Case Study

Development of a stack & nest logistics box. R&D project in collaboration with APS and industry ESTRA

Case Study

Industrias ESTRA, a Colombian company with more than 60 years in the market, world leader in the production and marketing of industrial and household plastic products, relied on APS to develop a new R&D project for “Stackable and Nestable Crates”.

Faced with a world where always more practical solutions are needed, Industrias ESTRA has looked to APS for an R&D mould that was more practical in terms of storage, organization and use.

After analyzing different existing models, the 60x40x25 box was taken as a reference and APS proposed to make an evolution of this box by adding the “Stack&Nest” functionality.

This new functionality has led to a saving of 80% in space when the crates are nested, which imply a series of advantages such as the liberation of areas, savings in logistics and in return transportation. Moreover, a greater resistance has been achieved, with a unit internal load of 25 kg and a compression static load of 400 kg, with increased stacking stability.

The crate is injected in high-density polyethylene, that allows a working temperature range from minus 30º to plus 80º, providing a maximum safety to the products.

Its internal and external dimensions allow the compatibility in stacking with the traditional 60 x 40 crates. All these elements are part of that circular economy concepts that both ESTRA and APS have as their business philosophy.

Following is a list of the main technical specifications:

  • External dimensions: 600x400x250 mm
  • Same internal volume of the existing traditional box: 50 liters
  • Same weight (tare)= 2kg
  • Maximize % of perforated area
  • Same structural resistance to internal load and compression during stacking
  • Material HDPE
  • Loading conditions (most critical):
    • Internal load: 30 kg
    • Stacking compression: 400 kg
    • Refrigeration at 0-4 degrees C.
    • Load duration: 1 week