Lanxess to use Goodpack crates for BR

Leverkusen, Germany-Lanxess AG's Polybutadiene Rubber (BR) business unit is moving from wooden packaging to metal boxes supplied by Goodpack, at all its three sites. These are at Orange in US; Port Jérôme in France; and Dormagen in Germany.

A company spokesperson said the move from wooden to metal packaging would have no effect on the rubber.

Goodpack Inc. in Singapore will be supplying the reusable metal packaging.

The implementation will be carried out gradually in the different sites and production lines, as technical adjustments will be needed in the area of the packaging facilities, said a Lanxess statement. The changeover is expected to be completed by the middle of 2007.

“Together with Goodpack we will facilitate the change-over for our customers. We do not expect major problems with this as the Goodpack boxes are already widely used in the industry” said Christoph Kalla, head of marketing of the BR business unit.

The company said that previous attempts to introduce wood-free packaging always failed due to the significant higher costs. However, Christoph Lammertz, head of procurement packaging, said: “Goodpack already has a long experience with the leasing of standardised, reusable metal boxes for rubber and has built up an efficient international network with service depots in more than 60 countries. This global pooling makes competitive costs possible, especially with the overseas business.”

Lanxess said it would save 12,300 cu. m. of wood per year by moving to metal packaging.