A Michigan materials packaging company has come up with an innovative, “green” system for securing palletized loads that doesn’t require plastic wrap or the use of bands.
Creative Techniques, which is headquartered in Michigan’s Orion Township, used structural foam plastic to create the enviroLid, a heavy duty lid that sits atop pallets of totes or trays. The EnviroLid — which measure 45 by 48 inches — features recessed belts that are sort of like seatbelts found in cars. These belts have a metal hook that grips the pallet’s edge.
Once secured, the belts engage a ratchet mechanism — again, like a car’s seatbelt — that creates tension that secures the load between the pallet and the lid. Once removed, the spring loaded belts snap back into the lid automatically.
Here’s a video demonstration of how the enviroLid system works:
Creative Techniques’ New Pallet Belts
No More Shrink Wrap or Banding
EnviroLids are reusable, which eliminates the need for shrink wrapping and banding. That means there is no waste from pallet packaging that ends up in landfills. It also reduces labor costs because workers no longer have to wrap, unwrap and band pallets during shipping.
Rick Parker, the company’s vice president for business development, said the enviroLid can be adapted for use by practically any industry.
“The hooks can be custom designed to match any pallet, including injection molded, structural foam, thermoformed, metal or wood,” Parker said. “Benefits include better sustainability by eliminating stretchwrap or banding, plus improved safety for both personnel and product by eliminating razor knives.
The enviroLid also can be made watertight. And the lid’s underside can be used with a custom-molded insert that perfectly aligns the products stacked on the pallets for more security during transport.
First Created for Very Heavy Loads
The enviroLid was first used beginning in 2010 to secure heavy loads such as transmission and engine parts, according to Parker.
“Because those pallets contain 3,000 pound loads stacked up to four high, the lid had to be extra robust,” he said.
More recent versions use an injection-molded plastic process to handle loads of up to 2,500 pounds.
“It has the same dimension and features, but weighs 22 pounds, so a single person can handle it,” Parker said.
Comes in a Smaller Version
Another version of the enviroLid measures only 32 by 36 inches.
“Its a unique size that works well for smaller batch component deliveries to assembly lines by tuggers and pull carts,” Parker said. “With more operations looking to eliminate forklifts, this was the best size to interface with carts and pallet jacks.”
Because the enviroLid can replace plastic wrap and banding, it frees up valuable floor space in warehouses and manufacturing facilities because the equipment used for those packaging materials is no longer required.
Plus, the likelihood that loads will be damaged by razor knives when removing stretch wrap is eliminated.
The enviroLid features one-piece design, has no wells or recesses to collect water if stored outdoors, and has no seams to leak. It has ergonomic handles on two sides and an extended perimeter lip in its corners to contain totes and boxes.
Plus, the enviroLid has a unique rib pattern on its underside so that it can get a better grip on the totes, containers and boxes it holds in place.