Multi-material Repeat Use Pallet System Provides the Highest Level of Protection for EBARA’s High-Performance Pumps Shipped around the Globe.
DS Smith’s optimised transit packaging solution utilised a material-neutral approach to develop a heavy duty pack to meet all EBARA’s design criteria.

The Reusable Packaging Challenge

EBARA Precision Machinery Company which belongs to EBARA Corporation; a leading worldwide supplier of components and systems for semiconductor, LED, Photovoltaic, Flat Panel, MEMS applications, was looking for a robust,reusable packaging solution to protect and transport some of their high-value pumps. The product range covers vacuum pumps, exhaust gas cleaning systems and accessories, Chemical-Mechanical Polishing systems, Plating systems, Ozone generators, functional water generators and EPIX Filters. The multi-component bespoke pack would be used for initial product delivery but also by their end customer to send their pump back at intervals for servicing and maintenance.

The DS Smith Solution

Packaging strategist DS Smith Plastics, Foam Products, created a palletised solution consisting of an ABS sheet and various Expanded Polyethylene (EPE) die-cut parts that firmly hold the pump in place during transportation. As part of the pallet, a ramp was added to help with the loading and unloading of the pump which has wheels. The final packaging cleverly nests all protective packaging components into one another, to offer the best protection and a compact, optimised pack size; and is held together by a durable Correx® polypropylene blue sleeve and lid printed with the customer logo. The final EPE packaging solution meets the following requests from EBARA:

Capable of dual use for two pump models EV-SA20 & EV-SA30
Packed and unpacked with one person
Utilizes a ramp for unloading and loading; attachable with Velcro
Foam protection
Plastic half pallet base
Pallet truck and forklift compatible
two-high stackable

Results Delivered

This reusable optimised packaging solution from DS Smith Plastics has long life expectancy and has been cleverly designed as a universal pack to house two different sizes of pumps. For the bigger pump to fit all the packer needs to do is tear away a number of small sections of foam to allow for the best fit.

The plastic corrugated outer sleeve was easily sourced in-house and was the perfect solution for shipping goods globally, especially when some countries have rules and regulations around cardboard and wood fibres in cross-continent logistics. Our rigid corrugated polypropylene plastic is also lightweight, reusable and fully recyclable and much more reliable that traditional materials if it comes into contact with any moisture in the supply chain.

By combining the superior properties of DS Smith Plastics’ packaging materials the customer is assured an optimised all-in-one solution from one supplier.

Through close communication between EBARA’s team and DS Smith Plastics’ engineers and plant staff working with the customer through every stage of the pack’s development, the design evolved into a finished solution.