collapsible containers

Collapsible Containers Help Major Sportswear Retailer Speed Up Supply Flow

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Choosing modern packaging materials, such as stack-nest containers or collapsible containers, does not solve your company’s logistic problem per se. It has to be the adequate type of packaging material which makes the best use of the available storage space and automated manufacturing and sorting lines installed at the premises. This was a lesson learned by a major sportswear distributor and retailer whose supply flow was periodically choking up.

Professional Packaging, Inadequate Implementation

Before they contacted our company to help them solve the unpredictable blockages along the supply chain, the company used stack-nest containers to sort, store and ship their merchandize to over 200 stores all over Europe. Their products are very popular thanks to a very good quality/price ratio, so there is constant demand for sportswear distributed by them.

Unfortunately, at times the company had their regional and continental warehouses crammed with the containers which were space saving, but not to the degree they actually needed. There was also the issue that the containers did not fit properly on their automated sorting lines, and thus had a shorter useful life than they should have.

On top of all these issues, the containers had a small loading capacity, of only 70 liters, meaning that the company needed lots of them in order to pack orders for their stores. For these reasons, they were constantly racing against time to ship orders on time, sometimes missing a deadline.

Logistic Experts Step In to Evaluate the Situation

It was clear that the sportswear manufacturer was doing their best to keep a stock of modern and reliable packaging materials. However, it was obvious that they had not benefited from specialized consultancy in identifying the adequate packaging solution for their needs.

After listening to their problems and performing a visit at one of their central warehouses, the logistic experts could pinpoint the problem: the company needed a packaging solution which offers the maximum space saving capabilities when not in use and fits properly both on the conveyor belt and on standard EURO and ISO sized pallets for shipping.

At this point, we were able to recommend collapsible containers as the ideal packaging material to solve their problems.

Why Collapsible Containers Do a Better Job In this Case?

The model of collapsible containers recommended by the experts from Logistic Packaging reduces its volume by 80% when the walls are set down on the base. This is the most space saving model of plastic container recommended for this particular client.

The containers are also manufactured from various replaceable parts. Thus, the client’s issue with replacing containers frequently is solved – instead of buying a new container, they only have to buy the specific part which got broken.

At the same time, collapsible containers are ideal for using on automated manufacturing and sorting lines, such as the model used by the client. Thus, they would reduce even more the percentage of damaged products, because the type of container they previously used was not suitable for placing on conveyor belts.

Other Benefits Which Determined the Choice

Compared with the small containers which the client used, collapsible containers offer a generous storage space of up to 180 liters, nearly three times the capacity of the old ones. These containers have integrated label holders as standard accessory, which is very helpful for the client to identify the packed products and speed up the deliveries. Also, the container can be fit with a crocodile lid, with seals on demand, to make sure that the products stored inside are protected from damage, and attempted tampering or theft.

The introduction of collapsible containers made a big difference in our client’s business. They have noticed significant improvements in the supply flow, their warehouses are less cluttered and can hold more packaged products ready for delivery and their retail stores report a lower percentage of damaged or missing products.