Continue reading »]]> Our madman might look as if he’s wearing goggles but when we enrolled his help we never saw scuba divers as a target market! We now find that there is a large market for attached lid containers within the diving community to store and transport diving gear.

Scuba Diving!

Attached lid containers are great for this type of application. They are extremely tough and strong, they can be stacked easily and are stable and safe when stacked. Some of ours are even strong enough to stand on, although this is not recommended – so do not try this at home!

Tough and Well Stacked

Any sports person who has lots of kit that regularly needs transporting should consider an attached lid container. They are great for the car boot and the lids mean that they can store muddy, wet or sweaty kit without polluting the contents of your car.

Continue reading »]]> The following is a press release issued by OEP regarding their ownership of the two largest plastic box companies operating in Europe. Products from both companies feature on the Mad About Boxes website.

PRESS RELEASE

As of today, LA-Holding B.V., an acquisition company controlled by OEP advised vehicles, completed the acquisition of 100 percent of Linpac Allibert. Linpac Allibert, the former returnable transport packaging business of Linpac Group, is an international specialist in reusable containers and multi-trip systems. The company manufactures the world’s largest range of returnable transit packaging, including the iconic Maxinest tray and the Maxipac bulk unit. The products include folding, nesting, stacking and attached-lid containers, as well as dollies, pallets and bulk-handling equipment. In 2010, Linpac Allibert had revenues of EUR 181m, employing a total of 1,150 people in the UK, France, Germany and Spain. Linpac Allibert has a head office in Quinton, England, and sales companies in Belgium, Italy and Sweden.

This acquisition complements OEP’s footprint in this business. The company was acquired with the intention of creating a joint ownership structure with Schoeller Industries, the current partner of Schoeller Arca Systems. OEP owns a controlling stake in Schoeller Arca Systems, a global market leader in plastic packaging systems. For the time being, OEP will operate both companies as independent sister companies. An integration of Linpac Allibert and Schoeller Arca Systems is under consideration. In close cooperation with managements at Schoeller Arca Systems and Linpac Allibert and the boards and shareholders of both companies, a cooperation agreement will be discussed with the intent to create an alignment of interest that allows to realize synergies.

“We bought Linpac Allibert because we believe in the company’s market position, its management and its potential for growth. We will ensure that the single overriding rationale will be to better serve the customers needs through a broad product range, an even more innovative business model and superior service,” said Christoph Giulini, Managing Director at OEP.

“This investment gives Linpac Allibert a stable ownership structure and the financial leeway needed for further development. After a time of uncertainty, we look forward to working with OEP and Schoeller Arca Systems and building the basis for sustainable growth,” said Ian Robinson, Managing Director of Linpac Allibert.

“As Schoeller Arca Systems and Linpac Allibert complement each other, the cooperation will make both companies stronger,” said Erik de Bokx, Chief Executive Officer of Schoeller Arca Systems.

The parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the transaction.

Continue reading »]]> Our containers come in many designs, one of  the most significant differences is the sides: Are they vertical, stepped or tapered?  It is helpful to understand the rationale for these options.

Vertical Sides

Vertical sides mean that there is the same amount of space in the bottom and the top of the box. This makes the vertical sided box ideal for the movement of square sided solid objects. Additionally vertical sided containers are generally stronger than tapered sided containers due to vertical forces or weight of the containers stacked on top being transmitted straight down through the sides to the base. The reason that not all containers have vertical side is that it prevents nesting. A typical example of this type of box is the Euro Container shown above.

Stepped Sides

The stepped sided container has vertical sides but with a step about 1/3rd of the way up the side wall. This design has the benefits of a vertical sided container while also having the convenience of container that is able to nest. This gives the step sided container good strength, although the internal dimensions of the base are less than that of the rim. The consequence of this is that the internal volume is not as great as the equivalent external dimensioned vertical sided container. This only has an operational effect if product that fits exactly into the container is being moved, e.g. square sided packaging is used or very small parts are being moved. Attached lid containers have stepped sides.

