Crates on TV

Did you spot them? PPS equipment has been appearing on BBC programs over the last few weeks, popping up on Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites and Countryfile.

Typically used in food supply chains within The CompletePackage, the PPS bale arm crate featured in Mary Berry’s latest series of Absolute Favourites and was spotted growing herbs in her garden. The crates are ideal for storing fresh produce with their ventilation feature and ease of hygienic washing.

As the nation settled down on Sunday evening, viewers of Countryfile were treated to a feature regarding the rubbish gathering on UK beaches. 8 million tonnes of rubbish is dumped into the oceans each year which is affecting the marine environment. It’s estimated that 20,000 tonnes of litter is discarded into the North Sea alone every year (comments from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.) The clip featured a PPS East reusable fish box storing fresh fish after its catch, whilst the fisherman used a Fish 4 Litter sack to collect unwanted debris. Typical rubbish being found consists of plastic bags, netting, rope and food packaging. Fishermen up and down the coast are trying to create a healthier marine environment, this is something PPS are passionate about with supplying reusable fish boxes across the industry. We supply a range of reusable, hygienic, washable fish boxes in various sizes which is also reducing waste management issues as the equipment can be used over and over again. The boxes will also help keep fish fresher for longer.

To find out more about how PPS equipment can improve the packaging in your supply chain and improve your waste prevention call 01283 821 502.

Factory Tour In Pictures- Washing

At PPS washing is not a dirty subject it's what we do best! Both of our equipment wash sites hold BRC accreditation in warehouse and distribution ensuring hygiene is of the highest standard. We take our equipment cleaning seriously which is why we have made substantial investments into modern machinery. 

We are able to offer washing to a variety of industries with the infrastructure we have in place. Take a look at our wash tour below to see for yourself. 

Our main wash line is less than 12 months old and cleaning around 3,000 crates per hour. 

Trays are decanted at the 

dirty end.....

...cleaned through our

 high pressure system...

...and re stacked at the clean end. 

Our other wash line sits proudly alongside the new machine giving us capacity to meet growing customer demand.

Our trio of machines is completed with our pallet wash line. 

Originally installed to clean and maintain our own pool, we now also clean customers own plastic pallets to food industry standards with a high pressure wash and rinse.

For those trickier pieces...we know that returnable equipment comes in all shapes and sizes which is why we built our own industrial wash bay to cater for bespoke and larger packaging. 

The high pressure wash and chemicals work their magic on heavy soiling and label removal. 

Washing to such a high standard means we also need to keep the equipment protected when in storage and transit. Our automated pallet wrap machine is very efficient and also prevents our warehouse staff from getting dizzy!

Once wrapped the stack is then barcoded with traceability labeling. 

We take great pride in our wash service which is why we have committed to our future with the employment of an in house engineer in order to conduct regular services and inspections on the machinery to protect the longevity of our assets.

Have you got dirty crates, trays, boxes, totes, pallets or Dolavs? We'd love to have them in for a wash- call us on 01283 821 502 to organise your trial.

Make Returnable Packaging your Business New Year Resolution

2013 could be the Year for many Businesses to
make the switch to Returnable Packaging 

What are your New year resolutions for 2013?

We are now into the third week of January and our News Year Resolutions are starting to be a distant memory.  Whatever our good intentions were at the start of the year be it lose weight, stop smoking or save money most of us have probably gone back to our old ways by now.

The New Year is not just a time for personal resolutions it is a time where businesses can look at their practices and look at ways that they can improve.   Popular improvements for 2013 will surely be to make cost savings and become more sustainable.  Switching to returnable packaging can help many companies achieve these goals and PPS will be able to help and support along the way.

Here are 5 reasons that our customers have switched to returnable packaging:

1.    Reduced packaging waste – The disposal of cardboard or polystyrene boxes creates costs including the disposal fee and the extra labour required.
2.    Reduced packaging costs – Annual packaging costs can be significantly reduced by switching to returnable packaging.  Packaging costs can be reduced to pence per trip by renting returnable equipment.
3.    Increased product protection – All forms of returnable packaging including plastic crates and bulk bins are strong and durable providing added protection for the important goods inside.
4.    Hygienic – Returnable packing can be washed at our BRC accredited wash plant to food industry standards.
5.    Improves environmental impact – Returnable packaging typically lasts at least 5 years and it can then be recycled at the end of its useful life.  This is far more environmentally friendly than single use cardboard boxes that need to be disposed of.

