The Schaeffler Group has developed an innovative, customer- and environmentally-friendly packaging concept for FAG and INA’s rolling bearing range. It takes the form of a multiple-use plastic container – the so-called K-Box. The robust, patented box replaces the non-returnable wooden crates used thus far. It offers optimal protection for products during transport and prevents them from being contaminated with wood dust or shavings. The bearings are safely held in the K-Box by means of adjustable eccentric straps – a principle which is unique in the market. Thanks to this solution, one box size can be flexibly used for various rolling bearing dimensions. This considerably reduces the number of packaging variants required. The recipient can open the box quickly and easily without any tools and risk of injury. “The K-Box has been precisely adjusted to our customers’ requirements and is used worldwide. In Europe we have introduced a return system to ensure that the box is indeed used several times”, says Martin Hassdenteufel, who is responsible for packaging technology within the Schaeffler Group and has headed the project in close cooperation with the packaging supplier, Georg Utz GmbH.
The returnable container represents another active contribution to environmental protection within the Schaeffler Group. Return of empty K-Boxes is easy for the customer: Small numbers are picked up by an express service, larger amounts are collected by the Schaeffler Group’s own forwarding agency – both possibilities are free of charge for Schaeffler customers. The request for collection is sent via a dedicated website. As an incentive for customers to support the system, the Schaeffler Group raffles off attractive prizes to the participants – every box is considered as a lottery ticket. For the time being, the new packaging is used for spherical roller bearings with outside diameters from 250 to 480 mm. It is planned to extend the concept to other product lines in the near future.
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