Beverage transport: How to secure your beverage crates correctly (VDI 2700 Sheet 12)

Industry-specific load securing is particularly important in everyday life when transporting beverages. The correct transport of beverage crates is defined in more detail in VDI Guideline Series Sheet 12. In a research project, which was used as the basis for this article, the prevailing friction coefficients were calculated and methods developed to secure the load against slipping. In the following article, we highlight the prevailing forces and explain the various load securing methods.

Coefficients of friction for beverage containers

There are a number of different beverage containers used to transport bottles. The study took into account a range of different containers commonly available on the market:

• Euro wooden pallets (1200 x 800 mm)
• Quarter plastic pallets (600 x 400 mm)
• Anti-slip coated plastic pallets (1200 x 800 mm)

Based on the requirements of VDI Guideline 2700 with a lateral acceleration of 0.5 g, a coefficient of friction of μ = 0.5 would be sufficient in purely mathematical terms to secure the load against lateral slippage. As can be seen in the table, if friction alone is to be used for securing, this value is only achieved by PU-foam-coated kegs and barrels transported in a horizontal position. Disposable beverage containers are difficult to evaluate due to the different types of packaging. However, the majority are not sufficiently secured against slipping under the influence of acceleration by a correspondingly high coefficient of friction. The results of the beverage crate tests were particularly interesting, as they only showed a coefficient of friction of μ = 0.2 to 0.35 in the tests. Additional load securing methods are therefore necessary for these types of packaging.

Securing the beverage load by using load securing aids

For vehicles that are not specially equipped for transporting beverages, securing aids such as lashing straps, lashing tarpaulins or lashing nets offer an alternative. These can ensure that the load is secured by providing additional force-fit securing of the load unit. However, a sufficiently stable front wall and rear load compartment barrier as well as pallet stop rails on the floor are still required. So-called ‘curtainsiders’ are often used for beverage transport, which have a sliding side tarpaulin for quick loading and unloading. If these tarpaulins cannot withstand the required 0.4 g * payload at normal lateral acceleration (e.g. when cornering), the beverage loading units must be additionally secured.

Securing beverage loads through improved load unit securing

Preliminary tests conducted by VLB have shown that loading units with stacked barrels with polyurethane coating (e.g. 3 layers with 30-litre kegs) are significantly less stable than loading units with wooden pallets between each layer of barrels. Barrels transported horizontally on special beer pallets perform very well in terms of lateral acceleration and can therefore be classified as non-critical. Additional securing measures must be taken when transporting crates and barrels that are not transported on appropriate beer pallets. Below, we explain three securing methods that have proven themselves during testing:

• Stretching: During the stretching process, continuous tension is applied to a plastic film by mechanical stretching or elongation before the film is placed around or over a load unit. The effective restoring forces or tensions hold the load unit together and prevent individual packages from ‘migrating’ outwards. In addition to manual dispensers, stretch machines with varying degrees of automation, working methods and stretching techniques are available for securing loads. Laboratory tests with beverage load units showed partial success with this type of securing. The securing method used here is also interesting because the film can also be re-secured by hand by the driver during a tour.
• Strapping: Strapping is a method of securing load units using steel or plastic straps. Plastic straps are mainly used when high elasticity of the strap is required, especially for fragile or dimensionally stable products. Strapping with plastic straps appears to be suitable for securing beverage crates with their rectangular frames, but is not suitable for barrels due to their smooth, rounded surface. The problem with this is that the straps cannot be fixed securely and slip off the cylindrical barrels without additional aids (e.g. sturdy edge protection angles, clip-on frames).
This type of securing can also be carried out manually by the driver using a special device on the loading unit.

• Materials that increase friction: Another safety measure that was investigated was the use of anti-slip mats. These mats proved to be extremely effective and are therefore recommended without reservation as an additional safety measure when transporting drums and crates.