5.1.1 The wooden box
5.1.2 The plastic box
5.1.3 Aluminium alloy boxes
5.1.4 Fibre board boxes
5.1.5 Expanded polystyrene boxes (isopor)
5.2 Fish Boxes -Description and Area of Use
5.2.1 Returnable boxes
5.2.2 Non-returnable fish boxes
Generally the requirements are the same for boxes used on board fishing vessels, in store, in production units and in transport on the road/railway. Boxes suitable for these uses are made of wood, aluminium or plastic.
However, special requirements are set for boxes to be used in air freight transport, and it is especially important that such packing is waterproof.
The size of a box will be determined by its purpose, type of handling equipment available and the materials used on its construction. Boxes used inside a processing factory should be of a size suitable for one person to handle. Boxes used in transport can be larger of loading equipment such as hoists and fans lifts are available at both ends of the trip. Standard sized boxes should be marked with a distinguishing number.
Dimensions and accepted deviation
The wooden box is generally made from soft-wood but hardwood can also be used although this tends to make it more heavy.
Table 5 Material thickness (pine and spruce softwood)
Material thickness (in mm) |
||||||
Box volume |
Sideboard |
Endboard |
Stableboard |
Corner block |
Stiffener |
|
From |
To |
|||||
25 |
10 |
15 |
10-13 |
15 x 38 |
10 |
|
26 |
45 |
13 |
15 |
10-13 |
15 x 38 |
10 |
46 |
80 |
13 |
15-20 |
10-13 |
20 x 50 |
10 |
81 |
150 |
15 |
20 |
10-13 |
20 x 50 |
10 |
151 |
300 |
18 |
25 |
10-13 |
31 x 62 |
10 |
Construction
Fish boxes must be made from dry materials which should have a plain and smooth surface to enable the best possible cleaning.
Sides, bottom and top are assembled by nailing the boards together. In the bottom the boards are placed with an opening between each piece to enable water to drain from the box. The openings should not be bigger than 10 mm. Wooden boxes for reuse must have stiffening boards to obtain more strength.
Boxes must be nailed with big-headed sharp edges nails of a length and a number that are dictated by material thickness.
Strength.
The boxes must stand normal daily loads. They shall without showing permanent deformation, stand an equally shared load corresponding to a 2.6 m high pile of boxes with 80% of volume filled with fish plus a load 3 times the weight of the pile.
Construction
The box must have a shape that utilizes the strength of the material and that gives stable stacking. The surface should be smooth, plain, without significant damage and have equally rounded corners.
The box should be equipped with drain holes in the bottom or in the walls as near the bottom as possible.
Strength
The box should stand normal daily loads. It shall, without showing permanent deformation, stand a min. of 8 hours with a load corresponding to a 3 m high pile of boxes with 80% of the volume filled with fish and in addition a load 1.5 times the weight of the pile (short time test).
The box should also stand long time loading test carried out under the same conditions as the short time test, but with a load 0.75 times the weight of the pile.
Durability against cracking
A plastic box should resist the following conditions: exposure to hot air at 100°C for seven days, submersion in a solution of 10% and synthetic detergents at 50°C.
Construction
The box should be made of AlMg2 aluminium alloy or of an aluminium material with at least the same properties and corrosion durability.
The box should be of a solid construction with the bottom, sides, and supporting flanges made from one piece of metal. The ends should be solidly jointed to the bottom and sides by smooth welding.
The box should be equipped with drain holes so arranged that the water and slime from a box is led to the outside of the boxes underneath it in a pile.
The surfaces of the box must be smooth, melds must be ground smooth and the box thoroughly washed out after manufacture.
Strength
The boxes should stand normal daily loads. They shall, without showing permanent deformation, stand an equally shared pressure corresponding to a 3 m high pile of boxes with 80% of the volume filled with fish and plus a load of twice the weight of the pile.
The boxes are meant to be used as non-returnable packing material for:
Construction
Fibre board material in boxes for iced or fresh fish should be smooth, free of cracks and dents, and humidity resistant on both sides. To obtain this the following treatment is normally used:
If the boxes are glued, waterproof adhesive must be used.
In boxes used for freezing of fresh fish the inner side must be treated to a humidity resistance corresponding to a wax coating of 20 g/m².
The boxes material must not contain dangerous chemical or bacteriological substances which can be dissolved into the contents.
The boxes should be delivered flat from the factory and in forms that are easy to put together by nailing, glueing or using special closing mechanisms. The boxes can also be made of combinations of massive fibre board/wood or massive fibre board/plastic.
Boxes for iced, fresh fish should be equipped with drainage holes in the bottom corners or in end walls as close to bottom as possible.
Strength
The boxes should stand normal daily loads.
Boxes for iced and fresh fish
The boxes shall without showing permanent deformation stand an equally shared load corresponding to a 1 m high pile of boxes with 80% of the volume filled with the goods in question, plus an additional load of 3 times the weight of the pile.
