TechnologyDevelopmentinReusablePackagingSystems

Outline

• PhysicalInternet• AssetTrackingTechnology• E-commerce• AS-RSandreturnablepackaging• Additivemanufacturing• Palletrecycling

PhysicalInternet

• Symptomsoflogisticsunsustainability:–Weareshippingairandpackaging– Emptytravelisanorm– Truckersbecomethemoderncowboys– Productsdonotreachwhoneedsthemthemost– Gettingproductsinandoutofthecitiesisanightmare

– Logisticnetworkisneithersecurenorrobust– Unnecessaryproductmovementacrosstheglobe

PhysicalInternet

PhysicalInternet

• WhatisPhysicalInternet:– Inlogistics,the PhysicalInternet isanopengloballogisticssystemfoundedon physical,digital,andoperationalinterconnectivity,throughencapsulation,interfacesandprotocols

http://faculty.ineg.uark.edu/rmeller/web/CELDi-PI/index-PI.html

PhysicalInternet• Whydoesitmaterforpackaging:– Encapsulatemerchandisesinworld-standardsmartgreenmodularcontainer(PI-Container)

– Exploitsmartnetworkedcontainersembeddingsmartobjects

– DesignProductsfittingcontainerswithminimalwaste

http://www.slideshare.net/physical_internet/physical-internet-manifesto-18-2011-0328-english-bm

AssetTracking

• Assettrackingtechnologiesareontherise– RFID– GPS– Cellular– LowenergyBluetooth

AssetTracking

• Radio-FrequencyIdentification(RFID)– Usesradiowavestoreadandcaptureinformationstoredonthetagattachedtotheobject

– Tagcanbereadfromseveralfeetaway– Activetag– batterypowered,transmitssignal– Passivetags– usesthesignalofthereadertocommunicated

http://sharein.org/how-rfid-works/ http://www.a2btracking.com/blog/3-keys-rfid-solutions/

AssetTracking

• IssueswithRFID– Notbeingscalable– Systemdisruption– Lackofintegrationwithexistingsystems– Privacyissues– Cost

• Currentadoption– Pallets– Highvalueproducts

AssetTracking

• GlobalPositioningSystem(GPS)– UsesGPSbeacon– Triangulatespositionusing24satellites– Shares:location,speed,altitude– Lackofresolution

http://straightfromthea.com/2008/04/01/cheaters-beware-moblie-phone-gps-tracking-website-launched-today/

AssetTracking

• IssueswithGPS– Requiresabatterysource– Doesnotworkinconfinedspacesormetalcagessuchascontainers

– Lackofresolution– RequireGeographicInformationSystem(GIS)

• Currentadoption– Trailertracking– Dataloggers (Lansmont Saverseries)

AssetTracking

• CellularNetworks(2G,3G,4G)– Usesanetworkofcellsites(tower)andtransceivers(phone)totransmitvoiceanddata

– Uses800-2,500MHzwaves,LTEfor4G– RequireslessenergythanGPS

http://ccm.net/contents/694-the-gsm-standard

AssetTracking

• Opportunitieswithcellularnetworks– Nationalcoverage– Readilyavailablenetwork– BetterenergyconsumptionthanGPS– 3Gand4Gcantransmitlargeamountofdata– 3Gusageformobilephonesdecreases

• Currentadoption– Dataloggers (Lansmont Saverseries)

AssetTracking

• BluetoothLowEnergy(BLE)– Bluetoothuses2.4GHzwavestocommunicate– Createapersonalareanetwork– Lowpowerconsumption– 200feetrange

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth_low_energy#/media/File:Bluetooth_Smart_Logo.svg

AssetTracking

• Smartphonesensors:– Accelerometer– Gyroscope– Magnetometercompass– Ambientlightsensor– ProximitySensor– GPS

http://business.financialpost.com/fp-tech-desk/iphone-6-plus-teardown-ifixit

AssetTracking

• Howtopowerit?– Triboelectricenergyharvester– “convertsexternalmechanicalenergyintoelectricitybyaconjunctionoftriboelectriceffect”

