Hoffmann Air Cargo Equipment (ACE) GmbH, a Friedberg based, German manufacturer of air cargo pallet nets, together with ultra strong polyethylene fiber producer DSM Dyneema, have developed a new, third generation lightweight air cargo net that is one of the first worldwide to achieve a total weight of below 8 kilograms (kg).
Ultra high strength Dyneema fiber is the critical enabling component that achieves these weight savings by replacing polyester fiber. Traditional cargo nets made with polyester typically weigh between 15-18 kg. Thanks to the high strength and low weight of Dyneema fiber, more than 50% weight reduction can be achieved with no loss in safety or performance. Furthermore, Dyneema fiber’s chemical, UV and high abrasion resistance, plus its long term durability help extend the life time of the cargo nets significantly, resulting in overall lower costs and reduced environmental impact.
The reduced weight of nets made with Dyneema can help cut aviation fuel consumption by up to 700 kg per year for each net in use. This translates to a six-fold saving in greenhouse gases from being released, equal to 4.2 tons of CO2, nitrous gases and other harmful emissions. For a typical mid-size cargo airline operating 5,000 nets, this could cut total annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20,000 tons.
Hoffmann ACE already has first and second generation air cargo nets made with Dyneema in regular airline flight service which hold the current world record for the lightest commercial air cargo nets. The development of a new patented light weight metal hook, custom-designed to work only with nets made with Dyneema will allow further weight savings, bringing total weight below 8 kg.
Source: plastics.2456.com
