Wacker Silicones Corp. produces silicone products sold in bulk to manufacturers for applications such as tire lubricants, adhesives and release liner coatings. As environmental legislation at the state level became tougher, the Adrian, MI-based company found that its traditional tote, comprising a wooden pallet, corrugated sidewalls and polyethylene liner, was causing headaches for its customers. Wacker's switch to a reusable industrial bulk container from Sonoco Industrial Container Div. (Marietta, GA) solved those problems. "Many states have different requirements for disposal of packaging," explains Mitch Myers, national sales manager for Wacker Silicones. "Some have a problem getting rid of wooden pallets; others have higher expenses in getting rid of corrugated. "When many of our customers asked for an easier way to dispose of the containers our product was shipped in, we began to look for an alternative, and a company that could help with disposal," he says. "We chose Sonoco because it offered the best array of benefits to our customers and our environment." The industrial bulk container consists of a 275-gal high-density polyethylene bottle enclosed within a steel cage. This cage allows stacking three-high, while a steel pallet protects the actual bottle from forklifts and other handling damage. "If the container is damaged, the customer may lose the expensive silicone or risk contaminating a sensitive product," says Myers. "Therefore, strength and durability were key concerns when we were selecting a new package." In addition, the Sonoco IBC has solved another problem. Explains Myers: "We had found that with the previous package we used, it was difficult to drain all of the product from the container because it had a flat bottom. There was some residue that was left. "The design of the Sonoco container includes a sloped bottom. That slope goes into a built-in sump, then into a drain valve. There's a 100% drain from the tote."
