Optimized packaging - tailor-made and environmentally friendly

Packing and shipping several thousand parcels every day requires good and reliable organization of the logistics processes. Every company is faced with the growing demand for environmentally friendly and recyclable packaging. Representative consumer studies make it clear that sustainability plays an important role in purchasing decisions. A clear majority of over 75% of customers are therefore even prepared to pay an average surcharge of 12% for environmentally friendly packaging. The best-known sustainability seals, such as the Blue Angel, have a recognizable influence on the perception of ecological products.

Sustainable packaging is crucial

Leading brand owners and retailers have already recognized this trend and confirm that sustainable packaging is crucial for business. While waste paper has been a valuable material for decades and the recycling rate for paper is therefore over 71%, the recycling rate for plastic waste is still only around 12%. The rest is sent to waste incineration plants or simply exported. For a long time, the EU member states shipped the vast majority of their plastic waste to China - with unresolved final storage or use of the waste. The current ban on the import of used plastic by China is making the issue of recycling packaging increasingly urgent in Germany too, in view of the more than three billion parcels sent every year. Against this backdrop, green alternatives for packaging are becoming indispensable.

PAPER SPRICK

Founded in 1883 and headquartered in Bielefeld, Germany, the company develops individual solutions for process-optimized paper-based transport packaging for its customers. The manufacturer and processor of recycled paper with its own machine construction benefits from its many years of expertise along the entire value chain. The result is economic and ecological benefits for customers.

Cologne-based Gödde GmbH - a member of the Hoffmann Group - has been doing pioneering work in the field of environmental protection for many years and is also constantly optimizing its production conditions as well as its logistics and transport concepts. Founded in 1960, the company impresses its customers with quality tools in the fields of machining, clamping, measuring and grinding technology as well as hand tools. The company also offers a wide range of industrial supplies, personal protective equipment and factory equipment. In 2017, Gödde generated a turnover of around 100 million euros with 225 employees. With the objectives of sustainability and improved ergonomics, the packaging area was successfully redesigned and optimized together with the Bielefeld-based packaging specialist Papier Sprick.

Integration variant 1: Under-table system at the large packing stations.

"Right from the start of the project, the focus was on the environment," explains David Münch-Knochenhauer, project manager at Papier Sprick. "Our filling and padding paper has been awarded the Blue Angel and was therefore a key argument for our customer Gödde to equip the packaging area with our PaperJet systems," Münch-Knochenhauer continues.

The results are impressive: More satisfied employees thanks to ergonomically optimized work processes, acceleration of the packaging process, reduction of noise emissions, savings in storage space and a cost reduction of around 25 percent. In addition, the existing processes and operating equipment could remain unchanged thanks to the customized integration of the systems. Papier Sprick has installed three different versions of the PaperJet paper cushioning system at the eleven packing stations, which were specially developed for the respective packing station design.

A pull-out under-table version of the PaperJet was developed for the two existing "large packing stations" where the so-called maxi packs are packed, which transports the paper pads directly onto the packing table via a specially designed chute. In this way, the paper pad is always available in the optimum ergonomic position. "In contrast to before, this makes working more convenient and also faster," reports a packer from Gödde.

Compact dimensions of the PaperJet are a great advantage

A particular challenge was the conversion of the "small packing stations", as there was little space available to accommodate a paper padding machine in a niche between the conveyor belt for the packaged goods and the packing table itself. The compact dimensions of the PaperJet were a great advantage in the solution developed. For simplified handling and optimum access to the system despite the limited space available, the PaperJet was built into a custom-built, pull-forward rack on the shelf.

PaperJet® with endless pallet frame.

Compact facts

PaperJet® paper padding system - Space-saving and flexible integration - Patented cutting function for particularly high speed - Freely programmable pad lengths and quantities - System 100% Made in Germany

ComPackt® paper on the endless pallet - Several thousand meters of endless material per pallet - Ergonomic benefits thanks to significantly reduced handling - Savings in storage space and packaging costs - Environmentally friendly recycled paper with the Blue Angel - Paper 100% Made in Germany

This has also significantly simplified the reloading process for the paper. A paper end detection sensor also indicates the reloading status. The special highlight of the solution is the endless pallet developed by Sprick, on which the so-called ComPackt paper for the system is delivered. Four high stacks of paper are linked together on a pallet, resulting in a continuous supply of several thousand meters of padding paper. This can be processed without interruption. To reload, the pallet is simply replaced with a pallet truck. This eliminates the tedious lifting of heavy paper rolls or stacks and the complicated and time-consuming gluing of individual stacks. The endless pallet makes work much easier and faster. "Paper jams and tears are virtually non-existent," confirms Sebastian Rakoczy, team leader at Gödde, who is responsible for outgoing goods and played a key role in implementing the solution.

The advantageous endless pallet is also used at the remaining four packing stations, but with even higher stacks of paper for even greater reach. Here too, Papier Sprick's special machine construction department has designed a suitable frame under which the Euro pallet loaded with paper can be positioned directly.

The Blue Angel: guaranteed environmentally friendly

The use of recycled paper is a particularly simple and efficient way of conserving natural resources. Compared to virgin fiber paper, up to 60 percent energy and up to 70 percent water are saved during production and CO2 emissions are avoided. The use of waste paper as a raw material also makes an important contribution to reducing the burden on forests. The world's first and for decades best-known eco-label for recycled paper is "The Blue Angel". It is also the label with the highest ecological standards for paper and therefore the most environmentally friendly choice for consumers and purchasers. This is because the "Blue Angel" not only stands for the use of 100 percent recycled paper and therefore for a particularly sustainable recycled product. It also guarantees the absence of chlorine, optical brighteners, halogenated bleaching agents and other harmful chemicals in the production processes.

As a result, the employees at Gödde only have to reload paper once a week thanks to the new endless pallet. This in turn increases productivity in the packaging process, as only a few interruptions are necessary, which also take up very little time.

"By switching to Papier Sprick's systems, we are also saving on storage space, which is very important for us, as we are supplied with the necessary padding paper just-in-time on demand every two weeks or so. We are very satisfied with the developments and the service provided by our partner Papier Sprick and definitely want to continue working with them," concludes Rakoczy.

LogiMAT 2018: Hall 4, Stand D70www.papier-sprick.de