Fruity New Contract For Arca's 'Big Boxes'
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the name behind Ribena, has enlisted the expertise of Arca Systems. The company has invested in 6000 of Arca's Big Box Pallet Containers, for the shipment of blackcurrants, used in the popular fruity drink.
With blackcurrant one of the hardest stains to remove, 'washability' of the boxes was a major requirement. The Arca boxes were specially designed with a smooth based skid. Easier to clean than standard skids with ribbing, they also reduce the amount of dirt transferred from the picking fields to the central processing plant, for a more hygienic and efficient system. Unlike with previous boxes made in single moulding, the smooth skids are replaceable, resulting in a longer operational life.
Michael Dunsire, Sourcing Director for GSK explains: "Arca's boxes have eliminated the need for liners, and the ready-made area in which to place a bung has made cleaning the boxes an easier task. What's more, the boxes have saved 14 tonnes of plastic waste per year and transport costs have been significantly reduced."
He continued, "Arca has a reputation as a very professional company with experience of dealing with blue chip companies. The realistic pricing of the boxes, which could be held over a two-year period, and a promise of delivery on time, made Arca stand out from its competitors. The boxes have a 10% larger capacity than others with the same footprint, and we now have more control over supply and health and safety issues."
GSK has an agreement with its contracted growers for specific tonnage requirements. However, as there can be an overflow of blackcurrants, many of them have to be stored until required at a temperature of -20oC. Prior to the contract with Arca, GSK had rented boxes for shipment purposes, which made ordering extra boxes for storage a time-consuming and expensive task.
Trials were carried out to ensure that the Arca boxes were able to withstand a variety of temperatures, including freezing. Blackcurrants picked from a variety of regions can now be stored and sold - so in Ireland, Ribena 'made with Irish blackcurrants' can be bought. It was Arca's flexible approach to problems and its ability to meet specific requirements that encouraged GSK to invest in the Big Box Pallet Containers. Another 6000 are planned for the coming harvest.
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