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Integrity – Commitment - Excellence

Pallet Stability Testing

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Pallet Stability Testing – How?

A controlled horizontal acceleration is generated on the pallet

The test is captured on a slow motion video

The generated acceleration simulates pallet behaviour during:

– Braking manoeuvers of a truck – During diverting manoeuvers

Measurements of the pallet’s deflection are made before and after the test

Acceleration adjustable between 0 and 0,8g

Click to watch the video

03/09/2012 PST 2

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Pallet Stability Testing – Why?

Drivers fo

r PST

Load securing

Cost saving opportunities

• Conformity with (inter)national laws

• Load securing based on ‘uni-loads’ = efficient

• Packaging = the basis of ‘solid’ load securing

• Is all packaging necessary?

• Increased stability = increased handling speed

• PST leads to less rejected pallets

Gathering knowledge

• Insight in key drivers pallet stability

03/09/2012 PST 3

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Pallet Stability Testing – Load securing

a ‘shape stable load unit’ = A load unit that behaves as one unit when submitted to a certain acceleration

Makes load securing easier

Calculations to determine the load securing means can be used in case of a shape

stable load unit

‘Blocking’ of a shape stable load unit is possible even if there is underhang

Compliance with EN12195 and local legislations

Pallet Stability Testing / Why? / Load securing

Unstable pallet containing 600 PET bottles of 1.5L

Stable pallet containing 600 PET bottles of 1.5L

Stability The pallet is not behaving shape stable at 0,5g

The pallet is behaving shape stable at 0,5g

Load securing ‘demand’ Since the bottles are not ‘firmly’ linked to the pallet, each bottle needs to be secured to the truck (individually)

Since the pallet behaves as one unit, the ‘unit’ should be secured to the truck

Difficulty level Very difficult easy

03/09/2012 PST 4

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Pallet Stability Testing – Cost saving opportunities

Pallet Stability Testing / Why? / Cost saving opportunities

Bundling effort: • Type of stretch film • Machine capabilities • Parameters • Wrapping / hooding

scheme

Pallet layout: • Primary packaging • Secondary packaging • Interlayers • Stacking pattern • Slip sheets • Tape • …

Drivers of pallet stability

20%

80%

OPTIMIZING

20% less rejected pal.

OPTIMIZING

Cost per pal.

ESTL increases opportunities

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WO

RK

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SP

ECTR

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RTU

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Our working spectrum

40% less rejected pal.

Cost per pal.

03/09/2012 PST 5

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Pallet Stability Testing – Gathering knowledge

Attendance during the tests increases insight in pallet dynamics

Determination of the key driver for product specific stability – Relation between type of glue and pallet stability

– Relation between strength of the secondary packaging and pallet stability

– Relation between stretch hood dimensions and stability

– Relation between bottle shape and pallet stability

– …

Pallet Stability Testing / Why? / Gathering knowledge

03/09/2012 PST 6

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Pallet Stability Testing – our equipment

Acceleration bench – Acceleration level: 0 up to 0,8g

– Acceleration time: 500ms

– Maximum pallet weight: 1500kg

Strapping tool

Tailor-made stretch wrapper – Multi-parameter program

– Double independent roping system

– Automatic in- and out feed

– Adjustable pre-stretch

– 500mm and 750mm rolls

High speed camera

03/09/2012 PST 7

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Pallet Stability Testing - methodology

1. Certification – When a load unit behaves stable during an acceleration of at least 0.5g, an official

certificate can be made

2. Optimisation

Test original pallet

Try to save packaging material

If stability ≥0

,5g

If stability ≤0,5g Determination of the failure mode

Possible solutions

Test solutions

Stable pallet

If s

tab

ility

insu

ffic

ien

t In 90% of the cases ’on the spot’ simulation of the possible solutions by restacking, rewrapping,… your products

2 à 4 pallets can be optimized in one day.

03/09/2012 PST 8

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Case study – Pallet details

EUR Pallet

Weight 800 kg

Stretch film: – LLDPE – 17 µm

– 22 Windings

– 220 gram

Secondary unit – Tray containing individual servings

No interlayers are used

+ 5 x

03/09/2012 PST 9

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Case study – original situation

03/09/2012 PST 10

This picture was taken after an 0,5g test

Identical phenomena as the collapsed pallets

Click to watch the video

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Case study – proposed solution

Change the stacking pattern

Same wrapping pattern

03/09/2012 PST 11

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Case study – improved results

03/09/2012 PST 12

This picture was taken after an 0,5g test

Click to watch the video