CONTAINERS No Absorptive W a d d i n g
Fiberboard for Containers Designs allow for bulk shipment of industrial chemicals plus individualized p a c k a g i n g for small units -pvow CHEMICAL recently decomis*-* sioned one of its wooden containers for shipping five- and 10-gal. d r u m s of samples of liquid chemicals to foreign countries. Instead, it is now using a square, 600-Ib., doublewalled, corrugated box which, tests show, will provide a better cushion and have greater dent resistance than t h e former wooden container. This is typical of trends in the chemical industry, say Fibre Box Association representatives, where, more and more, t h e industry is coming to look to fiber boxes for packaging and shipping its products. Illustrating the fiber box industry's bulk shipment service, one box maker has designed a corrugated box for Styron plastic pellets. The box measures 41V 4 in. X 3 3 3 / 4 in. X 33 in., and consists of four parts—bottom fid, b o d y (which slips into bottom fid), outer body (which telescopes over bottom lid and inner body), and top lid (which fits over the outer body). This bulk box shows great promise for shipments of large (1000-lb.) quantities of plastic pellet-type material. I t saves storage space both before filling, since it is received in a knocked d o w n state, and after filling, since approximately one third more product can b e stored in a given volume in the large bulk box than was possible with other previously used packages. New designs not only allow for t h e safe packaging of large bulks but also adapt the fiber boxes to the requirements of granulated and liquid m a t e rials. For instance, Rohm & Haas ships
anhydrous sodium thiosulfate, a photographic fixative, from its Bridesburg, Pa., plant in 2OO0-lb. capacity octagonal fiber boxes which are fined with waterproof crepe bag lining b e fore t h e chemical is filled into the container. In a similar development, another manufacturer is impregnating his fiberboard containers with pesticides to prevent the infestation of lactose pharmaceuticals. A trend equally important as the one reflected in this variety of bulk shipping improvements concerns the use of fiberboard containers in shipping small units of consumer items in safe and efficient fiber boxes. The do-it-yourself trend in hardware and paint stores has increased the number and packaging requirements for smaller units b y around 25% over the last five years, say representatives of the packaging trade. Thus, Solox, formerly best known for its industrial uses and now a popular window cleaner, is shipped in tin cans, packaged six units to a fiber box. This use alone, says the Fibre Box Association, absorbs thousands of fiber boxes. Users of these boxes report breakage resistance superior to other packing materials, which fiberboard engineers attribute to careful drop incline and bursting tests. Fiber box designers are at work on equally ambitious ideas to be p u t into use in the near future. Fibre Box Association officials say they believe "there isn't one packaging job in wood, steel, or fabric that they can't improve through fiberboard." C1
On left, fiber box, containing film-wrapped rubber bales, consists of tray serving as bottom and as part of upright walls and three telescoping sleeves of graduated heights. It is constructed to permit loading without an access door or special handling equipment. At right a four-piece, easily assembled container is designed to hold 1O00 lb. of styrene pellets in bulk, thereby eliminating five individual shipping units. Featured are high stacking strength and easy assembly
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A container developed b y A m b a s sador Plastics and Mfg. has received acceptance by the U. S. Post Office for shipment of liquids without use of absorptive wadding. This means, says
Open, matching halves of an APM container for a delicate wine goblet. Inside material of package provides a soft cushion. At lower right, package, taped together, is ready for shipment. Outs£de material is tough and relatively hard company, that cosmetics, chemica-ls, drugs, and similar products can "be safely mailed in a unit container r e quiring no additional wadding, p a d ding, wrapping, or outside protection. All that is required is to place a bottle into the container and to close it w i t h waterproof tape. APM containers c a n be custom molded to hold bottles of any size or shape. Because t h e containers are made of a plastic foam having insulating ability, the container can b e used for cold shipment of antibiotics and vaccines. Containers are light-weight, resistant to water and most chemicals. C 2
• Stainless steel pail developed by Reading Scientific is for handling of sulfuric acid and other highly corrosive chemical solutions. M a d e from 2 4 gage Carpenter Stainless No. 20, pail is safe for use with both hot and cold sulfuric acid, says company. Corrosion rate of pail is negligible through all concentrations of H 2 S 0 4 at room temperature. It is highly resistant to all concentrations of sulfuric acid at 125° F . Capacity of pail is 3 gal. C3 For further information on any
item or process mentioned here, see coupon on page 2856 2850
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