Frequently Asked Questions

Plastic Containers/Pallets/Bulk Boxes

1. What is the typical life expectancy of a reusable plastic product?
A. It depends on the handling that it receives. Damage comes from frequent use and abuse, primarily from improper forklift handling. Generally speaking a tote should last 250 trips. Bulk bins and pallets take more abuse in normal handling and will see a slightly shorter life.

2. How can I wash a plastic container or pallet?
A. A mild soap solution will work for most cleaning applications. Common methods are hand held pressure washers and automated washing systems.

3. Are your plastic products okay to use in box washers?
A. It depends on both the temperature of the washer environment and the type of cleaner being used. Some plastics resist heat better than others (i.e. generally PP does better in high heat applications than HDPE). Also, detergents designed to remove petroleum based grime (i.e. oil, grease) will also attack and degrade the plastic box as plastic is a petroleum-based product. The cleaning solutions provider can recommend a safe product depending on the type of "dirt" you are trying to remove and the type of plastic used in the containers.

4. Are your plastic products made from FDA approved materials?
A. Containers commonly used in the food industry (meat, poultry and produce) are made from resin and colorants that are FDA approved. Most colors other than black can be supplied in FDA approved forms. Black is not generally approved for direct food contact because may contain carbon; however, it can be used in conjunction with an FDA approved liner bag.

5. Are your products made from USDA designs?
A. The USDA inspector at the food facility can answer that question. Generally speaking any design that does not provide nooks and crannies where bacteria and mold can grow will be approved for use in a USDA inspected plant. For example, a single piece container or pallet is a better choice than a two piece unit or one that has hinges and moving parts. In the past, the USDA had a department that pre-approved products and published a booklet that specified the model numbers and manufacturers of approved products. Now that function has been taken over by the individual inspector at each food facility.

6. Are your plastic products recyclable?
A. Absolutely. Plastic can be 100% recycled into new products, though the percentage of recycled material is controlled to maintain material properties. Member companies are often looking to "buy back" plastic products that have reached the end of their life cycle. Most plastic products have a contact phone number for the manufacturer molded in to the container itself.

7. Do I need additional fire insurance for reusable plastic products?
A. Often times additional insurance for fire protection is not required, but be sure to check with your risk assessment department for your own internal requirements. For more information, follow this link http://www.mhia.org/downloads/industrygroups/rpcpa/firesafety/RiskManagement_outline.pdf to our guidelines to review when assessing your needs.

8. How much does a plastic pallet typically cost?
A. Plastic pallets range in price from $7 - $100 depending upon your needs. Most of the pallets in the lower end of the price range are designed for exporting pallets one way and will not hold up to the durability required for a reusable pallet. Pallets in the lower middle of the price range are often designed for floor loading only. Pallets in the upper middle of the price range will work in pallet racking and, finally, the highest priced pallets are typically manufactured with a unique load requirement or intrinsic fire retardant properties.

9. What is the weight bearing capacity of your plastic containers?
A. This varies with the box design. Many of the hand held totes are designed to hold 40 lbs or less because of OSHA weight limitations for manual lifting. Some totes designed for edge-racked storage applications can hold 100+ lbs with minimal deflection. One needs to consider both the product weight and the storage/handling methodology to determine the required container weight capacity.

10. What are some of the more common accessories that are available for your plastic containers?
A. Plastic covers, dust covers, adhesive-backed labels, RFID technology, installed cardholders, dunnage (internal dividers, die-cut foam), casters, attached hinging lids and security measures (tabs, ties, etc.) to name a few.

11. When the color fades in the plastic, does the product need to be replaced?
A. The color longevity is not directly related to the performance properties of the plastic. U.V. stabilizers are separately available for both the pigment and the plastic resin and these stabilizers are rated by desired time duration. If one uses a 2-year package for the color and a 3 year package for the plastic, the color can fade while the plastic still maintains its properties.

12. Why would I buy a more expensive plastic product over a cheaper wood-product alternative?
A. There are many factors one must consider besides price when comparing plastic material handling products (i.e. boxes, pallets) to either their paper corrugated (boxes) or wood (pallets) counterparts. A quick summary would be: better ergonomics, more durable = more uses, 100% recyclable within the same product class, higher flash point, molded-in custom features, fewer injuries (splinters, cuts) and better protection of goods (waterproof, better impact resistance, will not crush in stack).

Steel Containers

1. What is the typical life expectancy of a steel container?
A. The useful life of a steel container will depend greatly on how it is used, transported and stored. Most damage comes from transportation damage or rust from being stored in a hostile environment. Rust, however, does not prevent the container from serving its main purpose and may be prevented with the addition of rust prohibitive coatings.

2. Can your steel containers be used in a caustic environment?
A. Unpainted or specialty coated containers can be used in acid/caustic environments. Extreme environments do call for closely monitoring the condition of the containers especially when suspension dipping the containers.

3. How much does a steel container weigh?
A. The weight of a steel container like anything else varies by size and configuration of the container. Our smallest container can weigh as little as forty pounds. Some of our larger custom containers can weigh five hundred pounds or more.

4. What is the weight bearing capacity of your steel containers?
A. Most of our stock container capacities range from one thousand pounds for our smallest container to six thousand pounds for our heavy duty containers. Four thousand pounds is the most common capacity rating.

5. What are some of the more common accessories that are available for your steel containers?
A. The most common accessory is the addition of non-marking phenolic casters that allow the container to be moved without lift equipment. Other accessories include; locking tops, for security, fork sleeves, runner bars and ID tags are commonly used.

6. Are your steel products recyclable?
A. Absolutely. Steel has been recycled for decades (if not centuries) and there is an established scrap metal industry that makes getting rid of damaged/unwanted product easy.

RCPA

Frequently Asked Questions