A new packaging system designed to make life easier for cleaners while reducing costs for facilities managers has been launched by Tork manufacturer SCA.
Tork Easy Handling™ is a unique, ergonomically-designed packaging system that improves ergonomics, boosts efficiency, saves time and prevents stress injuries.
it will also help to cut costs for FM companies since the packaging reduces time spent by staff on transporting and opening packs of products.
“Cleaners spend a significant part of the day refilling paper towel, napkin and toilet paper holders,” says Kristian Grennfelt, packaging development and industrial design centre manager for Tork. “These products arrive at end-customers’ premises in packages that must be received, lifted, transported, carried, opened, folded and discarded.
“Our analysis of each task has produced a solution that helps to ease the strain on cleaning personnel’s backs and also saves them time, which is a good long-term investment for the company as well.”
Tork Easy Handling™ introduces a number of functions that improve efficiency and ergonomics compared with traditional packaging systems. For example, new handles allow the cleaner to carry two boxes at a time - one cardboard box in each hand - which is more ergonomically sound. The containers are also easier to open without the use of sharp tools such as scissors or knives and include features adapted to different finger sizes.
All the functions have been designed to be as intuitive as possible so that cleaners can easily see and understand them.
“The new packaging will be of particular interest to FM companies since labour represents 70 per cent of a cleaning company’s costs,” said SCA product and segment manager Charlotte Branwhite. “This means that if cleaners save time on carrying around product boxes and disposing of them when empty, they will have more time to focus on other cleaning tasks.”
During a series of SCA trials more than a hundred cleaners tried and evaluated the Tork Carry Pack plastic packaging and the cardboard Tork Carry Box. The testers concluded that the solutions represented a significant improvement in both ergonomics and efficiency.
The decision of Tork manufacturer SCA to tackle the issue follows a study into the health problems faced by cleaning industry customers. Research shows that European cleaning staff handle more than a million packages every week, and an estimated 100,000 European cleaning workers stay at home every day due to illness on injury.
“Every day our products must be shipped, carried and lifted by our customers which means that we have an obligation to think about every detail and create solutions that make the working lives of our customers easier and hassle-free,” said Kristian.
Tork Easy Handling™ packaging is now available for Tork interfold hand towels, Tork hand towel rolls and Tork interfold napkins. The packs will also be available for the Tork Compact Auto Shift toilet paper system and Tork and zigzag-fold hand towels later this year.
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