good enough to stand up from factory to customer. Chicago's huge furniture and appliance dealer, Polk Bros., found that rework operations are 10 times greater when packaged furniture is opened before delivery than when the same furniture is delivered to the customer in its unopened factory package. In other words, Polk Bros, finds that routine pre-delivery inspection can be safely eliminated with good furniture, properly packed, and that removing furniture from the protection of its original pack subjects it to⅜damage in the retailer's own store and delivery trucks.
Drexe)
Drexel is using a combination of corrugated shippers with tear-tape opening and cellulose-filled protective wrapping to ship almost all of its furniture, which rides inside the carton and is not fastened to it in any way.
Drexel is promoting its improved packaging heavily with dealers. The company points out that its cartons save refinishing and repair expenses, that the inner cellulose wrapping tends to polish the furniture during shipping, while helping to eliminate scratches, and that disposal costs of packaging materials are lower than for crated goods.
Drexel's corrugated cartons, lighter than hard-to-handle crates, reduce shipping costs. They protect the furniture against entry of dust, moisture and damaging objects. In the warehouse they make more efficient use of storage space, since it is possible to stack furniture higher and more compactly than when it is partially wrapped.
The customer knows she is getting "factory fresh" Drexel furniture, not a floor sample, if it arrives at her home in its original package. Consequently, complaints are negligible.
At home, or in the warehouse, opening is easier, quicker and safer with the tear tape, which eliminates the use of often-damaging hawkbill knives.
Drexel is quick to point out that it does not have a miracle package and that the dealer must follow the "Up" arrows' directions to obtain maximum protection from the corrugated containers.
IV⅝arden
Another protective development, adopted by Marden Manufacturing, Inc., Chicago upholstered-furrfiture maker, suspends furniture inside a specially designed saddle and corrugated shipper.
Marden now uses just five two-piece telescope corrugated boxes to ship its entire line of 94 pieces, including sofas up to 108 in. long.
Each piece rides a saddle inside the corrugated package. The saddle consists of two interlocking channels of corrugated board which are fitted to
gether at right angles to each other. This section fits snugly into the bottom ol the telescope shipper and is deeper than the furniture legs. A wood-slat platform is nailed to the base of the furniture, not the legs, and rides on top of the saddle, affording the furniture clearance on all sides of the box.
The top piece is sloped, running from the back of the chair to the front of the arms. This flexible top makes is possible to use the same box on many different chairs, since closure flaps can be stapled to varying positions to fit several chair heights.
Backs of arms are padded with cellulose wadding before the package is sealed with two bands of steel strapping. The completed package prevents shifting and abrasion of the furniture. The chair can be completely unpackaged in about two minutes.
The new Marden container replaces wood-cleated corrugated boxes with wood runners nailed to the bottom of the furniture legs. While damage claims were not out of line with industry experience in the old package, they have been virtually eliminated with the new carton, according to the company. And the company has benefitted by a saving in packing labor amounting to 33%.
Supplies and Services: Drexel corrugated containers by National Container Corp., subsidiary of Owens-Illinois Glass Co., 405 Lexington Ave., New York 23; The Mengel Co., Corrugated Box Div., Louisville 10, Ky.,and Tri-State Container Corp., Elizabethton, Tenn. DrexeTs tear tapes by Chicago Printed String Co., 2300 Logan Blvd., Chicago 47. Marden corrugated containers by Stone Container Corp., 4200 W. 42 PL, Chicago 32; "Kimpak" cellulose cushioning materials by Kimberly-Clark Corp., Neenah, Wis.
Efficient warehousing with cartoned furniture contrasts with old method in which partly wrapped tables could be stacked no more than two high and were exposed to damage. Furniture retailers' back-of-store costs run up to 20% of sales.
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