Company: El-Met Parts

Packaging Application: El-Met Parts storage and ship of motor laminations (steel stampings)

Packaging Challenge:  The use of corrugated containers contributed to several problems El-Met was encountering. Once the heavy parts were placed in the corrugated containers, they were not strong enough to be stacked. They were also susceptible to damage that frequently impacted quality, causing the company to incur additional costs in both replacing and shipping parts. Additionally, the ongoing, continuous expense of replacing and disposing of both the single-use disposable packaging
and the wooden base pallets was a cost that El-Met was reluctant to pass on to its customers.

Packaging Solution: ORBIS design engineers worked closely with El-Met, redesigning the container lid for extra strength, and advising the company on new ways to package heavy loads to reduce stress. El-Met-Parts initially ordered four hundred 32”x 30” HDR containers to replace their corrugated systems.  This enabled El-Met-Parts to stack the containers up to three-high when loaded.

Product: 32” x 30“ x 25” and 32“ x 30” x 34“ HDR containers

Results: After El-Met-Parts started using ORBIS' containers, the majority of its customers also made the transition from corrugated cardboard and agreed to accept parts in the new reusable containers. El-Met and its customers receiving the parts benefit from better floor space utilization, reduced handling damage in their plants, and the elimination of cardboard disposal costs. These containers have also greatly reduced damage to products in transit, creating a 50 percent savings by eliminating additional replacement parts and subsequent shipping costs.