Thinking Outside the Re-Fresh Box

The idea for our lidded Re-Fresh box was developed having received feedback from the fish industry in order to supply a reusable container for prepared fillets to the catering industry and food manufacturers. With the initial trials focused on fresh fish supply chains the units are now available to all industries and the possibilities for product storage are endless.

The leak proof lidded containers are available in two sizes and can be hygienically washed through our brand new BRC approved industrial wash machine. Available for purchase or rental, we’re always thrilled to receive customer feedback and hear what great things our containers have been up to.

         Herbs “The best air tight containers I have used. Strong, stackable, washable and in my opinion designed to bounce not crack when dropped an all-round great buy.”

         Prepared meat “Ideal for us to take our butchers produce to farmers markets.”

        Pharmaceutical- “Having trialed a few options on the market my customer opted for the Re-Fresh box to be used in their shop environment for displays and stock.”

Other products currently being explored with the box are for use with prepared vegetables, seasonings and sauce sachets. If you have a Re-Fresh box, send us a photo of it in action. 

Call us on 01283 821 502 if you want to find out more.

Factory Tour in Pictures- External

Since moving to our site at Marchington a year ago, it's not just the interior of the warehouse that has had a revamp. The outside area has to gone under some significant changes.

                                       

Due to the increasing number of lorries passing through our gates, two security barriers have been put in place to increase security and assist operations.

All drivers must then report to the operations office before proceeding to a loading bay, making tracking equipment simple as well as accurate.

Once entering the PPS premises lorries are loaded and unloaded with returnable packaging from a total of seven loading bays. Three of which have been installed with high quality Thorworld dock level doors, platforms and ramps increasing efficiency and bringing down turnaround time.

A range of equipment passes through our doors, this includes plastic crates, collapsible pallet boxes and plastic pallets. 

  

Drivers must also report to the operations office when leaving the premises to ensure they receive correct dispatch information. 

To arrange your site tour contact us on 01283 821 502.

PPS Exhibits at Foodex 2014!

PPS are pleased to be exhibiting again at Foodex 2014 between 24th and 26th March at the NEC in Birmingham on stand K349.

This will be the second time that PPS Midlands and East are there to promote the benefits of Returnable Transit Packaging through The Complete Package and additional services including rental, management, washing, purchasing and repairs.

PPS will aim to highlight the environmental and cost saving benefits of RTP.

With two state of the art wash facilities accredited to BRC standards in storage and distribution, PPS are already involved heavily in the food industry through manufacturers, suppliers and end users supporting sectors such as poultry, meat, fish and bakery.

Joanne Moss, Sales and Marketing Director has reported 'We exhibited at the last show in 2012 and found that it provided us with an excellent platform to display our RTP services to the food industry. We are looking forward to meeting new and current customers at this year show.'

PPS Reusable Plastic Trays are in Flavour at Dairy Fruit

Dairy Fruit, northern Europe's leading supplier of quality aseptic flavoured fruit preparations and liquid spice mixes for the food industry, recently introduce PPS food grade, reusable plastic trays into its logistics supply chain.

PPS Total Equipment Solutions Process

Crispin Gell - Sales Director of Dairy Fruit reported, “In reviewing our packaging and handling operations, it was decided to source a company who could provide a food grade rentable plastic tray system that offered stability and security when delivering our products.

We also had to give serious consideration to Heath & Safety regulations, taking into account maximum handling weights for operatives both within our facility and our customers. Plus we wanted a company that could supply a full service and minimise our handling involvement by collecting the empty trays from our customer’s facilities. These reusable plastic trays would then be washed before being returned to Dairy Fruit and into the supply chain loop. 

We also had to consider the cost of switching from the current cardboard packaging to the returnable tray system, as this was extremely important as we could not add this cost to our product.” 

Dairy Fruit engaged PPS Midlands in the review and they proposed a hygienic, cost effective and practical solution to this problem using bale arm trays, which are ideally suited for food applications.

PPS Business Development Manager Jonathan Issatt commented, “We opted for a durable, ventilated reusable plastic tray that has been specifically designed for transport and storage purposes and incorporates moveable swing bale arms to provide strong hand grips. When not in use, these containers can be stacked and nested in order to save space.

