Greif, a global manufacturer of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), now also offers its large containers for the storage and transport of liquids and free-flowing materials with a network connection.
Level sensors of the French measurement technology specialist, Nanolike, are the core element of the IoT service provider's solution Sigfox. Users benefit from the IBC digitisation of increased process transparency in real time, which they can use to Increased efficiency of their IBC use and the entire material logistics. It also offers manufacturers and retailers who use IBCs the potential to offer completely new services and business models.
With so-called Vendor Managed Inventory Solutions they can monitor their stocks using geolocalisation alone. Chemical retailers automatically take over the end customer's Replacement or refilling of IBCs based on the fill level parameters. Fillings are used as Pay-per-use subscription The customer only pays according to consumption.
In the food and beverage industry and explosives can be Document batches automatically via blockchains, including tamper-proof documentation, which promises significant increases in efficiency for traceability and HACCP documentation. The pharmaceutical industry digitises its GDP (Good Distribution Practice) documentation. In agriculture The digitalisation of IBCs is also suitable for Protection against counterfeit seeds through unique identification and digitalised seals for opening detection and documentation, including location recording.
„The decision by one of the world's leading IBC manufacturers to digitise their containers as part of their service portfolio offers many benefits for tracking and level monitoring of liquids in the chemical, pharmaceutical and many other supply chains. The Sigfox IoT architecture and our global 0G network enable Nanolike to connect their sensor technology so that Customers can visualise and optimise the use of IBCs throughout their entire company can. The digitalisation of IBCs increases the utilisation of IBCs, reduces losses, automates procurement and inventory management and supports on-demand logistics planning.
Glen Robinson, SVP Global Sales & Marketing at Sigfox.
The digitalisation of IBCs also plays a role for Greif when it comes to the topic of Sustainability goes. Over the past ten years, Greif has focussed a large part of its innovation strategy on the development of products that are use fewer new raw materials and more recycled content while continuing to fulfil the performance requirements.
The GCube Connect IBC, which consists of recycled polyethylene is an example of a development in this area. Reducing unnecessary transport by means of consumption-based refuelling-as-a-service can make fleet deployment significantly more efficient if refuelling is route-optimised thanks to real-time information, thereby reducing CO2- and reduce particulate emissions. Greif expects digitalisation to increase efficiency by around 10 to 20 percent, especially for dealers.
[infotext icon]Greif is a global leader in industrial packaging products and services. The company produces steel, plastic, fibre, flexible and corrugated containers, packaging accessories and packaging board, as well as blending, filling and packaging services for a variety of industries. Greif also manages timber acreage in the United States. With more than 200 locations in more than 50 countries, Greif is able to serve global and regional customers[/infotext].„We opted for the Sigfox-0G network-based digitalisation of our GCube Connect IBC offering because the network is currently the most energy-efficient, which means that maintenance costs are low and the sensor battery only needs to be replaced after around five to seven years. The network is also cost-efficient, is offered globally without roaming charges, is already available in over 70 countries and is being expanded further.“
Luca Bettoni, EMEA IBC and Plastic Product Manager at Greif
Source: Griffin
