Returnable Dunnage system or collapsible pallets offer solution to expensive and environmentally damaging wood based pallets and packaging.

Each day thousands of trees are cut down for packaging purposes. Wooden boxes, cartons, corrugated sheet packing, etc., are fetched from trees and tree pulp, and ultimately throughout the world deforestation is influenced by the packaging industry. Yet there are ways to prevent this damage to the environment.

Right Engineers & Equipment India Pvt Ltd is one of the leading material handling solution providers since last decade and half, specialised in providing customised material handling solutions. The company's core strength is in designing proper solutions for today's material handling challenges.

Deforestation due to wooden packing is one of the biggest challenges today's world is facing. When Right Engineers came across this challenge especially with customers from the automobile and manufacturing industries, the company undertook a detailed study in designing metal packaging as substitute for wood. The idea or concept is not new, similar examples abound in developed countries.

This material packaging is called as Returnable Dunnage system or collapsible pallets.

What is Returnable Dunnage and How it Works?

A re-usable and returnable dunnage system is used for holding the product therein during shipment and retuned for re-use. The dunnage has a structured base and two opposite movable side legs. Normally it consists of light weight mild steel tubular frame with hinges and gussets based on capacity.

These kinds of dunnage are useful and most suitable where there are continuous shipments of finished product/semi finished products done between two points, like a subcontractor supplying sub-assembly or components regularly to the main customer. Different parts, components and/or sub-assemblies, etc., are being transported on regular basis from ancillary units to main units. These are the core areas where returnable dunnage needs to be implemented.

What are the Advantages?

• Reduces long term packaging cost
• Improves product protection
• Improves worker safety and house keeping
• Effective utilisation of space
• Big impact on environmental safety
• Avoids creating junk residual, and
• Easy handling.

What are the Challenges?

• Large capital investment in the beginning
• Increased transport expenses for returning, and
• Cost of tracking and accounting.

Summary

The returnable dunnage or collapsible pallets are more profitable than any other packing methods. Based on survey and current usage the well designed pallet will give not less than one year of usage or 50 cycles of transportation without having any trouble or repair. There after any re-work, re-weld or repair can be carried out and it can be used another 50 more cycles. Still even after complete usage of life cycles, the same metal pallet can be sold for 50 per cent of raw material value as a scrap.

The main challenge of return transportation is reduced to 1/3rd or still low by collapsing each pallet by 1/3rd of its size by its unique design. While dispatching each truck carries 20 pallets in loaded condition and the same truck can carry 60 pallets back while returning in collapsed or folded conditions.

There are a few more unique advantages such as: strong and rigid in comparison with any other package; does not leave any residue or create junk; stacks one above other in height so less floor space will be used; easy to handle by cranes/forklifts and pallet trucks, etc; and reduces lot of man hours in wrapping and unwrapping components while in conventional wooden or corrugated box packing.

Right Engineers & Equipment (I) Pvt Ltd is an expert in studying, analysing and providing creative, effective, economical packing and movement solutions. The company has designed and implemented lot of solutions for customers like Wipro Infrastructure, Caterpillar, JCB, Telcon, and many others, for their sub assembly transportation.

Right Engineers & Equipment (I) Pvt Ltd, No: 25, 5th Cross, Ist Main, Bilekahalli, B G Road, Bangalore 560 076. Tel: 080-2682596/41108328/6/9. Email: enquiry@rightengineers.com