SUNBEAM Foods ' implementation of a bulk industrial plastic tub system has enhanced efficiencies and minimised material wastage for both Sunbeam Foods and its industrial customers.
The plastic tubs are used to transport bulk dried fruit from the Sunbeam processing line to its industrial customers.
The new process replaces delivery of bulk fruit in 14kg cartons and the system has eliminated multiple handling of fruit, making the delivery faster and ensuring best quality.
Each tub has the capacity to hold 50-150kg depending on the specific requirements and the unit has two separate compartments.
One of the features of the tubs is the double-ledged rim which provides a seal to protect against both contamination and leakage.
The tubs have also been designed with an internal profile that makes them stackable for easier handling and space-saving, reducing return freight costs.
The lid has the added feature of interlocking the tubs together, for ultra-stable transportation, and the base of the unit has been designed for movement by pallet jack/forklift.
The Sunbeam plastic tubs are made from food-grade polyethylene materials and are fully returnable and recyclable.
The need for cardboard, plastic liners and pallets has been eliminated, making the process far more environmentally friendly and also foodsafe by removing the possibility of plastic or wood entering the food chain.
In fact, the volume of cardboard has been reduced by 75 tonnes a year.
The benefits include a reduction in labour costs, improved OH&S with the cutback of manual handling, improved fruit price due to the elimination of packaging materials and waste, as well as storeroom capacity improvements (no racking required).
In short, the new Bulk Industrial Plastic Tub System has created a versatile and intelligent handling system which has improved the quality of product and service to Sunbeam's customers.
Sunbeam Foods won the Silver Award for industrial packaging at the 2003 Australian Packaging Awards.
The tubs were designed by Food Bins Pty Ltd and manufactured by Global Roto-Moulding Pty Ltd of Mildura.