Versatile load carriers

Together with Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH in Göppingen, SSI Schäfer has developed an extraordinary container concept. The individualized solution flexibly accommodates countless model railway parts in a wide variety of geometries through a simple but intelligent modification of a standard container. According to the company, this means that "in-house processes are more cost-efficient and reliable than ever before".

Previously, Märklin had used around 38,000 load carriers with around 13 different inserts for the internal transportation of the high-quality and sensitive parts. However, due to the enormous variety of products and different geometries, it had become increasingly difficult to find an optimal load carrier for the production process, as the different housings and locomotive superstructures no longer fitted exactly into the inserts. In addition, a great deal of packaging was required to protect the model trains in the container from dirt and impact. And finally, the number of load carriers was no longer sufficient, meaning that the production of the model trains had to be adapted to the availability of containers.

"We can offer the ideal container for all applications and conditions to suit the user's requirements"

Peter Kerth Bito Lagertechnik Photo: Bito Lagertechnik

"In order to develop a suitable container solution, we chose SSI Schaefer as our partner," says Michael Ludwig from Märklin Bros. "For this project, we wanted to have someone at our side who is also the market leader in its segment. We need a very stable, flexible and lightweight load carrier that can be easily adapted to our many products and their geometry. It also had to be compatible with our roller transport trolleys, be easy to wash, heat-resistant and easy to handle, and guarantee safe transportation of the goods across plants".

The housings and locomotive superstructures are picked up by trapezoidal mandrels in the container. Photo: SSI Schäfer

The decision was made in favor of a classic, injection-molded standard stacking container made of plastic type 14/6-2G from SSI Schäfer, which is characterized by stability, robustness, temperature resistance and insensitivity to oils, acids and alkalis, and was individually modified for Märklin so that it now meets all of the company's requirements.

Ideal container for model railroad production

The highlight of the solution lies inside the container: the sides of the load carrier are provided with slots that fulfill three key functions. They provide optimum ventilation for the painted parts and drain water during washing processes. Above all, however, they guide a plastic strip system that provides the parts in the container with the necessary stability and safety. Depending on the requirements, there are now two to four plastic strips with trapezoidal locating spikes in the container. This means that the housings and locomotive superstructures are only picked up on the inside, while the sensitive outside of the parts remains contact-free. This guarantees a universal fit for a wide range of product variants.

As Ludwig emphasizes, there is "no slipping, no abrasion and still easy handling, as the parts are simply placed on the device". There is also no need to repack the goods in fleece.

The new system also offers "cost savings in purchasing of around 40 percent compared to the old thermoforming containers, with a significant increase in performance". Märklin has thus reduced the number of inserts from 13 to five and the number of containers from 38,000 to around 25,000.

The Bito EQ folding box can be folded up with just a few handles and is still very stable for transporting heavy loads. Photo: Bito Lagertechnik

Bito-Lagertechnik Bittmann GmbH in Meisenheim is one of the leading specialists for industry-oriented storage solutions. One area is the production and sale of high-quality plastic containers, which guarantee customers from a wide range of industries in Germany and around the world an optimal flow of intralogistics processes and are used for storage, order picking and goods transportation.

Versatile, cost-efficient and reusable

Bito's container system consists of different series and includes boxes for storing small parts through to large capacity containers, mini boxes, stackable and reusable containers through to containers and trays for automated warehouses.

"Our plastic boxes are robust, yet comparatively light, cost-efficient, reusable and therefore environmentally friendly." Says Peter Kerth. Head of Product Management at Bito. "Ergonomics for the user always plays a major role in our developments. We can also offer the ideal container for all areas of use and conditions to suit the user's requirements, including customized containers on request." The classic "Bito XL Motion" system container is specially designed for use in automated warehouses and in storage areas with a high proportion of conveyor technology. The quiet operation of the plastic box, which can also be subdivided as standard, significantly reduces noise levels in automated warehouses.

