Summer 2006

Packnet, Minnesota's innovative packaging leader, is proud to introduce the new Slot-Lock™ container. Slot-Lock™ containers are manufactured with precision CNC routing equipment, which efficiently and precisely machines each component to the highest quality standards in the industry. The Slot-Lock™ container maximizes labor savings and employee safety over traditional one-way crates.

The Slot-Lock™ container can be set-up or knocked down in seconds without staples, nails, screws or hardware clips. The container utilizes a slot and tab design that eliminates nail or staple guns, hammers, or screw guns. Installing plastic or metal bands around the container secures the locked panels to the pallet.

Slot-Lock™ containers are incredibly strong due to their locking slot and tab design. Unlike other nail-less boxes on the market, the Slot-Lock™ container does not require any loose hardware clips or metal tabs that can get lost or bent. The Slot-Lock™ design integrates the locking feature of the container into the panels themselves. Three panels can be assembled to aid with container loading or unloading, if desired.

Slot-Lock™ containers collapse to a fraction of their assembled size. That means storage and return shipments become much more economical than traditional assembled one-way crates. Containers in inventory require much less warehouse space to store. The same goes for containers that have been unloaded and knocked down at your customer's location. The reusability of the Slot-Lock™ container makes it an environmentally friendly pack. Containers returned for reuse can be stacked up to an 8 to 1 ratio from its original assembled size.

The best news of all is that even if you do not have a means of returning the container for re-use, the Slot-Lock™ container may not cost you any more (and even less) than a traditional one-way crate. For example, the cost of five Slot-Lock™ containers with an inside dimension of 44.5" x 43.5" x 45.5" is $92.68 each vs. five traditional one-way assembled crates at $122.87 each.

Another advantage of the Slot-Lock™ container is the ease of replacing component parts in the event of forklift damage to any of the panels. Each component is precision machined on our CNC router, which ensures that each and every part is exactly the same. This eliminates the need to replace an entire box.

Slot-Lock™ containers meet all ISPM-15 export regulations and are certified with the official IPPC stamp. The base components can also be made from manufactured wood materials eliminating all coniferous wood material from the container.

Packnet is the manufacturer of the Slot-Lock™ container, not a distributor, so we sell direct from the factory to you. All aspects of engineering, design and quality control are done in-house. Twenty standard sizes are available and custom sizes are engineered for a specific application.

Fast assembly No nail, staple or screw guns Reduced weight Low cost No loose fasteners Reusable and strong Component replacement

Recently, The International Wolf Center, located in Ely, Minnesota reaped the benefits of utilizing reusable shipping containers. The International Wolf Center needed shipping containers to transport five wolves and one coyote from Ely to the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul for an exhibition.

First, Marv Gaston of Taxidermy Unlimited made each animal look as though it was still alive in its natural habitat. After the taxidermy had been performed, Packnet received the dimensions of each animal's display to begin the design and construction of the custom shipping containers that would also serve as display platforms. All of the reusable wood containers were designed to include storage compartments, manufactured with heavyduty casters for easy transport and built to last for years.

The spectacular exhibit, Wolves and Humans: Coexistence, Competition, and Conflict, debuted at the Science Museum of Minnesota on March 17th 2006 and ran through April 17th 2006. Prior to opening, the National Science Foundation awarded a grant that allowed the exhibit to enlarge beyond its originally planned size.

The Wolves and Humans exhibit has plans to tour and will use the original shipping containers Packnet designed & manufactured. But, throughout this summer you can see the exhibit and meet their live, resident wolf pack at The International Wolf Center. These wolves were born in captive facilities and you can view them from the auditorium to learn more about how wolves communicate, play, hunt and eat. The International Wolf Center is located in the heart of the Superior National Forest in Ely, Minnesota. For more information visit www.wolf.org.

Have you considered saving money with reusable shipping containers? Using reusable transport containers can save you money on your packaging costs and increase your bottom line profits. You can eliminate the cost of new packaging for each shipment.

Packnet has the cost effective and "best use" solution for your specific packaging needs. Packnet designs and manufactures reusable packaging from wood, plastic, metal and other materials. Call 952-944-9124 to see how you can benefit from Packnet's reusables.