5 phases of acceptance

The previous interview was with Rustem Karimov from Karimov Gmbh during the CCE Int. exhibition in March 2019 in Munich. Our new conversation is dedicated to the company's performance over the past 4 years.

What is the difference between the IXS-PAL^® Technology and the wooden pallets’ one?

The IXS-PAL^® technology is environmentally friendly - pallets are made from corrugated cardboard, a recyclable fiber. Respect for the environment protects the trees used in the production of traditional wooden pallets from being cut down. This is especially true in the EU, where 78% of the population consider it normal to ban products and equipment that contribute to deforestation. In June 2023, the European Union issued the (EU) 2023/1115 Regulation on goods that do not involve deforestation.

What is new with the company in 2023?

In 2023 we have made a big leap in preparing the IXS-PAL Integrated Pallet System for industrial implementation: over 20 companies from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Turkey, Lebanon and russia are participating in testing samples of pallets at their corrugated plants. This is a very important stage in the process of adaptation of IXS-PAL^® technology – of the automatic assembly of corrugated cardboard pallets by the corrugated industry.

How are the prototype IXS-PAL^® pallegator operations going on?

We delivered the first prototype of the IXS-PAL^® Pallegator for automatic assembly of corrugated cardboard pallets in 2022 to the city of Klin. The machine has proven itself very well. We are currently tuning the mechanical and electrical components. I am grateful to Mr. Fomichev for his help in finalizing the prototype. During operation, an understanding and need arose to develop different types of corrugated pallets: differences in the configuration of production lines; required area and load-bearing capacity of pallets; the method of packaging and transportation in a loaded state, the method and number of storage in a loaded state - the combination of these factors determines the typology of production of corrugated cardboard pallets. Our partners, manufacturers of corrugated cardboard and corrugated packaging, who conduct tests at their corrugated plants, provide us with great assistance in this research work.

How is the corrugated industry accepting the IXS-PAL^® technology?

When we started developing the IXS-PAL^® technology, it reminded me of the 5 phases of accepting the inevitable - from denial to acceptance. Moreover, this applies to both developers of technology and users of technology (equipment). Wooden pallets are a traditional attribute of logistics at corrugated factories. This process reminds me of replacing a wooden box with a corrugated board box - this did not happen immediately, but gradually. 

What new have you found at the FEFCO TS in 2023?

We are very pleased to take part in FEFCO technical seminars since 2017. The idea to attend the FEFCO seminar was suggested to me by Mr. Volgin. FEFCO is the place where the “tomorrow” of the corrugated industry is being born. This is the fourth time we have taken part in the seminar and we are very happy about this - we find here new contacts, ideas and opportunities for the development of the IXS-PAL^® automatic assembly technology for corrugated cardboard pallets.

Here we have also concluded contracts for testing corrugated cardboard pallets. This should not only be an ecological and cost-effective alternative to wooden pallets, but also a market-ready technologically sound solution.

What do you expect in 2024?

We expect that 2024 will be the year of standardization of the types of corrugated pallets that we will offer to FEFCO for approval and implementation. The technology for automatic assembly of corrugated cardboard pallets IXS-PAL^® includes 8 types.

Note

Pallegator IXS-PAL^® is a machine for automatic assembly of corrugated board pallets at sights of their use. A corrugated board pallet IXS-PAL^®  is a profitable and functional alternative to similar wood products.