Exemplary embodiments of a composite pallet with augmented compression support may comprise a pallet pulp body, a multiplicity of support foot sheathes, and a support bottom plate. The pallet pulp body may be comprised of pulp and may have an upper faceplate and a plurality of support feet disposed oppositely of the upper faceplate. A foot cavity may be defined within each support foot. Each of the support foot sheaths may envelope at least a portion of a corresponding support foot. The support bottom plate may be affixed to two or more of the support foot sheaths. A plurality of arcuate stiffener grooves may be disposed in the upper faceplate. One or more of the foot cavities may have a compression column disposed therein. Each compression column may comprise one or more column layers, a compression column block, or a combination thereof. The column layers may be nested.

Thermally insulated shipping system for use in transporting a pallet-sized payload. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of thermally insulating walls arranged to define an interior volume suitable for receiving a pallet-sized payload. The thermally insulating walls include a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a left wall, and a right wall, of which all but the bottom wall include at least two slots facing towards the interior volume. One of the slots is an inner slot that is more proximal to the interior volume, and one of the slots is an outer slot that is more distal to the interior volume. The system also includes a plurality of inner cassettes disposed in at least some of the inner slots and a plurality of outer cassettes disposed in at least some of the outer slots. The inner and outer cassettes include phase-change materials.

A manufacturing assembly line for producing an article including a first spray coating station for applying a plastic spray coating to an existing wooden pallet, a second grinding or pulverizing station for reducing the coated article into finely ground particles of a uniform dimension, and a third heating station for converting the mixture into a molten or flowable state. The assembly line further includes a fourth extruder station for forcing the mixture at pressure through an extruder die aperture of a selected cross sectional configured extruder, and so that the mixture is reformed as an elongated article and a fifth cutting station for sectioning the extruded article into selected lengths for subsequent attachment or securernent into a desired configuration.

A packaging system for a temperature sensitive payload is provided. The system includes side panels and end panels forming a product compartment. Cooling layers within the product compartment are located below and above the products. Channel members located between the side panels and the payload and between the end panels and the payload create vertical channels having rectangular cross sectional areas for convective air movement.

The present invention provides a top frame made from a thermoset foam material. The top frame includes a pair of substantially parallel sides and a pair of substantially parallel ends connected to the sides to form a generally rectangular frame structure. The frame structure has an inner layer and outer surface defining a thickness. The thermoset foam material varies in density along the frame structure thickness such that the density of the thermoset foam material is greatest near the frame structure outer surface to form a hard outer shell.

A structural element (10) for forming a panel, with an upper plane (12) and lower plane (14) which are parallel and deformed along their plane at intervals by pods (16) which extrude toward the opposing plane with their internal faces mating to one another.

A bulk material shipping container in one embodiment including a pallet, a bottom compartment mounted on the pallet, a top compartment mounted on the bottom compartment and movable from a retracted position relative to the bottom compartment to an expanded position relative to the bottom compartment, a plurality of top compartment supporting assemblies configured to support the top compartment in the expanded position relative to the bottom compartment, and configured to release the top compartment from the expanded position to enable the top compartment to move downwardly into the retracted position, a material unloading assembly, a material loading assembly, and an extension assembly.

A packaging system for a temperature sensitive payload is provided. The system includes insulative side panels and end panels forming a product compartment. Cooling layers within the product compartment are located below and above the payload. Channel members disposed between the side panels and the payload and between the end panels and the payload create vertical channels for convective air movement.

A bulk bin has a perimeter wall and first and second floor panels hingedly joined to the perimeter wall. Each floor panel is selectively foldable from a stowed position to a deployed position. In some embodiments, the first floor panel has a first tab and a first hole and the second floor panel has a second tab and a second hole. The first tab is configured for being selectively received in the second hole for interlocking engagement with the second floor panel, and the second tab is configured for being selectively received in the first hole for interlocking engagement with the first floor panel to secure the first and second floor panels in the deployed position. In certain embodiments, the perimeter wall includes multiple wall portions foldably joined together. At least two of the wall portions are joined at a fold joint of at least three spaced apart vertical creases.

In one embodiment, a pallet comprises a top deck comprising a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the substrate comprises a first plastic material; and a layer disposed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the layer comprises a composition comprising reinforcing fibers, polyimide fibers, and polymeric binder fibers, wherein the polymeric binder fibers have a melting point that is lower than the polyimide fibers; a bottom deck; and supporting columns disposed between the second surface and the bottom deck.