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It is estimated that the South African agricultural industry has a total pool of about 2.7 million jumbo bins in use. Indications are that citrus fruit are almost exclusively transported in plastic bins while apples and pears each are using about half wooden bins and half plastic bins. Extensive research has been done in this industry regarding which of these, wood or plastic, are a better option for fruit growers. More than 20 years ago, in 192, Alan F. Hauff did a presentation at the Washington Tree Fruit Postharvest Conference of a study he had done on the potential of collapsible plastic bins that could be used for both storage and shiping of fruit. The study included in-depth market research and comparisons between standard wood bins and plastic bins considering the strengths and weaknesses of each; informed by industry representatives, other researchers and manufacturers. It would come to be regarded as a seminal work in this field.

Much of this research focused on the Bolzano region, a major fruit growing area in Italy where plastic bins had already been introduced in the 1970’s. The research included site visits to; plastic bin manufacturers, commercial storages (using only wooden bins, only plastic bins and those using both kinds) in order to discover advantages and disadvantages of both, reasons for changing from wood to plastic, or reasons to stay with wooden bins. Information was also obtained from other Researchers and extension personnel about the use of plastic bins. Hauf found that the Fruit Growers in this region had not only tried plastic bins as an alternative to wood bins, they were consciously and methodically working towards completely changing to plastic bins. The research conducted by Hauff is still regarded as a seminal work in the study of large capacity bins.  Over the last 3 decades much of his research has been confirmed by other research, showing that the factors that influenced bin choice decades ago are  just as valid today.            

When choosing the right bin for crops, it needs to be considered from the perspective of how it will or will not affect the fruit. Fruit and vegetables are living parts of plants that contain anything from 65 – 95 percent water and continue their living processes after being harvested. The post-harvest life-span of the fruit is determined by the rate at which their stored food reserves are used up and by the rate of water los. Once these are exhausted, the fruit decays and dies.

Our bulk bins is a more reliable, sustainable and profitable plastic alternative to the wooden bin traditionally used in the agricultural industry, and is considered by many to be the best quality bulk bin in the world, available at the lowest possible cost.

It was introduced in North America and Australia 20 years ago and has been in great demand ever since, particularly in the fruit industries of those regions, where it has become virtually the only bin used.