Twinplast develops custom containers for bee supplier

Dunstable-based Twinplast used custom design and manufacturing to produce shipping boxes for the safe and secure transportation of live pollinators. The solution, developed on behalf of a specialist supplier and breeder of Buckfast bees, provides  robust protection and containment while minimising weight to reduce transportation costs. The containers also incorporated performance features that prevent overheating and ensure the bees’ survival in transit, including effective air circulation and ventilation.

Tim Steer, commercial director at Twinplast, said: “Twinplast specialise in taking on technical challenges of the kind presented by this contract.  We worked closely with the client to design a container with a thick outer casing comprising multiple layers of corrugated polypropylene for extra cushioning and protection. We also incorporated an inner casing to house the bee nuc, with substantial spacing between the two casings to enable efficient airflow and full double-mesh ventilated sides. We utilised our  in-house printing facilities to add clear labelling on each container, with warnings about its content and instructions on the safe handling and carriage of the live cargo.”

With its high strength-to-weight ratio, corrugated polypropylene was an ideal material to handle the physical demands of transportation while dramatically reducing weight and bulk in comparison to traditional wooden box solutions. Polypropylene is also highly resistant to water, chemicals, and grease, protecting against contamination. 

Toby Garrett, managing director at Twinplast, said: “Twinplast’s expertise in bespoke solutions has opened routes to a wide range of specialist markets, particularly in relation to companies which transport sensitive and delicate cargo. This contract was a typical example of how we use our resources to find answers to complex problems. A large percentage of Twinplast’s business comes through our ability to serve a set of demands that would be impossible to meet with an off-the-shelf product.”

Offering the widest range of corrugated polypropylene products in the market, Twinplast supplies major UK businesses and organisations across a wide range of sectors including FMCG, retail, horticultural, construction, industrial, healthcare, packaging, logistics and pharmaceutical.  Twinplast also has in-house waste processing systems which convert 100% of off-cuts and end-of-life products into pellets and flakes fed directly back into the production line, enabling full recyclability in support of the circular economy.

For more information, visit www.twinplast.co.uk