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Belgium Since our inception in 1981, we have been providing customized modifications to containers, pallet boxes, pallets, and baskets for our customers. Customization could involve adding a logo to a stackable container or creating a plastic pallet in a non-standard size. If a product modification is not sufficient, we develop an entirely new product. This is how the Economic Transport Box (ET box) came into existence. The ET box is the only transport container in the logistics industry sized at 1200 x 800 mm that is both stackable and nestable.
The ET box was developed in the mid-1990s in close collaboration with our customer, Polskamp Meat Industrie, and our manufacturer, Craemer. Since then, hundreds of thousands of these containers have been in circulation. In 2021, we optimized this stack-nestable transport container at various points, once again according to the desires of and in close collaboration with our customer. Read more about our customization journey with Polskamp Meat Industrie in this article.
1995 | Polskamp’s Inquiry
It’s the mid-1990s when Polskamp Meat Industrie from Ermelo, Gelderland, approaches us with an urgent request. The plastic containers they’ve been using so far have caused a lot of frustration. These containers break easily and, furthermore, take up too much space during transport in trucks. What Polskamp needs is a robust, freeze-resistant container in a logistical size that can both stack and nest – a container that does not yet exist at that time.
About Polskamp Meat Industrie
Polskamp Meat Industrie has been processing by-products from the poultry sector since 1975. They separate chicken meat from the bone, among other processes. The chicken separator meat that results from this is the raw material for various food products such as sausages, burgers, and chicken nuggets. More about this family-owned company can be found at Polskamp.nl.
1996 | The Customization Journey
At Transoplast, we immediately see the potential in this new container. However, our manufacturer isn’t immediately convinced. Introducing a completely new product to the market requires not only a new mold but also the initiation of a new product line. It’s a significant investment for just one customer. Nevertheless, due to the unique characteristics and product advantages of the ET box, we manage to get all the necessary parties on board.
Unique features of the ET box
- Logistical size of 1200 x 800 mm | The ET box has the size of a Euro pallet. This sizing allows for efficient transportation of the ET boxes in trucks, utilizing all available floor space. The logistical size is a significant advantage for Polskamp Meat Industrie. The meat processor exports large quantities of products abroad. Through the efficient loading of trailers, there are immediate savings on transportation costs.
- 70% space saving due to the stack-nest system | The full ET boxes are securely stacked on top of each other in Polskamp’s trailers. The meat processor operates on an exchange system. Once the cargo is delivered, the empty ET boxes are returned. During the return freight, the empty ET boxes are nested together, saving space, allowing for more boxes to be transported. Thanks to the stack-nest system, Polskamp saves up to 70% of space during empty transport. This system also provides a significant advantage to Polskamp during the import of raw materials.
Steven van de Craats, co-owner of Polskamp: “A significant portion of our raw materials comes from England. When one full-volume truck carries empty ET boxes to England, the same number of boxes can load four refrigerated trucks.”
- Unique construction ensures quality| The ET boxes are made of new HDPE plastic. This material is suitable for food contact, highly resistant to chemicals, and withstands temperatures from -30⁰ to +40⁰, and briefly up to +90⁰. The shape of the ET box is unique and contributes to an optimal cooling process of the chicken meat.
2021 | New Generation of Economic Transport Boxes
After 25 years of faithful service, only a fraction of the ET boxes need replacement. Nevertheless, Polskamp aims to optimize the ET box. Based on practical experience with over a hundred thousand ET boxes, we know the areas where the stack-nestable container can be improved.
The space-saving stack-nest system, the robust construction, and the high-quality HDPE plastic material will remain unchanged. The following product components have been optimized in the new generation of ET boxes.
- The legs of the ET box are higher. This provides enough space for the forks of the forklift to lift the container, even if the legs wear down slightly over time at the bottom and become shorter.
- The bottom is additionally reinforced. The bottom is reinforced with thicker ribs. The part where the forklift forks slide under the bottom and lift it has been chamfered. The chamfered bottom allows optimal access for the forklift forks. There are no sharp corners that can cause damage. Additionally, the mesh size of the bottom grid in the new ET box is smaller, preventing forklift forks from getting caught between and damaging the reinforcement ribs.
- The top edge is additionally reinforced, reducing the likelihood of deformation in the new ET box.
- The short sides of the ET box are equipped with a generous gripping edge that includes an integrated provision for RFID transponders. The transponder can be easily inserted into the grip edge through the insertion opening. This design facilitates quick and easy replacement of defective transponders. Additionally, a barcode or QR code printed on the transponder can be easily scanned.
- Spacious and sturdy carrying shelves ensure a safe stacking of full ET Boxes.
- The vertical stacking ribs prevent the new ET boxes from nesting too deeply into each other and ensure they remain straight without tilting. Additionally, this design facilitates easier un-nesting of the ET boxes, preventing them from getting stuck together.
- Enhanced stability and shape retention due to the stepped side walls.
- In the new ET box, the stack-nest system is integrated into the long sides. This makes it instantly clear for the employee operating the forklift how the transport box should be stacked. In the first generation of ET boxes, the stack-nest system was incorporated into the short sides of the box. As the ET box is driven in through the long side, the stack-nest system in the first generation of ET Boxes was not clearly visible to the forklift driver.
More information about the Economic Transport Box
For more product information, you can view our ET boxes online or contact our product specialists by phone at +31 (0)314 664400 or via email at info@transoplast.nl. Curious about what our customization can do for your logistics? Feel free to get in touch with us. We’re more than happy to assist and brainstorm with you.