Moving from single use cardboard or polystyrene boxes makes sound financial and economic sense but the thought of changing your systems can seem daunting.  At PPS we are experienced in helping our customers make that move and we will ensure that it runs smoothly.

Equipment Washing Helps PPS expand into the Pharmaceutical Market

PPS Midlands has lately commenced a new equipment washing contract within the pharmaceutical industry.

The PPS site at Measham, just north of Birmingham, offers contract equipment washing at its state-of-the-art industrial equipment washing facility where it can wash a wide variety of several box dimensions to the highest level and degree of cleaning. Plastic boxes, crates, trays, attached lid containers and collapsible boxes can all be catered for, and there is also a pallet wash facility on site.

PPS continues to be washing plastic trays, crates, boxes and pallets for a number of years at Measham and has traditionally washed for many different sectors, including food and retail.  Now however they have secured new business washing trays, boxes and pallets for a key supplier in the pharmaceutical sector.

In this sector plastic boxes are used to transport and store high ticket products and need to be washed after each use of the boxes to ensure no contamination. PPS has long experience washing to the exacting standards of the food industry and can provide traceable data and swab test results for all boxes washed.

All equipment washing including Tray, Crate & Pallet washing is completed to the highest standard and we are proud to have BRC certification.  This was very important to this particular client due to the nature of their business.

Joanne Moss said “The core business of our sites is the provision of services connected to returnable transit equipment for instance plastic crates, trays, boxes and pallets. This may include equipment rental, pooling services, online asset tracking and certainly contract equipment washing. Our business has developed and expanded mainly within the food and retail sectors, but when we were approached by this company in the pharmaceutical sector it quickly became clear that they were impressed by our level of experience of industrial scale washing gained over several years.

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 crate, box, container rental and supply, product repairs and equipment washing.

Equipment Wash Facility awarded BRC Certification

Returnable Transit Packaging Company PPS Midlands Ltd gets BRC Certification for State of the Art Industrial Washing Facility in Measham

PPS Midlands Ltd is pleased to announce that they have been awarded BRC Certification under the Storage and Distribution Standard at their state of the art equipment washing facility in Measham.

The principal trade of PPS Midlands is management of returnable transit packaging. This incorporates the supply of returnable equipment such as plastic crates, trays, boxes and pallets in addition to collapsible pallet boxes and bulk bins. PPS manage pools of equipment and part of that equipment management is the hygienic washing of all used packaging.

Operations Director Andy Flynn said “We already held ISO22000 at Measham but felt that BRC Certification was more applicable and a more recognisable standard. Most of our clients supply the primary retailers so having BRC certification demonstrates our commitment to providing our customers with a returnable packaging solution that is second to none. We now have both Grimsby and Measham operating within the standards of the BRC Standard, having obtained certification for PPS East Ltd at Grimsby in December 2011”

The scope of the certification comes under the Consumer Products and Packaging Category and reads “Washing and sterilising plastic boxes, pallets and bins: delivering logistical support to the Customer”. This is the perfect fit for our operations in the Midlands where we provide tray and crate washing for a big number of customers within the food processing trade.

We also offer a pallet washing service. PPS has been washing plastic trays, crates, boxes and pallets for a number of years at Measham and has traditionally washed for different sectors, including food, retail and pharmaceutical industries The PPS site at Measham, just north of Birmingham, offers contract washing at its state-of-the-art industrial wash facility where it can wash a variety of different box dimensions to the highest level and degree of cleaning.

Plastic boxes, crates, attached lid containers and collapsible boxes can all be catered for, and there's also a pallet wash facility on site. All equipment washing including Tray, crate and pallet washing is completed to the highest standard and we are very proud to have BRC certification