Using Walnut Industries' (Bensalem, PA) Ty-Gard freight restraint system as an alternative to traditional wood bracing offers time and cost savings, while providing a safe alternative for shipping hazardous chemicals. "We're required by law to restrain our entire loads against shifting," says Sunnyside's vice-president of distribution William Buchanan. Ty-Gard is approved by the Chemical Manufacturers Assn. and other groups. The system comprises two parts: Ty-Gard itself is a fiber-reinforced barrier material available in large rolls that adheres to inner sidewalls of trucks via an adhesive called Ty-Bond. It can be removed by simply pulling in the opposite direction. Sunnyside spaces four bands of Ty-Gard through one truckload, in configurations that vary depending on delivery schedule-an advantage over standard wood bracing. While not able to quantify cost savings, Buchanan is pleased with the efficiency of Ty-Gard. "It's much more effective than wood bracing," he says.
