How Many Aerosol Cans Will Fit into the Bin?

To a first approximation, the most you could get 15 x 15 x 5 = 1125 cans in. This assumes a square array of cans, neatly arranged in 5 layers.

I think it would be safe to say that this is your worst case. You'd only need to look into it in more detail if the result from this is anywhere near the legal limit.

if the people stacked them with care = max number. Mostr likely they were tossed in helter skelter.

Did the pickup company give you a weight they took and charged for?

Here's a wonderful source of info on random packing densities. You can probably find the volumetric ratio you need buried in it:

http://projecteuclid.org/DPubS/Repository/1.0/Disseminate?view=body&id=pdf_1&handle=euclid.bsmsp/1200513624

Mark Bingham
Relativity PL
http://www.relati.com

I think the simplest estimation would be to get say an 11lt bin or a 100lt bin and fill it and count the cans. It would give the best indication of how many cans will stack into a space, given that they are thrown in randomly. This can then be used to calculate the can:bin volume ratio. Obviously a 100lt container will give you a more accurate sample than a smaller one. Use what you can find and what suits you best.

while it may be a massive task to assess your numbers from the procurement side, I believe that you will get more value to your business from doing so. That is the input. Knowing what you throw away is also good to know. The difference, if you subtract waste, is what you are actually using.

Starting initiatives to know all 3 will help you design strategies to reduce consunmption, and therefore cost, and also to reduce waste and therefore cost. Are you worried that you can not add value to your customer by reducing waste, consumption, or 'invisible cost' to the environment??

I would suggest that you can easily justify the cost of finding out. Leadership pays well, if you know how to capitalize on it. Do not be afraid to do the difficult, as it will help avoid the impossible.

Chris

A fairly simple method will be to use the volume of a can into the volume of the bin. If you add 0.05 liter to the 0.7 (for the cap/nozzle area) you have 0.75into 1100liter. Thus 1100 divided by 0.75 gives you 1466.7 or 1466 cans fitted into the bin volumetrically. Of course you may now add your assumptions for the spaces that may have been lost to haphazard tossing in. But if these were used cans, why assume a volume inside? ( unless of course they were faulty returns from customers, or production faults)

Just for completeness: this is what we're talking about: numbers are capacity, and (external) height (including wheels) by length by width.

dimensions are in mm. For not metric people a litre is a 100mm cube.

I'd guess at some internal dimensions until I got the volume to 1100 litres then use JohnDG's method.

I, for one don't understand your post for "completeness". The OP stated 1100 liter. I used 1100 liter as did others. No guessing required.

Although you say this will be a massive task on the procurement side, it is only that the first time that you do it.

Subsequent times it will be a relatively painless job. My advice is is to definatly to take the pain this time and afterwards have a much easier job.

With modern computer systems you should be able to get all the information out and then collate it in a spreadsheet. Its the best and most accurate way to do it!

I just did a quick search and found the number .81 * (container volume / cylinder volume) seemed to be a constant for the packing fraction of cylinders.

Maybe you could count the cans in a smaller container to come up with a packing fraction number that will be applicable to your cylinder sizes.

Seeing this time of year there are a lot of county fairs going on around here, this is a timely subject. No jelly bean jar contest is safe now. Wah ha ha ha

From a more practical standpoint, why would a company need so many aerosols?

Are they all the same product?

Can you consolidate?

It's only about 3 cans a day: so it probably wouldn't be worth while trying to make any logistical changes. Still, I wouldn't have marked your post as off topic: somebody else has, I wonder why?

this is a very insightful comment. I don't know who marked this (and randall's OT) but it is disturbing that thoughtful experienced people are being marked OT, while the culprit is not explaining their thoughts.

If a company is using thousands of aerosol paint containers per year, then perhaps a paintbooth and pneumatic or electrostatic paint gun is justified, and then there will certainly be less CFC's going to the waste bin. Every painting technique that can be done with a can can be done with an airbrush or gun.

If the aerosols are not paint, but are WD40 or some other product, it is still a justified approach to consider alternatives, in an attempt to reduce cost or waste. Try asking for systematic help here on cr4. There are dozens of people with decades of experience in service and manufacturing, that may provide ways & means.

chris