Glass Bottle Transportation System

Smartstack Secures Top Innovation Award for Smartstak Glass Bottle Stacking and Transportation System

Launched early last year, a revolutionary palletised containment system which could save the glass bottling industry millions of pounds has been named Innovation of the Year in The Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards.

Pallet Stability and Glass Transportation

The Smartstak system was launched early this year by Sheffield-based Loadhog, the innovative supply chain solutions' manufacturer which is the 'sister' company of city-based Gripple Limited, to eliminate glass bottle breakages by improving pallet stability during transit prior to filling.

Industry statistics show that more than one per cent of all tall packs of glass bottles collapse or are compromised during transit and never reach their destination. The Smartstak system is now the definitive method of transporting these packs and has been described by a leading glass bottle manufacturer as "the greatest advance in glass transportation in the last 20 years."

Glass Bottle Stacking

Designed to prevent bottles from migrating outwards during transit and strapping from losing tension, Smartstak comprises the Smartpad and the Smartframe which work together to solve these specific issues and enhance efficiency further by allowing 11 layers of glass per pallet as opposed to 8-10 layers as is currently standard.  The Smartstak system also eliminates the need for plastic shrink wrap bags and horizontal banding that was essential to prevent the bottles from falling off the pallet in transit. More than 180,000 Smartpads are currently on rental to some of the UK's largest glass bottle manufacturers, moving six million bottles weekly without a single bottle being broken.

Dave Arthur, Loadhog product manager, said: "We are delighted that Smartstak has been recognised as offering a total, one-stop solution to glass bottle manufacturers. This award underlines the system's worldwide potential in achieving zero breakages as well as delivering a range of other environmental, health and safety benefits."