Nestlé Turns to TNT Container Logistics’ Pallecon
30 January 2002 - 16:05 CET
TNT Container Logistics has won contracts to supply Nestlé with container solutions to store and transport a variety of its food ingredients across Europe.
TNT Container Logistics' cost-effective hire service has replaced Nestlé's method of purchasing containers for storing and transporting soup, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate and associated confectionery products in the UK, Netherlands and Germany.
TNT Container Logistics' European director for sales and marketing John Wright said: "These major contracts offer a variety of challenges and demonstrates the flexibility of our solutions to meet customers' production requirements.
"They also reflect the benefits of our pan-European hire and dehire service which enables Nestlé to hire in one country and transport units to another where they can be returned."
By hiring the liquid and dry bulk Pallecon containers, Nestlé is able to have the right number of containers as and when required. There is also no capital outlay for containers and no routine maintenance and repair costs, and solves the problem of having to store unused units on site at all three plants.
Since the units are re-usable, Nestlé has reduced the amount of packaging waste produced. There is no need to dispose of units, as only the liner needs to be discarded after use, meaning that no cleaning is required.
Liquid Solution
In both the UK and Netherlands, Nestlé has switched to using TNT Container Logistics' Pallecon liquid container with a liquid liner to store and transport soup and sweetened condensed milk.
In the Netherlands, a packaging solution was required to transport soup, 400,000 litres of which is produced each year in France and taken to a Nestlé plant in Venray ready for bottling and distributing to supermarkets.
Nestlé was seeking a container which would eliminate the problems it had been experiencing with its existing containers and costs associated with maintenance and storage of units not being used.
Nestlé's plant at Dalston, UK produces some 2500 tonnes of sweetened condensed milk per year, which is distributed to other Nestlé sites and customers which use the milk as an ingredient in food production.
In all cases, Nestlé had previously purchased containers, where sufficient quantities had to be bought in to cover peak demands. However, in quieter months, units were left unused, taking up large amounts of space, resulting in cost, handling problems and restricting storage capacity.
The durable Pallecon was chosen as the best solution because it is ideal for use in the food industry where both product and environmental hygiene are crucial.
The UK division has been able to maximise the volume of condensed milk held on every pallet space as one Pallecon is able to hold 32 percent more than a pallet of drums. Moreover, the success of the Food Grade container in the UK has resulted in trials using TNT Container Logistics's 1,000 litre Autoflow unit.
The success of the Pallecon in these applications has also led to Nestlé considering the hire of further containers to transport a number of other products, including honey and vinegar.
Solids Solution
The German division of Nestlé has turned to the demountable Pallecon Food Grade dry bulk container with a dry liner. The unit is used to transport Mini Smarties and crushed Smarties produced in Hamburg, to the UK, Switzerland, Spain and other areas of Germany.
The unit can be readily filled, stacked and emptied, and the use of tilters helps minimise manual handling. The carton boxes previously used would have to be assembled prior to use and then manually placed on a pallet to be moved around the plant. Carton boxes also caused problems with handling, hygiene, protection and disposal.
Once the Pallecon units have been filled in Hamburg, they are transported to other sites and are returned to the nearest available TNT Container Logistics depot once emptied.
The container's galvanised steel tube frame means it is strong and highly durable, ensuring that its contents are prevented from being damaged, and a full range of tilters is available for controlled discharge of its contents.
Once Nestlé has finished with the units in the Netherlands and Hamburg, they are immediately dehired and returned to TNT Container Logistics. This method of returnable packaging has significantly reduced costs.
Because the container liners are completely emptied and discarded after use, no cleaning is needed and the problem of disposing of drums and carton boxes is eliminated. The units can also be demounted for five containers to fit into one vehicle load space, making their storage and return transportation more efficient.
