Midwest Precision Products announced it has been providing retractable, reusable, self-contained cargo restraints for material handling applications since 1992. In a continuing effort to advance sustainable packaging solutions, MPP has been collaborating with Robinson Industries (Coleman, MI) to create eco-friendly systems that combine its Seatbelts for Pallets with Robinson’s returnable synthetic pallets.
For many years, Robinson noted, it molded pallets and containers strictly for the automotive industry but, over the past few years, the company said it has expanded its operations to serve the retail, sporting goods, food and beverage, solar, agriculture, and office furniture markets. MPP has been collaborating with them to provide a sustainable packaging system.
According to the company, over 50% of Robinson’s materials are recycled vs. virgin resin on their products−using extruded plastic flat sheets, which are injection molded, thermoformed, and vacuumed down, the company added.
The system is made with a structural foam base and vacuum form lid with totes placed between them. Two trays will make up a layer, and multiple stacks go up based on client need. The MPP retractable belts attach and reattach per repeatable loading/unloading operations.
Key MPP seatbelt specs:
- 59”-to-148” working length using 1” or 2” wide black polyester seatbelt style webbing
- Male tongue end attaches to female style buckle
- Unit is spring biased to retract at all times. Unit will “take-up” webbing slack at all times.
- All steel components are corrosion resistant with zinc plating or powder coating
“This sustainable system combination optimizes Robinson’s recycled pallets with MPP’s retractable ‘seatbelt’ straps eliminating plastic stretch wrap and the metal or plastic banding responsible for many injuries and landfill waste,” the company said. “As both elements in the system combine to offer a repeatable asset, it is able to withstand the rough handling of a typical logistics system across a multitude of years providing a rapid return on investment (ROI) and achieving a lower cost-per-trip vs. single-use expendable packaging.”
MPP’s “Seatbelts for Pallets” and Robinson have partnered in recent years in Tier 1 Automotive market sectors. An ISO 9001 registered company, MPP is also a principal GM Approved Supplier. Robinson is Tier 1 approved for its structural foam and vacuum-formed lids and pallets.
“Big-Box retailers are also benefitting from the system’s economic, ergonomic, and ecological versatility. In recent years, a major custom retailer of home furnishings based out of Europe has adopted the system to optimize their customized usage needs,” the company said. “Robinson’s 35” x 80” trays, tops, and bottoms (often with unique shaped lids) combine with MPP’s retractors/buckles in a simple turn one-down, turn one-up, and lock configuration.”
The 80” footprint was required to custom fit the client’s long-shaped, slim-lined products into trucks, the company explained. The system is designed for a 6-8 year reuse cycle, with a replacement system in place for MPP’s seatbelts.
According to MPP’s president Jeff Rogers: “Many potential clients don’t know the seatbelt system − so education is paramount for retailers and manufacturers to take advantage of the ‘green’ reusable, sustainable seatbelts and pallets system benefits.”
Robinson’s sales manager Mark Weidner stated: “We see more and more companies trying to reduce their waste and scrap to zero. The ultimate goal is that nothing goes to the landfill. Our system’s collective benefits help them achieve this goal−along with other benefits such as nesting design for max usage, space, and ergonomics.”