Supporting a full and comprehensive service, PPS Midlands BRC accredited factory in Measham is equipped with modern state-of-the-art high pressure wash facilities to clean all type and sizes of returnable transit packaging, including trays, crates, tote boxes, bulk bin containers and even houses a dedicated plastic pallet washing machine. The company also recently invested in a box drying facility, which is particularly important for PPS customers who need the containers to be dry before depositing product and to prevent damage and contamination.”

According to Crispin Gell of Dairy Fruit reported, “The new PPS returnable plastic tray, collection and wash service has allowed us to expand business within a number of new areas, with Dairy Fruit now able to fulfil some customers hygienic, reusable packaging and delivery criteria.

PPS has proven to be a very responsive company, professional in its approach and easy to deal with. We would have no hesitation in recommending them or their products”.

Food Manufacturers - How to reduce waste packaging & improve supply chains

Food Manufacturers see huge benefits in
using returnable transit packaging

PPS would like to offer food manufacturers the opportunity to improve their inbound supply chains.

We are looking for like-minded businesses that wish to reduce their waste packaging material, or are looking to improve efficiencies within the handling of packaging materials from suppliers.

PPS can offer many ways for all food producers to:

1.    Streamline and make the handling of supplies easier
2.    Reduce the levels of waste created by single use packaging (Outer Cartons)
3.    Cut out time wasting practices at the back door by simplifying the handling of packaging materials
4.    Reduce the need to sort through multiple types of RTP
5.    Single source RTP Packaging for all inbound deliveries

Returnable Transit Packaging (RTP) comes in many forms, standard sized plastic crates/boxes, plastic pallets, attached lid containers/Tote Boxes and 1000L IBC units for bulk powders and liquids, at PPS we are pleased to be able to offer a solution no matter what the product is.

Our expertise in managing Pools of specialised equipment means you don’t have too use valuable cash flow to fund simple operations.

We have over 10 years experience within the meat industry and 20 years experience within the fresh fish industry, which has been quick to accept the benefits of using a reusable box for the transportation of a valuable commodity.

Reducing costs within business can sometimes be difficult to achieve, however PPS are not only able to reduce costs within your supply chain, we are also able to offer an additional revenue stream in the process, please see our example below.

Raw materials supplier “A” uses 150,000 cardboard boxes pa at a cost of £0.45 per box, £67,500.00 pa total spend

Supplier “B” uses 150,000 trips using PPS RTP at a cost of £0.35 per trip (Inclusive), £52,500.00

By converting Supplier “A” to RTP it generates a saving of £15,000 pa for the supplier for which a percentage could be claimed back by the buyer for helping too reduce the supply chain costs for the operation.

Create additional revenue streams by converting your suppliers to PPS RTP!

Incentives for supplier conversion

Studies completed by WRAP confirm that there are all round benefits associated with using RTP, against the more traditional method of Cardboard and shrink wrap, please visit www.wrap.org.uk for further details of the complete report.


PPS Midlands Limited and PPS East Limited are returnable transit packaging specialists. If you are interested in reducing your costs, waste and environmental footprint, then you should contact us with regards to reusable equipment and pallet pooling, plastic crates, plastic pallet boxes, container rental and supply, product repairs and equipment washing.

Returnable Transit Packaging for the Food Industry

Businesses in the food industry are becoming all too aware of the importance of packaging and transport and how this needs to be done in the best and most hygienic way. Food packaging is important not just to meet the industry standards but also to ensure that the food and produce tastes as good when it is eaten as it was when it was packed and transported.

Much business should now be considering and understanding the need for and importance of returnable transit packaging replacing the conventional single use cardboard box style packaging in food production.

PPS have dedicated staff to help any business looking to use returnable plastic transit equipment and are developing their range of returnable transit packaging throughout the UK.

They have identified a recently developing and growing market for their products in Scotland and are making great strides to seek out opportunities to expand their business north of the border. So much so that Iain McArthur from PPS is relocating to Scotland to promote PPS Service options to business throughout Scotland.

The costs savings and environmental benefits of using PPS returnable transit equipment is making many businesses sit up and take notice of the alternatives to traditional packaging and are now working with PPS on making further uses of their returnable transit equipment and washing services.