Launch of hot melt adhesive optimizes sustainability and logistics efficiency for pallet handling
A new innovation from Henkel Adhesive Technologies is helping to reduce the reliance on single-use plastic wrap and packaging materials when transporting goods on pallets. Palletizing is an essential part of modern supply chains, but until now this has required large quantities of plastic films, intermediate layers, and anti-slip mats to stabilize and secure stacked goods. There is now an opportunity for change thanks to Technomelt Supra 7220 PS Easyflow from leading adhesives manufacturer Henkel.
The new hot melt adhesive significantly cuts or fully dispenses with the need for film and pallet stretch wrap. By reducing material and waste, it enables manufacturers, logistics specialists, distributors and retailers to meet ever tougher sustainability goals. With Technomelt Supra 7220 PS Easyflow, Henkel supports the industry to rethink the current status quo of palletizing, as it optimizes the process by offering the use of highly efficient hot melt adhesives to replace large amounts of plastics. The solution also drives greater safety and process efficiency through Henkel’s innovative Easyflow packaging.
“At Henkel, we recognize that sustainability is an urgent issue for the packaging industry and for wider society,” commented Stephan Hähnert, Business Development Manager Sustainability for Consumer Goods Adhesives. “With solutions like the Technomelt Supra 7220 PS Easyflow, we can help our customers meet current sustainability standards and support the drive to reduce plastic waste. At the same time, we can help make production and logistics processes more efficient and cost-effective. By leveraging the power of our Easyflow packaging format, this solution has also been developed as an automated, closed system that ensures safer working environments and minimizes downtime.”
Henkel’s new solution allows palletizing of various materials to be performed with no or minimal plastic film and is suitable for all different kinds of filled goods. A hot melt adhesive joins the outer packages with each other via an automated process. This safely secures the pallets. Depending on the packaged product, the adhesives can be adapted to ensure the desired performance.
By reducing the amount of packaging material, it is significantly more sustainable and efficient to transport goods on pallets. As well as reducing costs for plastic films and eliminating the use of anti-slip mats and the intermediate layers required for palletization, the solution removes the additional costs and environmental impact of disposing of materials. Furthermore, the glued cardboard packages can be recycled for increased sustainability through the supply chain. For retailers, the solution provides easier and faster depalletization, and fully automated depalletizing is also made possible.
Driving greater safety and efficiency with Technomelt Supra 7220 PS Easyflow
In addition to optimizing logistics, the solution helps to drive new levels of safety for production line operators by eliminating manual handling of hot melt adhesive and possible exposure to high temperatures. The closed auto-feeding system, which allows for distance feeding for storage away from the production line for additional flexibility, also supports a cleaner and safer working environment. By avoiding contaminants in the system, this innovative solution reduces equipment maintenance demands. In addition, process performance and efficiency increase significantly, thanks to Henkel’s innovative packaging format of the adhesive. Created for all production lines the non-sticky mini pillows can freely flow to allow the auto-feeding system from the adhesive side. This provides a steady melt-on-demand supply into the melters without interruption or temperature fluctuations that can impact performance.
More information can be found here.