Special boxes in massive fibre board shall, without showing permanent deformation, stand an equally shared load corresponding to a 1.5 m high pile of boxes with 80% of the volume filled with the goods in question, plus an additional load of 3 times the weight of the pile. However, boxes with wood and plastic reinforcement when strapped should stand a 2.6 m high pile of boxes with 80% of the volume filled with the goods in question plus an additional load of 3 times the weight of the stack.
Boxes for freezing fresh fish
The boxes shall without showing permanent deformation, stand an equally shared load corresponding to a 1.5 m high pile of boxes with 80% of the volume filled with the goods in question, plus an additional load of 3 times the weight of the pile.
Construction
The material should be homogeneous without any dirty particles and discolouring.
The boxes should stand the use of common cleaning and sanitation treatments and washing with hot water. The box material must not contain dangerous chemical and bacteriological substances which can be dissolved into the contents.
Drain hales should be located along the sides and in the end walls as close as possible to the bottom. These hales should be of sufficient number and size (approx. 15 mm diameter) to allow complete removal of water and slime. The surface of the material should be plain and smooth with no jagged edges around the hales.
Boxes meant for air freight transport should be watertight or equipped with water absorbent material.
Strength
The boxes should stand normal daily loads. They should, without showing permanent deformation, stand an equally shared load corresponding a 3 m high pile of boxes with 80% of the volume filled with fish, and in addition a load corresponding to the weight of the pile. They should also be able to withstand the impact of being drapped from a height of 3 m.
The load on the wall must not exceed 2 kg/cm².
General
Within the world's fisheries there are great differences in vessel standards and sizes, fish species, methods of fish handling, etc. This means that a fish box will have to meet many different requirements so as to be suitable for use in different parts of the world.
There are several types of boxes/containers that are used in the fishing industry, although only a few of these are designed and suitable for such use. Problems are encountered with the type of material, strength and construction/design.
The design of returnable and non-returnable fish boxes is in most cases fairly similar. The difference is mostly found in type of material and method of construction (strength).
In the following some types of returnable boxes are described. The size and design characteristics apply mostly to boxes used in parts of the world with a relatively high technological level.
Wooden boxes
A selection of wooden boxes is shown in Table 6.
In developed countries labour costs for these types of wooden boxes are relatively high while the price will be quite favourable in most developing countries.
Box A | is normally used for cod and fillets of haddock |
Box B | is used for small fish species like herring |
Box C | is used for fish of less than 5 kg like cod or haddock |
Box D | is the wooden box type that usually has been used to store whole fish on board fishing vessels and in production plants. The boxes have normally a solid construction (better than boxes A-C). The hygiene requirements imply that this type of box is usually painted |
Box E | is used for bigger fish (20-30 kg), e. g., halibut and tuna |
Aluminium alloy boxes
A selection of boxes is shown in Table 7.
These boxes are supplied in different shapes and sizes, and they are classified as returnable due to high price and durability.
Box A and B | are suitable for internal use in processing plants when storing fish fillets and small fish |
Box C | is considered a suitable freezing mould and is normally used when freezing fish and fish products |
Box D | is suitable for use internally in factories to store fish and fish products. The facility nesting reduces storage space needed for empty boxes; |
Box E | is used for the similar purposes to box type D |
Boxes of polyethylene (plastic boxes)
A selection of boxes is shown in Table 8. The boxes can be ordered in several shapes and sizes and are made of HD-polyethylene (High Density polyethylene).
These boxes are classified as returnable due to high price and durability.
Box A | is used internally in plants to store fish fillets and small fish |
Box B | has similar uses to A and is sometimes used on fishing boats. The box is made of HD-polyethylene and can also be used for freezing fish and fish products. The design makes the boxes easy to nest when empty and stack when full; |
Box C | has the same use as type D in aluminium. and it has also the same design. The box can be delivered with perforated bottom. |
Box D and E | have the same use as wooden boxes type D and aluminium alloy boxes type E |
Table 6 Loading data on wooden fish boxes
Fish boxes made in wood
Returnable and non-returnable
Type |
Dimensions (mm) |
Volume |
Tara weight |
Capacity ice and fish |
Approx. price |
S= |
Number of boxes |
