Deerfield, Ill., October 31, 2010—Pregis Hexacomb® is introducing the latest generation all-paper, honeycomb-based pallet solution which, for the first time, features surfaces for brand placement.
Called Hexacomb® Billboard™, the new, more attractive, pallet alternative incorporates an additional outer edge wrap. It consists of kraft paper layers laminated to a clay-coated (white) outer surface onto which logos, brands, store names, etc. can be flexographically-printed in a repeating pattern. In addition to providing a branding platform, the edge wrap also improves pallet strength and durability.
“In today’s competitive marketplace, brand exposure at the point-of-sale has become an important purchasing driver. The ability to add your logo to a pallet gives brand owners one more way to communicate. This is particularly valuable for products sold in warehouse stores. These items are typically stacked several pallets high and are frequently in the consumer’s sightline from the opposite end of the store. Although the product may be obscured because of its stretch wrap shroud, the exposed pallet edge can still be used to tout the brand and draw the consumer’s attention,” explained Jeff Kellar, president, Hexacomb.
Hexacomb® Billboard™ pallets are already being tested in various retail environments across the United States. Ralcorp, a leading producer of private label foods and foodservice products, has already experienced the benefits.
“These pallets offer a guaranteed way to turn a pallet into a ‘display’ at the retail level. They are easy to forklift and provide a great alternative to wood,” said Bill Boyer, associate director of customer marketing at Ralston Foods, a division of Ralcorp Holdings.
Unlike wood, Hexacomb® pallets do not require treatment for export applications. Additionally, the use of 80% virgin fibers and the wrapped fiberboard feet help make the pallets water resistant.
The all-paper based Hexacomb® honeycomb block and runner-style Billboard™ pallets provide additional performance benefits. Each pallet can handle static loads of up to 6,000 pounds. There are also significant weight benefits. Wood pallets typically weigh 40-plus pounds each vs. 8- to 10-pounds for a honeycomb alternative. This means that approximately 800 pounds of pallet weight can be eliminated from a typical truckload by converting to Hexacomb® Billboard™ which positively impacts transportation costs. The weight reduction also minimizes back strain associated with lifting heavy objects.
Additionally, Hexacomb® Billboard pallets can lower overall pallet expenses by eliminating costly pallet exchange and lease programs and minimizing damage claim costs. Other benefits include:
· Smooth surface (no nails to damage product or floors)
· Improved sanitation and cleanliness
· Reduced fire hazard (no piles of old pallets)
· Better nesting capability
· Environmentally-friendly (100% paper construction, made from both post- and pre-consumer recycled fibers)
Hexacomb® honeycomb is made from kraft paper (linerboard) and water-based adhesives. The paper is sliced into strips which are glued together to form a pattern of nested hexagonal cells similar in appearance to a beehive honeycomb. To produce a pallet, Hexacomb® honeycomb is used both in the “deck” (or platform) portion of the pallet as well as the “blocks” or “runners.”
The vertical-cell orientation allows the deck to handle heavy loads without a loss of strength. The water-based adhesives used to join the components enable the entire pallet to be recycled with other paper and paperboard products.
Unlike wood pallets, which are mostly available in the industry standard size of 40- by 48-inches, Hexacomb® pallets are available in a variety of non-standard sizes, both for U.S. and export applications. Customers can choose from a variety of pallet deck, runner and block dimensions (length, width, height) depending on their specific requirements (such as two-way or four-way entry).
“Currently, we are testing the pallets to determine how many turns they can handle. We anticipate a multiple-turn lifecycle which will add to its cost-effectiveness,” Kellar said.
Source: Pregis Corp.