The Bito MB conical reusable container can be nested and can be stacked empty to save space (up to 70 percent of the actual space required). A wide range of accessories is available for the series, which has been extended several times to include different sizes and variants. The smooth, easy-to-clean inner walls also make the container particularly suitable for areas with high hygiene standards. The container, which can be securely sealed with coded one-way seals, is often used for transporting documents or valuable goods. The multi-award-winning Bito EQ collapsible box can be folded up in just a few steps thanks to a side panel release and is still stable for transporting heavy loads. When stacked empty, the required space is reduced by 75 percent.

Large pallet for loads of up to 1,500 kilograms

The XXL plastic pallet is more than three times the size of a Euro pallet and is mainly used in the automotive industry. Photo: Söhner

Söhner Kunststofftechnik GmbH, manufacturer of reusable transport packaging and workpiece carrier systems, has developed and produced its largest plastic pallet to date for a customer in the automotive industry using the thermoforming process, which is used to transport side skirts.

The pallet with matching system lid has basic dimensions of 2600 x 1200 millimetres and is therefore more than three times the size of a Euro pallet. The 12-foot pallet has integrated steel profiles on the long sides for even load distribution and to prevent bending during handling. These reinforcements achieve a load capacity of 600 kg and a top load of up to 1,500 kg. The pallet also has a smooth upper deck, bolted-on injection-molded feet and surfaces for embossing, labels or tags. The pallet can be driven under with all standard industrial trucks. It can also transport other large-format components made of lightweight materials, such as rear spoilers, roofs or roof rails, as well as components from other industries.

Containers for the safe transportation of hazardous goods

The "Integra" plastic swivel stacking container with hinged lid is designed for hazardous goods and is also suitable for air or sea freight. Photo: Schoeller Allibert

Packaging for hazardous goods must be certified in accordance with United Nations (UN) standards. This ensures that high demands are met in terms of stability, tightness and temperature resistance. The "Integra" plastic stackable container from Schoeller Allibert meets these requirements for packaging group Y. This group includes hazardous goods with a low and medium degree of risk. The Integra models with external dimensions of 600 x 400 x 250 and 600 x 400 x 300 millimetres are designed to hold a maximum net weight of 20 kilograms.

For the safest and most gentle transportation possible, they have a hinged lid and are also equipped with a safety locking strap that holds the flap firmly on the box. This makes the solution suitable for different transportation conditions, including air or sea freight, for example. The protective film on the inside with an additional safety closure ensures that the containers are optimally sealed and therefore provide excellent protection for the stored hazardous goods.

The new, compact distribution container is designed primarily for the rapid delivery of replenishments in the retail sector. Photo: Gamma-Wopla

"Half" container for fast delivery

The Belgian company Gamma-Wopla now offers a space-saving container in the new compact dimensions of 400 x 300 x 247 millimetres. The distribution container is particularly practical for the retail sector and can be filled flexibly and compactly, for example with small boxes of different sizes and shapes, when goods are rotated between the distribution warehouse and the store. A permanently installed flap lid ensures optimum protection of the goods. The distribution box can be securely stacked for transportation with the lid closed using the built-in spouts. The empty container can be nested, which requires two thirds less space when returning to the distribution warehouse.

Plastic pallet with payload reserves

The Belgian manufacturer Smart-Flow Europe SA has expanded its range of pallets for different industries and solutions with the new SF800MNR measuring 1200 x 800 x 150 millimetres. The particularly stable Euro pallet is equipped with three runners instead of feet, which have been extended to a maximum length of 1180 millimetres. The long runners ensure precise and safe fork guidance. The pallet can be quickly and easily reinforced with two metal bars. This makes it versatile and adaptable for both transportation and internal logistics. Its dynamic load capacity is 1,000 kilograms with a shelf load of 350 kilograms; the metal rods increase these values to 2,000 and 600 kilograms respectively.