With a smart new idea for securing outer packaging as well as transport and shipping cartons on pallets, Baumer hhs is supporting the industry’s efforts to minimise packaging waste – and its efforts to eliminate plastics from packaging processes wherever possible and to work in a more resource-efficient manner.
The principle is as simple as it is intelligent: with the new adhesive application system, anti-slip adhesive is sprayed onto the cartons before palletising. Even small amounts of these hot-melt adhesives are sufficient to fix packaging – ideally stacked interlocked – on all layers of pallets and ensure that it does not slip during transport. Internal transport in particular can even be carried out completely without film.
Resource-saving innovation
As a result, the new solution minimises the use of plastic films – such as stretch and wrapping films or shrink sleeves – in pallet securing. This resource-saving innovation from Baumer hhs therefore drastically reduces the volume of waste that needs to be disposed of – resulting in cost savings and simplifying logistical processes.
The amount of work involved in depalletising is reduced as less plastic film needs to be removed. Intermediate pallet layers such as anti-slip paper can be completely eliminated. In times of acute labour shortages, this simplification in logistics can be an important aspect for industrial companies. In addition, depalletising reduces the risk of accidents. This exists when packaging filled with goods can slide off pallets, workers cut the plastic film with sharp knives or the film waste lies around on the floor as a tripping hazard.
Added to this are the improved environmental balances of the transport and logistics processes, which result from the considerably reduced plastic consumption and the drastically reduced film waste. Another ecological aspect: the packaging sprayed with the small quantities of anti-slip adhesive can easily be recycled via the existing recycling cycle for paper. In contrast, the polyethylene films (PE-LD and PE-HD) frequently used to date for pallet and transport protection are difficult to recycle.
Worldwide distribution
“With this resource-saving innovation for pallet and transport security, we are virtually knocking down open doors in the market. After demonstrating its significant advantages in practice during initial installations at renowned industrial companies in various sectors, we are now supplying it worldwide,” explains Martin Kotecki, Business Development Manager Packaging at Baumer hhs. These installations – some companies have had several packaging lines equipped with the new adhesive application system at the same time – have also shown that it is possible to reduce film consumption considerably: Thanks to the significant reduction in film consumption alone, investments in this innovation can be amortised within about a year.
As a complete solution, the new system can be flexibly integrated into conveyor belts between the final filling and palletising of outer packaging, transport or shipping cartons according to the plug & play principle. The basic package includes a holder with crossbar, two HM-500 hot melt spray valves, a sensor for recognising the packaging, an Xmelt melter and an Xact control unit. The system is flexibly scalable depending on customer requirements. The HM-500 valves also guarantee versatility: they reliably apply all standard pressure-sensitive adhesives with different levels of adhesion or stickiness.
Kotecki: “Since it was founded more than 35 years ago, our company has rethought the use of industrial adhesives for the benefit of its customers in a number of areas. With the innovative solution for pallet and transport securing, we have successfully done this in a further application area of the packaging market.”
Baumer hhs presented the new adhesive application system for the first time at the interpack trade fair in June 2023. Even there, it met with great interest from visitors to the company’s stand. Several of them ordered test systems at the trade fair.
Caption: With a new adhesive application system from Baumer hhs for securing outer packaging as well as transport and shipping cartons on pallets with anti-slip adhesives, industrial companies can minimise the use of plastic films – for example stretch and wrapping films or shrink sleeves – in pallet and transport securing.