Home> Press Release> Press Release (2005)> ZEON Logistical Materials Begins Sale of Newly Developed, Lightweight, Folding
Containers Incorporating Innovative Assembly Mechanism

ZEON Logistical Materials Begins Sale of Newly Developed, Lightweight,
Folding Containers Incorporating Innovative Assembly Mechanism
May 17, 2005
ZEON Logistical Materials Co., Ltd. (1-6-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hitoshi Ozawa), a wholly
owned subsidiary of ZEON Corporation (President & CEO: Naozumi Furukawa) has developed a new assembly
mechanism of container (patent pending) that is easier to use and launched nationwide sales of a folding,returnable, corrugated plastic container, STEC® NL ECO Type, that incorporates the new mechanism, making
the container lighter in weight.
Since July 2004, the company has been marketing a folding, returnable, corrugated plastic container, STEC® NL
S Type, that is strong and lightweight. The container has been well received by users.
However, market demand is growing recently for containers that are lighter, for easier assembly and folding bywomen and elderly, and improve working efficiency. In response to this need, ZEON Logistical Materials hasdeveloped and launched the new product, which is easier to handle and lighter than the earlier model byincorporating the new assembly mechanism into the design.
The newly released STEC® NL ECO Type corrugated plastic container has the following features:(1) Assembly and folding are made quicker and easier compared to conventional containers by changing thepanel assembly mechanism from the insertion method to the fit-in method (patent pending). Furthermore, thenew mechanism reduces the number of components, resulting in lighter weight and lower price.
(2)For example, a new, one-cubic-meter STEC® container reinforced with a steel-frame weighs approximately
30 kg, excluding the weight of the pallet, slightly more than 10% lighter than the company's conventional
corrugated plastic containers with steel frames. The company has also begun selling super-lightweight aluminum
frame containers, weighing approximately 23 kg, excluding the weight of the pallet.
(3)Use of the lighter weight unit for exporting can save air shipping costs.
(4)Three types of metal reinforcing frames are available, depending on required load resistance and containerweight: aluminum, steel, and stainless steel.
Supplementary explanation
STEC®, the company's main product, features the following characteristics:(1)Easily folded and assembled; folded height is approximately 1/4 of the assembled height for storage.

(2)Efficient storage when folded to significantly reduce collection costs and space required for storage.
(3)Collection and reuse of the container helps reduce costs and waste, while also facilitating the recycling ofresources.
(4)Can be repaired and replaced by component, thereby maintaining optimum condition.
Photos of newly developed and marketed STEC® NL ECO Type returnable container made of corrugatedplastic:
1. Entire container

2. Assembly and folding method

Insertion method (conventional product)
Fastener: F bar
Slide and insert panel A inside the slot of panel B, then secure with Fbar.

Fit-in method (new product)
Fastener: Pin bar
Insert panel D into panel C from the side, then secure with pin bar.
The metal fastener is positioned at the same level as the upper surfaceof the side board to reduce shaking and eliminate any gap between thelid and side boards.

For further information
ZEON Logistical Materials Co., Ltd., Sales Department
Tel: (Tokyo) +81-3-5208-5167 Tel: (Osaka) +81-6-6398-2938
Zeon Corporation,
Department of Corporate Communications
Tel: +81-3-3216-2747