HDPE

High Density Polyethylene, used for crates which will be used in the Food Industry that are stored in low temperatures, as low as -30

 

PP

Polypropylene, mainly used in general purpose applications, also food grade,

 

Recycled

Mainly Black, not to be used for any food application

 

Solid

Means, no holes or slots in any of the walls or base

 

Vented

Means there are holes or slots in the sides or base

 

Stack & Nest

Means the units can be stacked or Nested on top of each other

 

Stacking only

Means the units can be stacked on top of each other only

 

Nesting Totes

Means the totes can only be nested into each other, unless there is a lid for the unit

 

Swing Bar

Bars which run across the unit, these make the crate Stackable or Nestable

 

Bond Stack

This is when the crates are stacked in alternate directions on the pallet,and makes a very stable pallet load

 

Foot Print

This is the size of the crate in Length and width

 

Capacity

The volume of liquid per container, filled right to the top

 

External Size

These are the outer dimensions of the unit in Length, width and Height

 

Internal Size

These are the inter dimensions of the unit in Length, width and Height

 

Straight Sided

This is when the 2 side walls and 2 end walls are straight (Nesting Totes)

 

Tapered sides

This is when the 2 side walls and 2 end walls are tapered (Nesting Totes)

 

Top load

This is the weight the Pallet will hold, when the pallet is standing on the floor

 

Racking load

This is the weight the pallet will hold, when standing in the racks above the floor

 

Fork access

This is the number of sides the pallet or Pallet bin can be lifted from

 

Hot Stamping

This is a form of printing, foil is melted into the unit on the top, sides or ends

 

Screen Printing

Another form of printing, ink is wiped on the unit through a screen

 

Name Plates

These are steel plates which can be used to print the customers name onto a product

 

Insulation

This is the section between the inner and outer walls on cool bins which is filled with high density Foam

 

Bund

This is a tank, which your tank sits inside

 

Bung

This is a threaded unit which screws into an opening in the base of the

Insulated bins to allow the water to drain out

 

Tie down

These are rubber straps used to hold the lids to the base on the insulated bins

 

Chemical Resistance

Not all chemicals  will work with LDPE

 

 Critical Hygiene

All food grade products should be manufactured in a certified Critical Hygiene area.

 

Achievement of this standard of hygiene includes:

§         Bacterial Swabbing and Monitoring

§         Air Filtered to 1 Micron

§         Positive Air Pressure at a 40 Pascale differential between inside and outside factory

§         Full Airlock Procedures for people, product, consumables or materials entering into a Critical Hygiene Area

§         Full change procedures for staff and visitors including sterilization, overalls, hairnets and beard masks.

 

The standards employed to ensure critical hygiene production cannot be understated.

 

Water pipes, air pipes and electrical cables should be underground and not pass overhead to each machine to ensure that there is no possible place for dust to gather within the production area.

 

Bacterial swabbing should occur  monthly within the production area.

 

There should be positive air pressure at 40 Pascales within the production area so all airflow is from inside the production area outward.  Airlock procedures should be  in place for:

§         Products leaving

§         Consumable entering (e.g cartons)

§         People

 

Quality food storage containers wiith a critical hygiene presences of level 5 means there is no need not to pre-wash containers.

 

 

Packaging products are made from plastic Polymers in grades that are suitable for food packaging and comply with United States regulations FDA title 21, CFR Part 177 1520 for Olefin Polymers and or EU Directive 90/128.

 

Products should be tested to a number of important quality and food safety criteria including:

§         Function

§         Lid Seal

§         Stackability

§         Impact Strength

§         Microwave and Freezer Safe

 

Packaging should be  suitable for use in applications which include:

§         Freezing to -30°C

§         Baking/Reheating to 150°C

§         Hot Filling to 95°C

§         Pasteurising

§         Film or Foil Sealing

 

Some of these applications or performance criteria require special polymers, additives or conditions.

 

Handling

§         Less breakage of filled/unfilled product

§         Eliminates safety issues involved with customer consumption handling and re-usage

§         Pre-decoration eliminates possible downtime on line and allows QA to concentrate on other areas.  This also eliminates set up time of labeling machinery

§         Hot fill and/or freezer capability

§         Critical hygiene - no need to pre-wash containers

§         Lowers distribution costs due to less weight.

 

Reusable

Quality products will have a strong reputation in their domestic market of being reused for many varied uses after the product has been consumed.  This can be attributed to the following factors:

§         Excellent seal

§         Dishwasher safe

§         Microwaveable

§         Freezer Safe – home domestic freezer