Flame retardants are chemicals, which are added to combustible materials to render them more resistant to ignition. They are designed to abate the risk of a fire in case of contact with small heat sources, such as cigarette, candle, or an electrical fault. If the flame retarded material or nearby material is ignited, the flame retardant may retard the combustion and often prevent the fire from spreading to the nearby environment.  There are a wide range of different chemicals, which are used as flame retardants in combinations with polymers. Fire retardant products are necessary, because the materials and products, which are to be rendered fire proof, are very different in nature and composition. The plastics and polymers are needed to be matched to the appropriate flame retardants, in order to retain the key material functionalities. Flame retardants are necessary to ensure the fire safety of a wide range of materials, including plastics, foam and fiber insulation materials, foams in furniture, mattresses, wood products, and natural and man-made textiles.

With the rapid growth in stock-keeping units (SKUs), wholesalers and distributors are finding it hard to make informed decisions about their operations. This drives the need for the smarter use of labor, equipment, and technology. The main factors driving the need for automated material-handling systems are cost savings, labor efficiency, and space constraints. In the current competitive landscape, there is an ever-increasing number of available products and demand for more frequent and smaller deliveries. Automating distribution operations can immediately increase an organization’s order accuracy, anywhere from half a percent up to several percentage points.