Page 30 - Plastics News May 2018

FeAtures

BASF creates smart Pallet

The smart pallet, complete with an embedded active RFID chip, making it possible to track exactly where
the pallet is and monitor temperature, humidity and any impacts the pallet withstands.

old contamination can affect the quality of lead to expensive recalls and damaged reputations.
Mproducts, lead to expensive recalls and damaged Owen decided this was a challenge he would tackle.
reputations. While pallets may not be the best products He came up with a smart pallet, complete with an
around, they are without any doubt one of the most embedded active RFID chip, making it possible to track
used and hardworking items on the planet. exactly where the pallet is and monitor temperature,
humidity and any impacts the pallet withstands. His
Jeffrey Owen, CEO of Michigan based company
pallet features a hermetically sealed surface, crucial
Lightning Technologies LLC, is a relative newcomer
to the pallet industry, an industry that Owen said is in pharmaceutical and food transportation safety,
to protect against insects, bacteria, mold and other
basically still churning out the same products — 8
billion of them a year — since their invention some 80 harmful organisms.
years ago speaking at the May 8 BASF news conference The pallet is composed of a plywood-like, sustainably
at NPE2018 in Orlando he pointed out, "Everything, sourced substrate that is sprayed during production
literally, is shipped on a pallet." with a newly formulated proprietary hybrid polyurea
coating, developed in partnership with BASF SE."We
Sturdily designed and typically made of wood,
approached BASF, not knowing if the company would
be interested in partnering with a startup," Owen said.
"But over the past two and a half years, we've developed
a very close relationship, and they committed to us."

The chemistry was there, and it resulted in the
development of Exobond, the polyurea spray coating
material developed specifically for this application. The
new, sealed pallet is a revolution in the pallet world.

Scott Schlicker, industrial marketing manager at
BASF Performance Materials, pointed to a range
of advantages: "The coating creates a chemically
resistant, hermetically sealed surface, which ensures
safety during storage and transportation and increases
despite their ubiquitous use, pallets can cause the durability of the pallet. Its improved strength-to-
problems for the products being shipped on them.
weight performance makes the pallet lighter, easier
One of the unintentional problems is mold. And while to handle and more fuel-efficient to transport." The
manufacturers can choose to treat their pallets with
industry has responded with interest. "We are expanding
prophylactic fungicides, the effects tend to last a mere very quickly," said Owen. "Poland, Sweden, South
six to eight months. Besides, manufacturers would
America, Korea, China — we are there." With plans to
rather not take the chance of having their products become the leading pallet in the market, Lightning
come into contact with these chemicals.
Technologies is not modest about stating its ambitions.
Mold contamination can affect the quality of products, In Owen's words: "We are going to change the industry."

Plastics News May 2018 30