Sustainable packaging concept for building chemicals
In both its plant in Bottrop as well as in Esslingen the international producer of building and chemical products, MC-Bauchemie, has converted its packaging concept to a sustainable stretch-hood solution from MSK. For products such as bagged goods, buckets, canisters, drums and boxes, the stretch-hood imparts high load stability and protection against weather impacts. A connected MSK pallet logistics system with conveyor technology spanning over two floors ensures fully automated pallet transport.
Convinced by the trials
With its packaging systems showing signs of age, in 2015 MC-Bauchemie contacted the packaging machine manufacturer MSK, looking for an alternative packaging solution. Until then, MC-Bauchemie had been using spiral-stretch wrappers to package its products. In a close collaboration between MC-Bauchemie and MSK, a series of extensive trials was launched to develop the optimum packaging solution for the chemical products. MSK was not the only manufacturer MC-Bauchemie was consulting in its search for a new machine concept. Ultimately, it was the comparative trials in Kleve that convinced the building chemicals producer to choose the sustainable and robust stretch-hood technology from MSK. “The majority of our products find their way directly to the construction site. With this solution, the products are better protected against weather impacts. Moreover, we have lower film consumption per load unit, which is important to us particularly because of the sustainability aspect,” says Burkhard Bergmann, Head of Logistics Systems & Maintenance at MC-Bauchemie, explaining the choice of this new packaging solution. He adds: “For us, the process speed, the weather resistance and the lower material consumption are those advantages of stretch-hood packaging that really make a difference.” Within a short period of time MC-Bauchemie ordered three stretch-hood systems of the type MSK Tensiontech for its production plant in Bottrop. A pallet logistics system with connection to the stretch-hood system was also installed. In the Esslingen plant a new stretch-hooder of the type MSK Wraptech followed in 2022.
Sustainable stretch-hood technology
Compared to the former machines, which wrapped the load units both vertically as well as horizontally with film, the stretch-hood is an efficient and sustainable packaging solution. The products are packaged securely for transport and storage, and safely protected against dust and moisture by the closed hood. The patented MSK device for gathering the film (EP 1 353 847) and the MSK vertical film stretching process (EP 1 717 148) allow the use of thin films and ensure minimal film consumption. The machines operate very reliably, without any standstill times for roll changes. At less than 0.07 kW per pallet, energy consumption is low. For maintenance tasks the machine head can be lowered to work level. In visits to plants of MC-Bauchemie as reference sites, other interested manufacturers have heard from project heads at MC-Bauchemie about how satisfied they are with the handling of the project in terms of both the technical aspects as well as smooth interactions with project staff, but also with the service. “Work on the projects with MSK was always marked by a high degree of professionalism. Lines of communication are excellent. The machines deliver everything that was promised. As customer, we feel very well looked after,” attests Burkhard Bergmann.
Machines for building chemical products
“For the packaging of our building chemical products, load security, weather resistance, suitability for automated handling by machines, conveyors and high-bay storage systems, as well as speed and conservation of resources are all critical criteria,” says Burkhard Bergmann, itemizing MC-Bauchemie’s expectations. In the Bottrop plant three MSK Tensiontech stretch-hooders package various building materials in sacks, buckets and boxes on Euro pallets at a rate of up to 90 pallets per hour each. For the Esslingen plant, MC-Bauchemie decided on a stretch-hooder of the type MSK Wraptech, designed specifically with the building materials and chemicals industry in mind. The single-format MSK Wraptech is custom made for standard applications, and packages sacks, canisters and drums on Euro pallets, and also transports IBC containers. And it does all this at rates of up to 50 pallets per hour. The load units can weigh up to 1.5 tons. “MSK was the most responsive to our needs. The machines are not ‘off the shelf’, rather they are configured to match our requirements. They are extremely robust and solid,” says Burkhard Bergmann, explaining why they opted for the MSK machines.
Automated pallet logistics system
By placing the film around the upper board of the pallet – known as the MSK collar-stretch procedure – the stretch-hooders keep the pallet feet film-free, thus facilitating easy pallet handling with forklifts or in automated high-bay storage systems. After the load is secured by the MSK stretch-hood system, an MSK pallet conveyor system takes the pallets and conveys them up two floors to defined transfer locations for forklifts. The logistics system includes various roller conveyors, turning segments and vertical conveyors. The control of the conveyor system is connected to the control of the packaging system. A visualization of the overall system is made possible by the MSK EMSY software. MSK EMSY also offers a maintenance management system, remote maintenance or online diagnostics, and supplies statistics for consumption and production. The clearly structured and intuitive user interface, the readily available status info, and easy configuration of parameters with graphic support allow employees to familiarize themselves with the system much faster.