Tapered Sides

Tapered sides enable containers to nest in each other; when empty they can be stacked inside each other to reduce the space they take up. Tapered sides mean that the internal dimension is different at every height within the container.  Tapered sided containers need to be manufactured to the highest quality levels or they will stick inside each. This is particularly important for automated operations that de-nest containers such as manufacturing packing operations and wash sites.

Examples

Stack nest and bale arm containers feature tapered sides to enable them to be space efficient on return journey. A similar efficiency can be achieved on vertical sided boxes by making them fold. We sell versions of all these boxes.

Continue reading »]]> For efficient small parts storage and handling look no further than the range of parts bins and storage trays available from Mad About Boxes.

Complete System

A complete storage system for small parts, the MAB containers enable easy identification and access to the contents of the specially-designed bins and trays. The wide range of styles and sizes available allows full utilisation of the available storage space.

Adaptable To Suit Any Business

Adaptable to suit any business and its storage requirements, the MAB system is simple and secure in design and also includes shelf racks, panels and trolleys.  Available in three different heights, storage trays are ideal for use in shelf and paternoster systems.  Trays fitted with labels and dividers enable parts to be easily separated and picked.

Ideal for Shelving and Carousel Systems

The storage trays available in 500mm and 600mm depths are ideal for shelving and carousel systems, and with a height of 62mm can store even more parts.  An added benefit is the shape of the front section – designed to avoid the tray sliding forward within the carrier system.

Range Includes Trays and Bins of Standard Depths

For shelves and roller conveyors, opt for storage trays: With their smooth bases, space utilisation is improved by 20%. Made from polypropylene, the MAB range also includes trays and bins of standard depths, ranging from 300mm to 600mm.

Continue reading »]]> Mad About Boxes offers a range of plastic containers that fold down when empty, saving up to 70% of available space. This makes them highly efficient to transport and store, leading to significant cost savings.

Strong and Durable

Our foldable containers are light, yet strong and durable, and used in industries such as agriculture, retail and food processing. Made from plastic and environmentally friendly, they are reusable, returnable and recyclable. The containers have smooth edges and surfaces, preventing soiling and reducing bug traps. Plastic is easy to clean, does not rust and resists moisture, fat, and some acids, solvents and chemicals. This makes it a safe, hygienic packaging material.

Ideal for Use With Dollies

Foldable plastic containers are easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces. Stackable, they are ideal for use with dollies, conveyors and other automated equipment. Our range of foldable containers has something to suit every application. Various sizes are available, from large 1200 x 1000 x 1200mm crates to smaller, 400 x 300 x 170mm boxes. Depending on the volume of the order, a range of colours is available to enable quick container identification.

Popular Model

A popular model is the compact, 47litre foldable container. A collapsible, light bulk container, it packs four to a pallet and folds easily when empty. Designed specifically for long journeys, it is tough and reliable and will provide many years of service in the toughest applications. For the retailer it has the added attraction of being able to double as a display container.

Cost Savings

Wasted vehicle space on return journeys costs companies thousands of pounds each year. Foldable plastic containers reduce these costs and provide an efficient means of transportation. Plastic as a packaging material is highly advantageous and can help simplify and improve logistics processes.

Continue reading »]]> For many years Mad About Boxes, a leading supplier of plastic transit containers has been at the forefront of supplying products to meet the needs of the logistics and distribution market. This trend is set to continue with the recent addition of a small box system.

maximisation of transportation efficiency

An effective supply chain requires not only secure parts delivery but also economical return of the empty containers.  The maximisation of transportation efficiency over long distances is critical and the MAB aptly named small box range is an extremely cost-effective solution.

three modular sizes

Initially developed to optimise product flow within the automotive supply-chain, the containers are available in three modular sizes.  There is a choice of 800×600, 600×400 and 400x300mm.

mixed and matched on a standard pallet

This means that they can be mixed and matched on a standard pallet without affecting their stacking performance.  With interchangeable lids fitting over one or more box they can be stacked effectively to ensure best use of space.

a new standard

The Small Box system was developed in collaboration with major auto companies and will have a major impact on the industry. It sets a new standard for the distribution of small components so will also be perfect for a great deal of other markets as well.

smooth, clean design

Recently upgraded to give even greater flexibility, the MAB small boxes offers a smooth, clean design that maximises internal storage space. Occupying up to 70% less space when empty, they can be nested together, providing cost reductions on return transportation solutions.

containers can be identified

All three sizes also have a suitable area to accept a self-adhesive label.  This ensures that the containers can be identified with customer specific text and logos, as required.

