The Supply and Development of Load carriers

Abstract

This study was focused on finding out more about load carriers and answering the study questions which are as follows; what types of load carriers are used in Finland today? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type? What features and benefits should future optimum load carriers have? Load carriers are considered tertiary packaging. The theoretical framework includes standards and regulations that affect load carriers. The leading producers of load carriers in Finland are presented alongside their products. This study has been based on a qualitative method and semi-structured interviews have been conducted to collect data. The results of this study show that in Finland the currently used load carriers are made from wood, cardboard, and metal. The advantages of wooden load carriers are that they are sturdy and relatively cheap to make, the disadvantages are that that they take up more space compared to carboard and unlike carboard they require treatment. Unlike wooden load carriers cardboard variants take up a lot less space and can be easily recycled. Metal load carriers are the costliest to make while being the longest lasting and have the highest carrying capacity. The features and benefits that future load carriers require are all tied to the transport industry and efficiency is the goal for all load carriers, they need to be as light and space efficient while having as much carrying capacity as possible. The conclusions of the study are that load carriers and the design of them is tied to the transport industry and the logistics chain, because these set the trends and needs for the load carriers that are manufactured in Finland.