Bumpers are one of the most frequently replaced spare parts in the automotive industry. The demand for bumpers - and therefore also for transport packaging for bumpers - is high. Smurfit Kappa has developed a new packaging solution that is significantly more compact and can be delivered on a single Euro pallet. This could save every second lorry.
Smurfit Kappa, a manufacturer of paper-based packaging solutions, has plants that specialise in packaging for the Heavy Duty XL sector. Large-format packaging in particular is produced there. The challenges are obvious: The larger and more complex, the more time-consuming the assembly and dismantling is on the part of automotive suppliers and associated companies, such as painters for vehicle parts.
It has to be different, thought the team with Focus on packaging solutions for the automotive industry. In the past, bumpers were packed in simple bottom-lid flaps. These were later replaced by so-called U-shape cardboard boxes, explains Patrick Klocke, responsible for key account sales. The size of the packaging causes another problem: packaging for bumpers cannot be folded compactly. This in turn means that special pallets are required to transport the flat goods for the customer - or up to six Euro pallets per stack.
The new packaging solution for bumpers from Smurfit Kappa is significantly more compact and can be delivered on a single Euro pallet. „Depending on the bumper contour specifications, even twice the amount of packaging fits into the lorry and therefore also into our customers“ warehouses," says Klocke. This effectively saves every second lorry - a Enormous savings in freight costs and emissions, in view of the high transport volumes. Another bonus is the possibility of storing the goods in high-bay warehouses.
Automatic packaging base saves a lot of time
From the packaging specialists' point of view Significant time savings when assembling the packaging an advantage. „Until now, packaging for bumpers had to be laboriously hooked together. This often requires two employees to ensure that one side doesn't open again while the other is being hooked together. This can take several minutes per package,“ explains Klocke.
The new bumper packaging is completely different: here, an automatic base is firmly attached to the ring. This makes the packaging Locked directly during installation and set up, loaded and locked in a fraction of the usual time. Only one person is needed for this.
What is already in use on the market for smaller packaging sizes is considered absolutely innovative when it comes to large packaging for special shapes such as bumpers. So innovative, in fact, that Smurfit Kappa has already patented this solution. The first OEMs and suppliers in the automotive industry have already switched to the new concept. There is great interest in the automotive industry.
Source: Smurfit Kappa
