Manufacturing industries are increasingly recognising the power of returnable transit packaging (RTP) to improve sustainability and slash logistics costs.
Faced with the rising cost of wages, fuel and single-use packaging, manufacturers today seek solutions that deliver lower transport and handling costs. In response, Loadhog has developed Dolly Max, the next-generation rolling container system. A modular solution with unrivalled versatility, Dolly Max enables manufacturers to adapt to their fluctuating production and supply chain needs.
The Dolly Max transport dolly is compatible with a whole host of container configurations for segregated or loose bulk goods, as well as traditional cardboard boxes. This makes it the ideal substitute for shrink-wrapped pallets, pallet shippers or roll cages – all of which have disadvantages. Shrink-wrapped pallets are not environmentally friendly and, along with pallet shippers, require investment in separate handling equipment. Roll cages can be heavy to move, feature sharp metal touchpoints and have inefficient brakes. The Dolly Max, on the other hand, is smooth and easy to manoeuvre and features an innovative, one-touch brake mechanism with easy access.
By combining the Dolly Max with Loadhog containers – whether attached-lid, bail-arm or collapsible – and Loadhog’s award-winning Pallet Lid, manufacturers achieve a secure end-to-end handling system that is almost infinitely configurable. An eco-friendly alternative to stretch wrap, the reusable Pallet Lid features retractable straps and an integrated tensioning mechanism to secure the load. In this way, the Dolly Max provides the ultimate RTP solution, completely eliminating the need for single-use packaging.
The Dolly Max system also features a foldable sleeve unit that is ideal for transporting bulky components or products. The one-touch sleeve lock has a large access for safety shoes and enables rapid system construction. Various sleeve sizes can be topped with Loadhog’s Stacking Tray, creating a secure platform for adding containers.
Savings add up
Capable of being manoeuvred easily around production facilities and even linked together in a train, dollies support lean manufacturing by reducing the investment required in a forklift fleet. They also alleviate labour availability issues by cutting the need for additional handling. For example, Bizerba – a leading supplier of precision weighing, labelling and packaging products – has used Loadhog’s Pally 86 dolly to reduce double handling and save its employees an estimated 30 km of walking per year. Meanwhile Böllhoff – which manufactures fasteners for a range of industries including automotive, medical technology and aerospace – has replaced wooden pallets with Loadhog’s Pally 86 and Half Euro Pallet Lid. This has secured savings of around 125,000 euros a year by eliminating plastic stretch wrap and reducing working hours.
Penguin Random House has also replaced pallet wrap with Loadhog’s Pallet Lid. The publisher sends Pallet Lids to its print supplier, which uses them to secure loads for dispatch to Penguin’s distribution centre, from where they are returned in a closed loop. Using the Pallet Lid has not only reduced the time taken to secure a load from 3 minutes to just 20 seconds, it has also significantly cut Penguin’s consumption of plastic wrap (by over 47% in the first year). In addition, the Pallet Lid enables the printer to double stack pallets in lorries, improving vehicle fill and reducing CO2 emissions.
The Dolly Max system ticks all the boxes when it comes to sustainability, supporting companies to improve transport efficiency and reduce carbon footprint. The solution features recycled material to avoid UK plastic tax and can, as an option, be manufactured from 100% recycled material. Loadhog also offers a swap-out scheme at the end of the packaging’s life, when it can be reground and remoulded into a new, reusable solution.
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