-fixture displays increased by 12% as retailers created new space, often due to more compact checkout layouts and streamlined counter offers
  • The usual rise in alcohol displays for World Cups and Christmas combined generated a 32% annual increase in off-fixture locations, and general merchandise surged 44%
  • Around 16,000 or 19% of food displays were still in non-compliant locations – a slight increase on the most recent figures registered 16%
  • Confectionary continues to retreat in-fixture with 44% fewer displays off-fixture despite the festive season. Biscuits reduced percentagewise even further at 80%

Bryan Roberts, an industry contributor to the Store of the Future toolkit, added: “The final quarter of 2022 is all about data collection. Manufacturers and retailers are testing the effectiveness of the ‘reformulation revolution’ to evolve product and sales approaches further in 2023.

“But Christmas is not the end of the story for the impact of HFSS on the store of the future. There are still many more influences on effective product layouts and theatre from the continent that can add value in the battle for customers.”

For more debate and discussion about the long-term impact of HFSS, CHEP UK & Ireland has created a store of the future webpage available to everyone to engage with.

Plastic – an advantage in winter conditions

Posted on by David Priestman

Construction work in cold, ice and snow – the winter months are a great challenge for the building and civil engineering sector. Advances in technology as well as the development of new materials and products mean that construction sites can now run smoothly almost without interruptions, even during the winter months.

With more than 60 years of know-how in plastics processing, the Craemer Group is actively contributing to this trend with its range of high-quality products made from injection moulding. For the construction sector, the family-owned company offers a robust range of pallets, boxes and containers made of pure polyethylene (PE). All products are easy to handle, load and fill, empty and clean.

Craemer, a leading manufacturer of durable and sustainable load carriers and containers made of robust plastic, benefits from decades of experience and its own modern technical centre at the group’s headquarters in Herzebrock-Clarholz, Germany. In this centre, research and development, design and tool making are closely interconnected – together they form the cradle for innovations.

This is the hub where new products are developed and already existing products are further improved, while practical trials are performed to determine their suitability for use, various areas of application and different framework conditions. This is also the place where cross-site teams deal with interdisciplinary approaches and sustainable solutions, using alternative materials and combinations of plastic and metal.

International presence – interdisciplinary expertise

Thanks to its international presence, a network of sales partners and close customer contacts, Craemer says it is able to anticipate and pick up market requirements and trends at an early stage. This permits the group to quickly develop solutions and implement them in innovative products and processes across various sectors of industry. In the plastics business area, this comprises pallets and pallet boxes, skips, tubs and buckets, bins and universal containers for the building and civil engineering sector.

The construction industry also benefits from Craemer’s many years of interdisciplinary experience and expertise with a wide range of materials, as well as from continuous investments in new technologies.

The construction industry is one of the most crucial economic drivers. Due to many upstream and downstream branches of industry, numerous application fields and fast processes typical for construction sites, this sector is characterised by a high turnover of materials and a large amount of transport. Robust, handy and durable items for transport and storage are therefore indispensable for ensuring smoothly running processes.

Plastic: hard-wearing and durable

As a developer and manufacturer of high-quality plastic containers for storage and transport, Craemer knows the requirements of the industry and has optimised its product range for construction works to match these. Whether sun, rain, ice or snow, in freezing and hot temperatures: With the robust and durable Craemer portfolio, the construction industry is always well prepared for every season.

Plastic products from Craemer, i. e. pallets and containers made of high-quality polyethylene (PE), are absolutely weatherproof and break-resistant – even after years of intensive use.

Compared to other materials, plastic also offers many advantages for outdoor use. Craemer has bundled these advantages in the PE portfolio for building and civil engineering. The relevant products impress with their high resistance and durability as well as their long service life – thanks to single-mould production and their stable construction. Due to the thick-walled products, the entire portfolio is highly shockproof and impact-resistant. The low weight makes daily handling considerably easier. And what’s more: the seamless manufacturing process and the smooth surfaces of the plastic products ensure easy emptying, cleaning and drying.

Craemer’s ready mortar skip

Craemer says its ready mortar skip (FMK) is the number 1 in construction. Specially developed for transporting ready mortar, this skip is incomparably impact-resistant and optimised for the tough everyday work on building sites. Massive wear ribs prevent the floor from chafing. The robust D-SMK skip for thin-bed and silo mortar is the ideal complement to the ready mortar skip.

Just like the FMK, the D-SMK has sturdy brackets and handles and a high load-bearing capacity. Provided that it is properly used and regularly maintained, the TÜV certifies a safe service life of five years for both craneable skips.

In addition to the classic FMK ready mortar skip and the D-SMK mortar tub, Craemer also offers mortar boxes, construction buckets, pallet boxes, storage containers such as stack & nest boxes and stack & nest containers for space-saving transport, universal containers for safe storage or round containers for mixing and blending with different capacities for the construction industry. Beyond that, there are various pallets for light or heavy loads.

Suitable for use in coldest winter

All products can be used for different trades and convince through high wall thickness and breaking resistance. They are all temperature-resistant from Arctic chill of up to -30°C to scorching heat of +40°C, with short-term heat resistance of up to +90°C, so that they can be used in every season. Due to their extreme temperature resistance, they remain dimensionally stable and reliable – day in, day out… in any weather.

Dedicated fields for prints on the products provide space for individually stamped logos, lettering or numbering. In addition to the standard colours, they are also available in special colours on request.

Craemer’s weather-resistant construction portfolio has been tried and tested for safety and durability. On top of economical aspects, the plastic products are also sustainable thanks to their recyclability.

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