Forming logistics units

Greater efficiency with intelligent consolidation

With the help of packaging, logistics units like the Euro pallet can be created in order to transport products as collective units. Ideally, these units remain intact throughout the delivery chain and do not have to be broken down into their components. The optimal situation for a logistics manager would be to pack a number of just-finished goods onto a pallet, load it along with other units onto a tractor-trailer rig and then deliver the entire load to the customer. Loading, transshipping and unloading of logistics units could be easily done by such auxiliary devices as forklifts.

Streamlining the transport chain

Logistics units result from the consolidation of goods in units of standardized form and dimension. The aim is to simplify the flow of goods and thereby lower costs. The procedure is aptly called “unitization.” The basic idea behind the concept is this: The fewer components in the flow of a given amount of goods from the supplier to the customer, the more smoothly it can be carried out [1].
The logistics unit plays a central role in the entire logistics system since it represents the link between the individual phases of the flow of goods. The formation of logistics units is therefore a condition for an efficient transport chain Transport chain [2].
The transport chain can be streamlined by [2]:

Grouping goods into larger units
Standardizing the units’ form and size
Facilitating the use of mechanical devices during handling operations
Ensuring unit stackability
Selecting a unit that enables a largely continuous transport chain from the supplier to the customer.

The variety of logistics units

Logistics units come in all forms. These include large and small containers as well as box, flat and stack pallets. The following section provides detailed descriptions about these units.

Optimal logistics units

Large containers

Large containers include sea containers or ISO containers ISO container that are used to perform much of international trade. The ubiquitous ISO containers are 8 feet wide (2.438 m) and are either 20 feet (6.096 m) or 40 feet (12.192 m) long. The term TEU TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) is the standard worldwide measure for a container Container . A TEU is a 20-foot-long container. A 40-foot container amounts to two TEUs.
The American Malcolm McLean was the person who came up with the idea of using standard containers for sea transport. With his invention of the sea container he revolutionized international trade or even made it universally possible, contributing considerably to globalization Globalization .
Another example of large containers is air-freight containers - so-called ULD containers ULD container . ULD containers are made of lightweight material such as aluminum. Different standard dimensions are suited for different types of aircraft. ULD containers are designed to exactly fit the interior of the respective aircraft, ensuring that the plane’s precious cargo hold can be optimally used. The strength of these containers is that fewer units have to be loaded, generating savings in time, expense and ground personnel.

Small containers

Small containers are suited for small parts being stored, picked or transported within a business operation. They have standard sizes and can often be stacked, a feature that enables several small containers to be packed collectively into a logistics unit on pallets Pallet . Small containers include plastic containers, cardboard boxes, foldable units, insulated cases and special containers for foods or bulk cargo.

Box pallet

The box pallet is a combination of container and pallet. It is based on a pallet and has a superstructure of wire mesh, sheet metal or wood. It is used to store an assortment of packaged goods in large quantities or with large volumes.

Flat pallet

The best known flat pallet in Europe is the Euro pallet. It is a load-bearer that has been normed by European transport companies. Pallets of 800 mm x 1200 mm are widely used in Europe. Several other ISO standard sizes have also been defined for pallets. In North America, pallets measuring 48 inches by 40 inches, or 1219 mm x 1016 mm, are most often used. As a rule, Euro pallets are not used in ISO containers because the Euro pallet does not fit into the ISO container. The reason for the different sizes lies in the systems’ disparate origins. The ISO container was developed in the United States, the Euro pallet in Europe.
Another example of a flat pallet is the air-freight pallets used in air freight or ULD pallets.

Stack pallet

The stack pallet is a flat pallet with four corner columns that facilitate the stacking of pallets on top of one another. The vertical columns on the four corners of the pallet have a standard profile and are either fixed or removable. The external dimensions and the carrying capacity of the stack pallet are roughly those of the box pallet. When several of these structures are stacked vertically, stack pallets can also be used as pallet racks.

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