The Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML has developed CASTN carton set optimisation, a market-ready software that makes the actual volume utilisation rate of shipping cartons transparent. This is because too much air increases material consumption, transport volume and emissions.
CASTN (short for Carton Set Optimisation) makes transparent something that is rarely tangible: the actual volume utilisation rate of shipping cartons. In many companies, it is well below what would make regulatory and economic sense. In view of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which stipulates a minimum volume utilisation of 50 percent in future, this transparency is becoming a strategic factor.
In order to meet these challenges, CASTN aims to significantly reduce the volume of empty space in shipping and thus cut costs at the same time. The software first enables companies to analyse their own volume utilisation rate. Based on this, the software supports the creation of an optimised standard carton set that is tailored to the individual item and order structure. A key feature is the data-based approach: an integrated data check verifies the quality of the item, order and carton data used.
„Optimisation is only as good as the data on which it is based. CASTN therefore also supports companies in evaluating their own database and identifying weak points - an added value that is often underestimated in practice.“
Lukas Lehmann, Project Manager at Fraunhofer IML
Fulfil the requirements of the PPWR
A key use case is the preparation for the PPWR. Studies show that many companies are currently not achieving the minimum volume utilisation of 50 percent that will be required in future. The new software creates transparency here and shows specific optimisation options.
The software has now been presented for the first time at the joint stand with IGEPA Packaging at the E-Commerce Berlin Expo. The IGEPA Group plans to be the first company to offer CASTN as a service to its customers.
The development was funded by the Fraunhofer Future Foundation, which supports researchers at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in the development of products, services and business models that create solutions for socially and technologically relevant challenges.
Source: Fraunhofer IML
