Smurfit Kappa takes to the skies with cardboard plane
Arnoud Dekker, project manager InnoTools, Smurfit Kappa Development Centre (DC) for R&D, designed the plane then turned it into a corrugated 3D model before building it.
‘Open the future’ initiative
The entire process was carried out from start to finish in-house and the final product was approximately 9metres long by 8metres wide, at a height of over 2metres and weight of around 160kg.
The plane was made entirely from paper, cardboard and glue – comprising of 70 m2 of paper, 240m2 of cardboard, and 25kg of glue. Once constructed, it was put to the test and successfully sent in to the air with a dummy on board weighing the same as a real person, 60kg, and achieved a height of over 25 metres and a distance of over 300 metres.
“When we were initially approached to take on this challenge we were a bit sceptical, but this quickly turned in to excitement,” said Dekker.
versatility and durability of corrugated board
“It was a great way for us to show the strength, versatility and durability of corrugated board, as well as the expertise and insight that goes in to creating any product, whether it’s a plane or a challenging packaging solution for one of our customers.”
Smurfit Kappa said the project is part of its ‘Open the future’ initiative focuses on customer growth through insight and innovation, reflecting the continued battle for brand owners to win that all-important First Moment of Truth, where shoppers choose one brand over another.
‘Open the future’ features a microsite, where a series of films demonstrate how customers across the world have worked in partnership with Smurfit Kappa to create innovative solutions which have driven commercial success.
