Plant Equipment and Hire April 2020 | Page 8

INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE Pallet-free bags ensure efficient transport New pallet-free bulk bags have been developed in South Africa for safe and efficient packaging and transport of dry, loose and bulk products – including high-value minerals in the mining sector. Tellap bags have been developed in response to demand from industry for a lightweight packaging and transport system that minimises product contamination and damage, but also adheres to stringent safety and environmental regulations in the global supply chain. According to Ken Mouritzen, director at Tellap, the bags are manufactured from 100% recyclable polypropylene and consist of a proprietary bulk bag and two strong plastic sleeves that are integrated into the base of the bag to replace the conventional wooden pallet. “This design allows a standard forklift truck to safely raise the bag from the base, with no requirement for special handling equipment,” says Mouritzen. While a regular wooden pallet can weigh up to 23kg, the compact Tellap system weighs less than 2.3kg. “This patented packaging system uses the space between the sleeves to increase bag volume by up to 10%. Tellap optimises container volume for lightweight minerals, like graphite or carbon, by increasing bag volume, thereby reducing transport costs per metric ton. As an example, where users ship 20 bags of heavy product on traditional wooden pallets, they will be transporting approximately 400kg of dead weight, while 20 pairs of Tellap sleeves weigh only 46kg. This means users are able to transport more product at no additional cost, reducing transport costs per metric ton, while reducing the number of bags, trucks and containers,” says Mouritzen. The Tellap pallet-free bulk bag system ensures efficient, secure packaging, storage and transportation of dry, loose and bulk products, including minerals, food commodities, resins and pharmaceuticals. 6 APRIL 2020 www.equipmentandhire.co.za