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Uwe Koch from Smox – Smart Logistics:

"Our system can save significant costs for storage and transport"

With SMOX®, the smart box, Uwe Koch from the start-up SMOX – Smart Logistics in Ahrensburg is presenting an innovation for the reusable packaging market. The stackable, sturdy, and patented transport and storage box is currently attracting a great deal of interest at international trade fairs. It is still in the prototype stage, but Koch's goal is clear: to launch the new container solution throughout Europe and, in the long term, worldwide.

© smox
SMOX for fruit and vegetables

Easy handling
A key feature of SMOX is its ease of handling. Unlike any folding or collapsible box, SMOX does not need to be laboriously folded up and is also less susceptible to damage. To save space, the empty containers are simply turned "upside down". "Unlike the stackable containers already on the market, with SMOX, you don't have to pay attention to the orientation, i.e., whether they are turned to the left or right. This prevents product damage, which often occurs with stackable containers."
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The SMOX can be made from various types of plastic, including recycled material. "It depends on the intended use," says Koch. For unpackaged food, the use of recycled plastics should be viewed critically due to possible residues of harmful substances. In other areas of application, such as packaged goods, however, their use is perfectly acceptable.

Right: SMOX in stacked and space-saving nested position

Logistical advantage
Another strong argument in favor of SMOX is the logistical savings that can be achieved through the optimized stacking system and space-saving storage and transport of empty containers. Koch explains: "With my systems, up to three out of four empty container transports can be eliminated. This represents an enormous economic advantage, regardless of whether the transport is national or international. In addition, considerable costs can be saved in the delivery of goods to stores and the associated return of empty containers. Depending on the application, savings of up to 40 per cent are possible."

The standardized dimensions (Euronorm) enable optimal integration into existing logistics chains and automated conveyor technology.

The project is currently in the pre-series phase. Koch explains: "I am currently in talks with potential partners with whom I can go into series production and distribute the box throughout Europe, and possibly even worldwide." A European patent has been granted for SMOX, and patents are pending in other countries.

© smoxSimply turn it around and save space – patented SMOX® container

"The patented design of the stackable and nestable SMOX containers drastically reduces the space required for empty containers in trucks and storage rooms. In concrete terms, this means that companies only need about a quarter of the space they would normally need for conventional rigid containers to store empty containers. A practical example: Instead of 500 m2 for storing empty containers, only 150 m2 is now required – a space-saving of 70 per cent. The storage space that is freed up can be better used for production or other processes, which further increases overall efficiency," says Koch.

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The SMOX stand at Fruit Logistica 2025

SMOX pays for itself in a short amortization period
According to Koch, an investment in SMOX containers generally pays for itself in less than two years. "Depending on the size of the company and the individual operating conditions, a company can save several hundred thousand euros annually by reducing transport," explains the professor of logistics. "Using SMOX can reduce storage, transport, handling, and CO₂ emissions costs by between 10 and 20 per cent in the long term." However, according to the expert, companies need to know their logistics costs to realize these permanent savings. "That is the key to success."

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A look into the future
Where does Uwe Koch see himself in five years? "Definitely in the food industry, in the fruit and vegetable sector, in bakeries – and preferably throughout Europe and beyond," he concludes. With patents in Asia and America, among other places, he has his sights set on international expansion.

For more information:
Prof. Dr. Uwe Koch
SMOX - Smart Logistics
Amselweg 7B
22926 Ahrensburg
Phone: +49 4102 8910987
info@smox.de
www.smox.de