Transporting flowers in Procona

LOADING SCHEDULES VALENCIA AND AMSTERDAM

 

Valencia & Amsterdam on ISO-pallets & Dutch auction trolleys
ISO-pallets measure 100 x 120 cm / 40"x48" (outside)  Auction trolleys measure 100 x 120 cm / 40"x48" (inside)
Containers per layer	10
Load level	100%

 

Valencia & Amsterdam on Euro-pallets
Euro-pallets measure 80 x 120 cm / 32"x48" (outside)
Containers per layer	8
Load level	100%

 

Valencia & Amsterdam on 60x80 cm / 24"x32" (Dusseldorf) pallets
Containers per layer	4
Load level	100%

 

Valencia & Amsterdam on Danish trolleys
Danish trolleys measure 56,5 x 135 cm / 22.2"x53.1" (outside)
Containers per layer	6
Load level	95%

  

Valencia Topframe on ISO-pallets & Dutch auction trolleys
ISO-pallets measure 100 x 120 cm / 40"x48" (outside)  Auction trolleys measure 100 x 120 cm (inside)
Containers per layer	8
Load level	96%

 

Valencia Topframe on Euro-pallets
Euro-pallets measure 80 x 120 cm / 32"x48" (outside)
Containers per layer	6
Load level	90%

 

Valencia Topframe on 60x80 cm / 24"x32" (Dusseldorf) pallets
Containers per layer	2
Load level	60%

 

Valencia Topframe on Danish trolleys
Danish trolleys measure 56,5 x 135 cm / 22.2"x53.1" (outside)
Containers per layer	4
Load level	76%

  

LOADING SCHEDULES LONDON

 

London on ISO pallets  & auction trolleys
ISO pallets measure 100 x 120 cm / 40"x48" (outside) Auction trolleys measure 100 x 120 cm / 40"x48" (inside)
Containers per layer	12
Load level	100%

 

 

London on Euro-pallets
Euro-pallets measure 80 x 120 cm / 32"x48" (outside)
Containers per layer	8
Load level	83%

 

London on 60x80 cm / 24"x32" (Dusseldorf) pallets
Containers per layer	4
Load level	83%

 

London on Danish trolleys
Danish trolleys measure 56,5 x 135 cm / 22.2"x53.1" (outside)
Containers per layer	7
Load level	92%

 

LOADING SCHEDULES FLORIDA

Florida on ISO-pallets & Dutch auction trolleys (1)
ISO-pallets measure 100 x 120 cm / 40"x48" (outside)  Auction trolleys measure 100 x 120 cm / 40"x48" (inside)
Containers per layer	17
Load level	100% + 2%over

  

Florida on ISO-pallets & Dutch auction trolleys (2)
ISO-pallets measure 100 x 120 cm / 40"x48" (outside)  Auction trolleys measure 100 x 120 cm / 40"x48" (inside)
Containers per layer	16
Load level	96%

 

Florida on Euro-pallets (1)
Euro-pallets measure 80 x 120 cm / 32"x48" (outside)
Containers per layer	14
Load level	100% + 5%over

 Please note: the containers project 1.6"/4 cm out from the pallet. 

 

Florida on Euro-pallets (2)
Euro-pallets measure 80 x 120 cm / 32"x48" (outside)
Containers per layer	13
Load level	98%

 Please note: There is a 0.8"/2 cm margin on the pallet. Hence, this manner of stacking is preferred. 

 

Florida on 60x80 cm / 24"x32" (Dusseldorf) pallets
Containers per layer	6
Load level	90%

 

Florida on Danish trolleys
Danish trolleys measure 56,5 x 135 cm / 22.2"x53.1" (outside)
Containers per layer	9
Load level	86%

 

PROCONA BY ROAD

High fuel prices mean transport by truck, the most common form of transport for cut flowers, is a major component of the overall cost price. Thanks to the high number of stems/bunches per container and the fact that the containers are ideal for stacking on pallets, which waste far less loading space than trolleys, Procona keeps transportation costs down while ensuring the flowers remain in perfect condition.

More information about truck loading diagrams

 

PROCONA BY SEA

The duration of a sea voyage, typically 2 to 3 weeks, makes it even more essential that the flowers are kept in the most favorable climate during transportation.
If a Procona unit filled with flowers at 18°C is placed in a cold room at 2 - 5°C, after 4 – 6 hours the temperature inside the Procona unit will be just one degree higher than the temperature in the cold room. And it will stay that way for weeks. Procona containers are also sturdy. Fitted with plastic collars (recommended for transport by sea) the packaging can handle the toughest situations, including storms and gales.

Floating (Reefer) cold rooms
The shipping containers used to transport flowers by sea are the so-called Reefer containers which are, in fact, floating cold rooms.

Reefer containers are well insulated and have a cooling motor, a ventilator, a floor made up of 7 cm high aluminum T-sections so air can flow under the freight and then rise and a lowered ceiling in which the air is channeled back to the cooling installation. The temperature, relative humidity and ventilation within the container can be set on a control panel and the maximum height up to which goods can be stacked is indicated by a red stripe on the container walls.
Reefer containers have been used to transport flower bulbs around the world, including to the USA, for over 20 years. In recent years they have also been used to transport cut flowers.

Advice
If you are considering shipping cut flowers by sea please call Pagter Innovations for more information. We will be pleased to help.

 

PROCONA BY AIR

Packaging for airfreight must be robust enough to cope with being stacked high on pallets as well as factors like air turbulence and bumpy landings. It must also be able to cope with high humidity as airfreight pallets are often covered in sheets to protect them against rain during loading and unloading.

One of the Procona system’s main advantages is that flowers are kept in water throughout transportation. But many airlines do not allow loose water in the freight hold because a spillage could constitute a safety hazard. This is why Pagter Innovations developed the Procona sponge.

A highly absorbent Procona sponge is placed in the bottom of the container and a measured amount of water added. How much water depends on the type of flowers, the duration of the flight and the temperature. The stems rest on the top layer of the sponge which, being made of a very fibrous polypropylene, ensures they are always in contact with water. If necessary due to the duration of the flight two sponges can be used. On arrival the containers can be topped up with water through the hand grips without any need to open the package because they remain wet throughout, even in the air, the quality of the flowers is not diminished and the stems do not need trimming on arrival at their final destination.

 

SECURING PALLETS FOR TRANSPORTATION

To ensure a pallet loaded with Procona units remains stable we recommend that the pallet as a whole is reinforced. The best method depends on the distance the pallet is to be transported and the method of transport.

Pallets for short-distance transportation can be reinforced by positioning long vertical supports at the corners of the pallets and then wrapping the pallet in stretch-wrap, nylon tape or Flexinet.
If using stretch-wrap it is important that it is only wrapped around the collars so the ventilation openings in the lids and containers remain clear.

Some clients prefer nylon strapping with a buckle as this results in the least volume of material that is thrown away. The most secure way to strap a pallet using tape is to position the tape around the container rims. This does mean all the outside containers in a layer have to be the same height.

Flexinet is widely used in the export of fruit and vegetables. The mesh structure of Flexinet means the entire pallet can be wrapped without disrupting air flow around the containers.

For long-haul transportation or transport by truck over rough roads, a pallet loaded with Proconas can be made extremely stable by placing cardboard corner supports horizontally on the lids.
20 x 35 x 3 mm corner supports are ideal for Florida lids, 35 x 35 x 3 mm corner supports are recommended for London and Valencia lids.
Cardboard corner supports can be ordered from Pagter Innovations.