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/1The_mechanism_of_the_pyroelectric_nanogenerator_based_on_a_compos ite_structure_of_pyroelectric_nanowries ..jpg

AssetTracking

• Howtopowerit?– Pyroelectricenergyharvester– “convertsexternalthermalenergyintoelectricitybyusingnone-structuredpyroelectricmaterial”

http://www.nanoscience.gatech.edu/paper/2012/12_NL_05.pdf

AssetTracking

OpportunityforPackaging:• Continuoussupplychainvisibilityandassettracking

• Collectionofessentialparameterforprotectivepackagingdesign– Temperature,relativehumidity– Vibration,shock,weight

E-commerce

• E-commerceisgrowingbyasmuchas20%annuallyinEurope(312billionEuros)(EcommerceEurope)

• 14.6%($341.7billion)intheUS• 3.7billiondisposablepackagesaredeliveredannuallyinEurope

E-commerce

• Challengesine-commerce– Productprotection– Shippingoddshapeitems– Frustrationtoopen– Incorrectfit

• Opportunities– Usingreturnablepackages

E-commerce

• Opportunities– Amazonlocker– Amazondrone

E-commerce• Reusablepackagingine-commerce• Repack– Finland– Returnabledepositbasedmodelforthefashione-commerceindustry

– Designedtobeused20times

Extraupfrontfee(3.9EUR)

Freereturndeliverviapost

office

Voucherfornextshopping

http://www.originalrepack.com/forbrands/

AutomatedHandlingSystems

• Modernwarehouses:– Highspeedconveyors– Selfdrivingforkliftsandtrucks

– Roboticpickers

Howmycurrentpackagingwillperform?

AutomatedHandlingSystems

PalletperformanceguideinANSIMH1-2016

Source:ANSIMH1-2016

AutomatedHandlingSystems

PalletperformanceguideinANSIMH1-2016

Source:ANSIMH1-2016

AutomatedHandlingSystems

• Pallets– Lateststudywasconductedin20yearsagoin1996

– Howvalidtheresultsareforacurrentsupplychain?

• Packaging– Standardisunderdevelopment:• ISO18616-1,ISO18616-2

– Noperformanceguidelines

AdditiveManufacturing

AdditiveManufacturing

Thebasics:

AdditiveManufacturing

ManufacturingTypes:

ElectronbeammeltingAnelectronbeammeltsmetalpowderlayerbylayerinahighvacuum.

(JP)(FDM) (EBM)(SLS)

FusedDepositionModelingAplasticwireismoltenandlaiddowninlayers.

Inkjet3Dprinting/JettedphotopolymerAphotopolymerwhichhardenswithUVlightisextruded.

SelectiveLaserSinteringAhighpoweredlasermeltspowdertogether.

StereolithographyAlayeroffluid resinishardenedbyUVorlaser.

http://www.custompartnet.com/

AdditiveManufacturing

• Materials:• Polylactic Acid(PLA):ecofriendly,brittle• Acrylonitrilebutadienestyrene(ABS):durable,goodwithhighertemperatures• Nylon:strongdurable,moisturesensitive• Polyvinylalcohol(PVA):watersoluble• Polyethyleneterephthalate(PET):highstrength,noodorwhenprinted• High-densitypolyethylene(HDPA):noideal

AdditiveManufacturing

• Opportunities:– Justintimetertiarypackagingmanufacturing– Improveddesigncapabilities– lightweighting– Improvedtransportationofusedpackagesinresinform

PalletRecycling

• WoodPalletandLandfills(Araman1995)– InvestigatedMunicipalandConstructionlandfills

020406080100120140160180

1992 1993 1995

Recycle

dPallets(million)

PalletRecycling

PalletRecycling

• Only1.4-2%ofthetotalwasteiswoodpallet• Thisisstill223.6millionwoodenpallets• VirginiaTechisstartinganewsurveyin2016!

Thankyouverymuchforyourattention

LaszloHorvath,Ph.D.,CPLPDirector,CenterforPackagingandUnitLoadDesign

AssistantProfessorEmail:lhorvat@vt.edu