Lidded cardboard boxes

Sanner, a manufacturer of primary packaging for pharmaceuticals, was looking for an alternative to the cardboard boxes it had been using to pack closures after production. The packaging not only needed to provide benefits in the process, it also had to meet GMP regulations. CurTecs lidded crate offered significant benefits compared with other suppliers.

Making storage efficient by higher and safer stacking

The stacked crates take up much less space than cardboard boxes

Sanner produces around 2 billion plastic packages and packaging components each year for the pharmaceutical industry. A large number of these are warranty closures. After production, the closures were collected in large cardboard boxes. These boxes were then reused various times, but caused various drawbacks in the process.

'We had to unfold the cardboard every time we used them. Furthermore, we were only able to use the boxes two or three times. However, the main reason why we began searching for an alternative form of packaging was the need to use our warehouse more efficiently. The cardboard boxes were not strong enough for stacking and this meant that they took up a lot of space, ' said Mr Monitzer, Production Leader at Sanner.

Replacement of cardboard boxes

In addition to achieving some gains in efficiency, there were other reasons why Sanner was looking to replace the cardboard boxes. Sanner is a German company that places great importance on quality and safety. Compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulation plays an important role. This regulation dictates that cardboard cannot be reused.

Cardboard represents a contamination risk, which must be avoided at all times. The new packaging not only needed to be strong and stackable, it also had to ensure a safe process and avoid any contamination risks.

Extended selection procedure

Sanner invited various companies to provide a clean, stable and easy manageable alternative to their cardboard boxes. However, as it turned out, almost none of the plastic crates proved strong enough during testing. 'The hinges would break or the walls would give way when we stacked them higher, ' said Monitzer. 'CurTecs lidded crate was the only one emerging positively from the test.'

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