Tellap's pallet-less bulk bag.

An Australian company has developed an innovative alternative to packaging and shipping products via bulk bag and pallet.

Sydney-based Tellap has designed a pallet-less bulk bag that features two integrated plastic sleeves which receive the forklift tines, replacing the need for a pallet in many applications.

Explains MD David Dickinson: "We kept hearing about the problems companies had when using standard bulk bags and pallets such as instability, contamination, pallet disposal and exchange costs, transporting dead weight, etc. and decided to research the possibility of a viable alternative to the bag and pallet."

"The Tellap system is an effective alternative, requiring a single operator. Tellap bulk bags are raised from the base and the forklift tines are inserted into the integrated sleeves as they would a pallet. The only difference is that Tellap does not need a pallet. Because it is carried from the base, it provides a safe, low centre of gravity and plenty of vision for the driver."

He tells Forkliftaction.com News that the Tellap system is OHS-friendly, as the driver doesn't need to leave the forklift to lift straps or adjust a pallet. "It is more stable than a bulk bag and a pallet in both storage and transport, and therefore easier and safer to load/unload."

Products ideally suited for this type of transportation include dry bulk flowable products; plastics and pellets; various chemicals, food such as sugar, salt, flour, starch, milk powders; refractory products such as ceramics, clays, lime, powdered metals; agricultural products such as seed, grain, beans, nuts; pharmaceutical products; and ferro-alloys.

According to Dickinson, the Tellap sleeves can be removed from the bag and reused, and are ideally suited for export purposes as the system complies with ISPM15 and therefore does not need fumigation or heat treatment. In addition, it is hygienic for transporting foodstuffs or products susceptible to contamination.

He adds that the product has been successfully independently tested to the flexible intermediate bulk container standard AS 3668 and because the sleeves are recyclable, the company's objective is to implement a closed loop system.

Other benefits are the weight and space savings as Tellap sleeves are one third the size of a pallet and only 10% of the weight. "This product reduces the number of forklift movements as the driver does not need to bring pallets to the filling station."

The company is exploring RFID technology to carry information required by the supply chain and information regarding the Tellap bag including product and warehouse information.

The bags are currrently manufactured in factories in South Africa, the USA and China although Tellap is in talks with an Australian company to manufacture the sleeves locally.