Leading to the development of the roll-rack, a plastic crate was used to
transport fresh milk products. The plastic crates had to be lifted into
transportation vehicles, removed and placed into storage refrigerators
at the retail outlet, and then products were removed from the crates and
placed into display facilities on the retail outlet shop floor.
To reduce the amount of lifting and handling of the fresh milk
product and to suit the overall logistics process better, both economically
and environmentally, Tine developed the roll-rack. Tine’s roll-rack
is a metal construction, set on wheels, and is approximately 40 by 40
centimetres with a height of 67 centimetres. Designed to accommodate
160 1-litre cartons, it is a flexible construction in that, internally, it can
be split into compartments of variable size and, externally, the front can
be opened and widened so that other empty roll-racks can be inserted.
The roll-rack costs approximately US $280–430 per unit and, in
normal circumstances, there are 80,000 in operation and a further
30,000 in stock. The roll-rack has become the dominant load carrier for
fresh milk and is now also used for a selection of other products
including other types of milk and juice