Continue reading »]]> Many companies are not fully aware of the fundamental effect their choice of packaging can have on the bottom line. There are many benefits to a correctly implemented returnable transit packaging system. Mad About Boxes (MAB) aims to help its customers improve supply chains through the implementation of well-designed returnable plastic containers.

Two Year Payback

The initial investment may be high, but a returnable system will typically pay for itself in two years. One of the areas where plastic containers can make a significant impact is in the delivery vehicle. Distribution managers will always try to maximise space utilisation in the trailer, thereby minimising the number of trips.

Contents are Carried Securely and Protected During Transit

MAB’s foldable pallet container is the complete returnable packaging system and offers many advantages over conventional wooden pallets, cartons and stillages. Its use can significantly improve space usage. The robust construction means that its contents are carried securely and protected during transit. It will to stack up to four units high when full. To avoid product damage, most companies will not normally stack palletised loads. If they do, the stack will be limited to two layers.

How Does This Stack Up

How does this stack up in practice? A standard forty-foot trailer has a volume of sixty cubic metres. At best it will be able to carry twenty-two 1200 x 1000mm pallets per layer or forty-four pallets in two layers. Stacked three high, an impressive sixty-six folding pallet boxes can be accommodated. The comparisons are equally valid for other combinations of trailer size and pallet dimensions.

Returnable packaging is not a new concept, but it is one of the fastest growing support services to the manufacturing, distribution and retail industries. Many companies are now reaping its benefits. In RTP systems, durable containers, designed for many years of use, replace traditional expendable cardboard or wooden packaging. As well as reducing purchasing costs, the costs associated with the collection and disposal of one trip packaging are eliminated. Thus, the use of returnable solutions helps to satisfy obligations under packaging waste legislation that requires businesses to use resources more efficiently and to minimise waste.

Efficient Handling Throughout the Supply Chain

Additionally the rigid construction of RTP containers gives a high degree of protection to their contents and enables efficient handling throughout the supply chain.

Continue reading »]]> Given the handling requirements of the multitude of parts and components used in the automotive industry, a returnable transit packaging (RTP) solution incorporating robust, well designed reusable containers is a key component of the supply chain. Many of the industry’s largest manufacturers rely upon plastic boxes to move parts from their suppliers to assembly plants and throughout their dealer networks. These programs not only protect components and facilitate supply chain efficiency, but also benefit the environment.

Companies Are Now Reaping Benefits

The RTP concept is not new, and many companies are now reaping its benefits. The first of these is the replacement of traditional expendable cardboard or wooden packaging by durable containers, designed for many years of use. As well as reducing purchasing costs, the costs associated with the collection and disposal of one trip packaging are eliminated. Thus, it helps to satisfy obligations under new packaging waste legislation that requires businesses to use resources more efficiently and to minimise waste. Additionally the rigid construction of our plastic boxes gives a high degree of protection to their contents and enables efficient handling throughout the supply chain.

Containers Flow Through The System

Returnable plastic boxes must be used within a closed loop system, where shipping and delivery points are clearly defined. This is important for two reasons: Containers, flowing through the system, need to be tracked throughout their journey and the empty containers need to be easily returned. Loss or damage to containers can seriously affect the cost savings of a returnable system.

Far Less Space For Return Trips

Car companies source parts from all over the world. Due to the shipping distances involved, it is important that their plastic boxes, when empty, take up as little space as possible. Our euroboxes are suitably robust and occupy far less space for return trips. These smaller transport units can be delivered directly to the assembly lines, without taking too much space. This is particularly important when considering the quantity of different components required to customise vehicles to each customer’s individual preference.

