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Important Dates
The 2009 International Plastics Design Competition has ended. Thank you to all entrants and voters.
Co-Located At
2009 SPONSORS
Target All Plastic Shopping Cart |
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Molder: Bemis Manufacturing Company |
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Product Description
Designed to be light in weight yet strong enough to hold 500 pounds. Materials used include polycarbonate, HDPE, glass filled nylon, and PC/PBT. The cart utilizes snap fit construction, gas assist, and in-mold decorating. Component parts to the cart are assembled incrementally with the assist of robotics until the reach they final molding step where final assembly is completed. Tooling was designed to aid in the logical incremental subassembly of components so that final assembly takes no longer than the final component machine cycle. The shopping carts are built per Target requirements and drop shipped to individual stores direct from manufacture as they transition from the old style metal carts to the new ones. A unique custom designed rail system was developed internally to take advantage of the shipping trailer's height and footprint to minimize shipping costs. Having no interfering metal components allows the contents of the cart to be universally scanned from any direction. Target retained the industrial design firm, Design Continuum in Boston, to develop the design to be an exclusive shopping cart designed specifically for the retailer. The Target cart was featured on the cover of Fortune magazine in the April 7, 2008 edition.
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Why is the product innovative?
Target deserves a significant amount of credit for deviating from the retail industry's historical practice of purchasing shopping carts designed and built by shopping cart manufacturers. Certainly, by coming to a custom injection molder for a finshed product they created a challenge both for themselves and the molder. Yet to the advantage of both. Target has a cart with the appearance, functionality and durability they envisioned. The molder ventured out of its comfort zone as well by creating and delivering a complex fully completed ready-to-use product. The uniqueness of this is reflected in the entry categories available to enter this competition. The cart has significant advantages over others available in the market. The all plastic design not only provides aesthetic value in custom design and color, but it also provides better impact-forgiveness, long-term appearance; and handling. By eliminating paint and chrome plating as well as improving end of life recycling, the cart eases the effect on the environmnent. These advantages are obtained without sacrifice to capacity or weight specifications. The custom packaging and direct ship to user process minimizes excess handling and maximizes the use of fuel. The cart design virtually eliminated sharp edges - providng a safer and durable child seat - and it is significantly less likely to damage in-store facilities and other components such as racking, checkout areas, shelving units, and merchandise. The cart is easier to turn, has better caster design, and is lighter weight than other carts on the market. The features and benefits of the Target cart assist in the goal of making the consumer's shopping experience more pleasureable at Target.
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