Hey Circle says the robustness and durability of its reusable shipping packaging has been tested in conveyor belt, stack pressure and drop tests with the Gebhardt Intralogistics Group and the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK).
In partnership with Gebhardt Fördertechnik, hey circle simulated real logistics processes to test the packaging’s suitability for everyday use. Bags and boxes were transported on conveyor belts for 24 hours at the Weiden test site and remained fully functional. The tests included corners, changes of direction and angles of inclination.
Parcel service provider DHL also tested the boxes and gave them a positive handling rating. The HTWK Leipzig Institute for Printing, Processing and Packaging tested the new generation of boxes under realistic conditions. According to Hey Circle, the boxes survived drop tests from a height of 80 cm including loads of up to 20kg. 90% of the boxes showed no damage when dropped onto the base, corner and edge, while the other boxes mostly showed slight deformation.
Due to the test results, the company says the recommended maximum load per package has been increased, ranging from up to 20kg for the Hey Circle Box XXL to up to 7.5 kg for the Box S.
Compared to disposable cardboard boxes or simple reusable solutions, Hey Circle states its boxes and bags offer great product protection, are brandable and can be equipped with IT-supported tracking on request. The company highlights that unlike reusable hard plastic containers, parcel service providers do not charge a handling surcharge for bulky goods when transporting Hey Circle boxes.
Apparently, companies save an average of 53% on packaging costs and reduce waste by up to 94% compared to the use of disposable boxes. The boxes are said to be CO2 advantageous after 10 rounds and bags after 6 rounds.
In February DPD Germany collaborated with Hey Circle to utilize its reusable shipping boxes and bags, said to reduce waste and last for 50 cycles. The companies tested how well the foldable, recyclable packaging fits into logistics workflows through a trial run with clothing manufacturer Trigema, where 200 XL boxes were used between production facilities and stores.
More recently, e-commerce packaging supplier UCanPack announced its 100% recycled corrugated shipping box line said to be “customizable, durable, and affordable”. Available in over 1,000 sizes and designed for efficient logistics, the solution aims to reduce emissions through flat-packed designs.
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