Saving Many Millions of Euros

Some manufacturers handle the issue of returnable transit packaging in a different manner. Rather than using small boxes, which are easily man-handled, their parts supply systems’ use large, heavy duty pallet containers.  The benefits are the same, saving many millions of Euros over the years from not having to buy or dispose of expendable cardboard or wooden containers. Pallet containers are still collapsible, which ensures economic transportation, when empty. All components are individually replaceable, which means that they can easily repair damaged units, without incurring ongoing replacement costs.

Continue reading »]]> You may be aware that there are a number of profound changes taking place in the international pallet market. The use of pallets made from raw wood is now being questioned by some of the world’s largest economies as they attempt to limit the spread of pests that devastate forests and woodlands.

Certified Pest Free

These restrictions on the use of the wooden pallet – long a fundamental part of our unit load based materials handling systems – are causing pallet users to look around for alternatives. The USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and China require imported wooden pallets to be certified pest free. Wooden pallets have to be treated to be pest free, so this has created an opportunity for plastic pallets, which of course cannot harbour pests.

ISPM 15

Because the origin of wood packaging material is difficult to determine, globally approved measures that are intended to significantly reduce the risk of pest spread are being introduced. The internationally recognised standard that regulates wood packaging used in international trade is ISPM 15.

How will ISPM 15 control pests?

Compliance with ISPM-15 for wood packaging materials allows for two treatment options: Heat Treatment where wood packaging material is heated in a schedule that achieves a minimum core temperature of 56ºC for a minimum of 30 minutes and Methyl Bromide fumigation. Either way the wooden packaging material must be marked as complying.

What is the threat?

The importation of quarantine pests presents a risk to forests and woodlands. Quarantine pests are not indigenous to all countries, therefore when imported by man to a new country have no predators to check their spread. They can easily establish populations in woodlands surrounding their entry port and have the potential of killing large areas of forest or seriously damaging other woodland and amenity trees further inland.

The alternatives

If pallets made from raw wood are not to continue in use then the alternatives are: Pallets made from manufactured wood such as plywood or plastic pallets made from new or recycled plastic. These alternatives are certain not to provide the pathways required by quarantine pests, they do however have cost implications – they are both initially more expensive than untreated raw wood pallets, whole-life costs can prove to be different.

Continue reading »]]> Our range of foldable pallet containers is one of our best sellers. All models are durable and hard wearing, and fold simply and easily to around a third of their assembled size for maximum return trip density. The following comprise our ever-expanding range of containers.

Reduction in Packaging Waste

The original 1200x1000x975 foldable pallet box offers many advantages over resource-consuming disposable wood and cardboard packaging systems. The significant reduction in packaging waste achieved through the use of such containers protects the environment while at the same time saves money. The 1200x800x950 folding pallet box is basically the same as the original, but has a Euro pallet footprint.

Particularly Suitable for Manual Handling

The 1200x1000x800 model is a perforated version for use in manual handling applications. It was designed specifically for the distribution of magazines and newspapers from the printer to regional distribution centres. The lattice design of the container’s sides means that one can see clearly exactly what is inside each container. This feature also has the added benefit of considerably reducing the overall weight of the unit, making it some 20% lighter, and particularly suitable for manual handling.

Provides the Greatest Possible Volume

The 1200x1000x1200 pallet box is the high wall version. Particularly suitable for bulk applications, this box provides the greatest possible volume capacity on a 1200×1000 base. Initially developed for the caps and metal closures industry, this model is ideal for any type of business which is looking for the cost effective delivery of similar high volume, low density products. Companies who already use our original boxes can make further cost savings by retrofitting the new higher sides to existing 1200×1000 bases.

Ease of Maintenance

One of the many advantages of our pallet box range is its ease of maintenance; all component parts are made from robust, lightweight plastic and simply snap into place. If part of the container becomes damaged, it can be replaced individually without the need to discard the entire unit. Cost-effective and efficient to use, our containers are 100% recyclable, and have large label holders.