Elberta Crane & Box Co.

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 8/1/1998

Elberta Crane & Box Co. has designed "Skee" slipsheets in such a way that special forklift-truck attachments are not necessary. The units are made of kraft paper laminated on each side to a core layer of hardwood veneer. This allows for an upturned end or a lip to be molded in one or more sides of the sheet. A regular tapered forklift truck can scoot its tines under this lip and pick up a load. Because of this feature, the manufacturer says, the Skee slipsheet does not require the use of an attachment for movement.

A 40- by 48-inch size Skee slipsheet weighs about 96 ounces. When the load is unitized, it can carry 2,000 pounds or more of product. In addition, 500 Skees take up the same storage space as 12 conventional wooden pallets. Skee slipsheets have been used to ship such products as iron oxide, sugar, asphalt, cornstarch, and rider lawn mowers.