Fish weight per m³ |
A |
External: 510 x 420x 191 |
33 |
6.5 |
16 kg |
4.2 |
S |
24 |
384 kg |
B |
External: 824 x 500x 200 |
63 |
8.0 |
30 kg |
5.3 |
S |
12 |
360 kg |
C |
External: 840 x 510 x 248 |
85 |
11.0 |
39 kg |
6.2 |
S |
9 |
351 kg |
D |
External: 840 x 510 x 335 |
117 |
12.4 |
56 kg |
7.4 |
S |
7 |
392 kg |
E |
External: 1 115 x 638x 448 Internal: 1 065 x 600 x 410 |
262 |
21.5 |
125 kg |
12.5 |
S |
3 |
375 kg |
Examples on wooden box constructions
Type B: For small fish (herring)
Type C: Export box
Type D: transport box
Table 7 Loading data on aluminium fish boxes
Type |
Dimensions (mm) |
Volume |
Tara weight |
Capacity ice and fish |
Approx. price |
S= Stacking |
Number of boxes |
Fish weight per m³ |
A |
475 x 302 x 145 Material thickn. 1.7 mm |
17 |
1.5 |
7 kg |
5.5 |
S |
48 |
336 kg |
B |
594 x 394 x 110 Material thickn. 1.2 mm |
25.7 |
1.4 |
12 kg |
7.0 |
S |
38 |
456 kg |
C |
770 x 470 x 152 Material thickn. 2.0 mm |
43 |
3.8 |
20 kg |
19.3 |
N |
Filled 16 |
320 kg |
D |
673 x 598 x 162 Material thickn. 2.0 mm |
43 |
3.5 |
20 kg |
19.0 |
N |
Filled 14 |
280 kg |
E |
820 x 500 x 201 Material thickn.1.75/2.0 mm |
69 |
4.9 |
33 kg |
25.5 |
S |
12 |
396 kg |
Table 8 Loading data on polyethylene fish boxes
Fish boxes made of HD-Polyethylene
Returnable
Type |
Dimensions (mm) |
Volume |
Tara weight (kg) |
Capacity ice and fish |
Approx. priceUS$ |
S= Stacking |
Number of boxes |
Fish weight per m³ |
A |
600 x 400 x 147 |
26 |
1.5 |
12 kg |
5.5 |
S |
28 |
336 kg |
B |
600 x 400 x 125 |
22 |
1.3 |
10 kg |
5.5 |
N |
Filled 33 |
330 kg |
C |
610 x 650 x 155 |
42 |
3.0 |
20 kg |
12.4 |
N |
Filled 14 |
280 kg |
D |
844 x 514 x 190 |
70 |
5.0 |
33 kg |
15.2 |
S |
12 |
396 kg |
E |
844 x 514 x 260 |
90 |
5.8 |
43 kg |
18.0 |
S |
8 |
344 kg |
General
Non-returnable boxes are usually made from massive fibre board or styropor but may also be made from thin wood. Wooden boxes are not so widely used in industrialized countries due to the high cost level.
In developing countries wooden boxes will, in many cases, be most convenient to use and the cheapest alternative. The limitation will mainly be that wooden boxes are not waterproof and therefore unsuitable for air transport of fish without waterproof lining.
Boxes of fibre board and styropor are used to dispatch fish to wholesale and retail markets. These boxes are also the most commonly used when dispatching fish by air. The volume/weight designed to allow handling by one person, i.e., up to approx. 25 kg.
Some examples of practical uses of fibre board and styropor boxes for fish products follow.
Fibre board boxes
This box is delivered from the factory in 'knack down' form and erected prior to use by folding, stapling, stitching and glueing as required.
Fibre board boxes to be dispatched by air (Airenabox)
When air freighting fresh iced seafoods the main concerns are quality, safety and economy.
Two systems which satisfy the requirements of Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) and other airlines will now be described.
The Airenabox is made of a special type solid fibre board with a very high water resistance because both surfaces are polyethylene lined.
The box has a telescopic design, and is water tight, even when turned upside down.
The instructions for assembly and use (stitching, taping and marking) must be followed closely as to get the box to function satisfactorily.
Table 9 Dimensions of Airenabox fibre board boxes
Standard sizes and prices:
Internal dimensions:
Airenabox No |
L x W x H (mm) |
Volume (litres) |
4415 |
385 x 385 x 150 |
22 |
6415 |
585 x 385 x 150 |
34 |
6422 a/ |
585 x 385 x 220 |
56 |
8323 b/ |
785 x 385 x 220 |
66 |
8323 |
isolated with foam lining |
60 |
8425 c/ |
802 x 402 x 185 |
60 |
a/ No. 6422 is especially designed for lobster
b/ No. 8323 is especially designed for salmon
c/ No. 8425 is designed especially to fit into a standard
expanded polystyrene box
Standard dimensions L= 600, W= 400, H= 155. (500 lid per pallet - 500 boxes per pallet)
Figure 6 Fibre board boxes in telescopic design
Figure 7 Stitching machine
Figure 8 fibre board box
Table 10 Prices of non-returnable boxes (approx.)
Type of box | Volume |
US$ |
Fibre board box for fresh iced fish | 38.5 litres |
1.95 |
Fibre board box for salted fish/fillet | 38.5 litres |
1.70 |
Expanded polystyrene boxes (styrophor)
Boxes made of styrophor must be regarded as unsuitable for rough treatment and handling and are difficult to clean for re-use.
Because of good insulation qualities the box is suitable for transport of fresh iced fish as well as frozen products. When dispatched by car, ship or railway the box is used as it is, with the lid taped to the box. When dispatched by air sometimes the box is enclosed in a fibre board box (see Figure 9). The standard box has dimensions L= 100, W= 400, H= 18 (mm) and will take 20 kg of fish and 10 kg of ice.
The above mentioned standard box costs with cover approximately US$ 1.85.
Figure 9 Fibre box for air transport
This packing system is well suited for fresh as well as frozen products.
Figure 10 Expanded polystyrene box for air transport
Figure 11 Expanded polystyrene box
Figure 12 Examples of stacking on pallets