Plastics News senior reporter Bill Bregar gathered these product introductions from NA 2006, the material-handling and logistics show, held March 27-30 at the I-X Center in Cleveland.
Ultralight foam pallet
Novo Foam Products LLC exhibited its 11-pound pallet, the Air Ride Pallet, for the first time, said Tom Bohan, managing partner of the Westland, Ohio-based company.
Novo Foam developed the pallet, which uses parts made by several plastic processes and is molded by other companies. Novo claims the 11-pound pallet performs equally to pallets of four to six times its weight.
Expanded polypropylene foam is sandwiched between two thermoformed outer layers to create a strong, light structure.
At the Cleveland show, Novo Foam also introduced its first two products: the PP 60 reusable DC pallet and the PS 60 export pallet.
Bohan said Profile Plastics Corp. of Lake Bluff, Ill., is the thermoformer. Other suppliers are Plymouth Foam Inc. of Plymouth, Wis., Createc Corp. of Indianapolis and Rehrig Pacific Co. of Los Angeles.
Super storage space
Two units of Akron, Ohio-based Myers Industries Inc. introduced new products.
Akro-Mils Inc., also of Akron, wants to Super-Size you, with its five new Super-Size AkroBins for storing large parts, assemblies and finished goods.
The largest of the new bins measures 29¼ inches long by 18 3/8 inches wide and a foot high. Also at the Cleveland show, Akro-Mils showed the Super-Size bins mounted on a wheeled cart.
Akro-Mils also introduced:
* System Bins, a six-bin combination molded into a single unit. The multiple bin comes in depths of 12 inches and 18 inches, so it fits standard industrial shelving.
* Double-sided Cross-Stack Tub Rack, a wheeled cart that holds a large number of Cross-Stack Akro-Tubs. Angled shelves tilt the tubs.
Buckhorn Inc. of Milford, Ohio, rolled out:
* A line of open-sided, bulk containers with permanently installed custom frames aimed at the automotive market, called the Dunnage-Ready line. The containers can be adapted with custom storage units to handle irregularly shaped, light parts and assemblies with finished surfaces. The DR starts as a standard molded plastic bulk box. Depending on the application, one or two sides are removed, and the steel frame is then installed.
* An updated Citadel bulk container for secure handling, transporting and storage of liquid products. The sides and base have smooth surfaces to prevent contamination of the product.
Buckhorn molds the products using structural foam molding.
Hassle-free package
Universal Package Systems Inc. of Dale, Ind., showed the Step-Pak, featuring a foot-operated locking mechanism that keeps the thermoformed pallet lid, base, and sleeve together without the need to bend over or battle with slide locks.
The sleeve, made of corrugated plastic, folds flat to fit into the base of the pack. That protects it for return shipment. The foot pedal also locks the lid to the outer wall of the pallet, keeping everything as a pack for the return trip.
The thermoformed plastic top and bottom have steel inserts.
