PACKAGING FOR TRANSPORT

 

Parcel shipping is booming in USA: In recent years, shipments packed in shipping boxes have risen continuously. Around 3.5 billion parcels were sent in 2018 alone.

The main reasons for the growing number of parcels are the flourishing B2C and B2B online trade and the associated returns. But online marketplaces such as eBay and the increasing number of parcel stations also play a major role in this. With commercial shipping, the parcels, from a certain number, are picked up directly by the logistics service provider in the company. There they usually have to be provided on pallets or in parcel trolleys.

Since a lot can go wrong with parcel shipping, this guide from Labelprint24 would like to show you what you should pay attention to when packing and shipping goods shipments and thus pack your goods safely for transport. Our packaging experts give you interesting tips on how you can still optimize your shipping packaging because we want your business package to reach your customers safely and safely.

SM Custom Packaging offer custom packaging boxes for exterior and interior packaging.

1. WHICH PACKAGING IS THE RIGHT ONE?

The most important task of the packaging is to protect the packaged goods contained therein against pressure, impacts, vibrations, weather conditions, and other external factors during transport. To find the most suitable, "right" packaging, it is necessary to always orientate yourself towards the goods to be shipped. After all, it makes a huge difference whether it is a solid book, delicate medical device, or a breakable glass vase. The weight and dimensions of the packaged goods also play an important role when choosing the shipping box. It all depends on the interaction.

Basically: To optimally protect the packaged goods on their way through the many stations to the recipient, the outer and inner packaging and a transport-safe closure must be perfectly coordinated. But a firmly adhering shipping label is also part of the packaging.

Note: Good shipping packaging offers as much protection as necessary with as little packaging waste as possible.

Discover our corrugated cardboard packaging now

Shipping boxes that are too large only unnecessarily increases packaging costs, and postage becomes more expensive. Excess or crumpled paper and newspaper filler does not look professional. In addition, it annoys the recipient if he has to dispose of a lot of packaging waste.

More than a protective cover

In the business sector, packaging not only has a protective function. Printed shipping boxes are also a great marketing tool. In e-commerce, in particular, attractively printed shipping boxes round off the customer's shopping experience.

The print motif is particularly effective on a white laminated surface. As the name suggests, packaging made of laminated corrugation is made of corrugated cardboard. However, the top layer, the liner, is not made of gray-brown liner paper but high-quality GD2 cardboard. The GD2 is a chromo duplex cardboard made of recycled materials, which can be printed with an attractive, colorful motif.

2. CHECKLIST: TOP 10 MOST COMMON PACKAGING ERRORS

Improper packaging is associated with great risks for the sender. The valuable goods in the package can be manipulated during transport or, in the worst case, be damaged up to a total loss. The transport to the customer is extended, and the logistics service provider may reject any claim for damages. But the same mistakes are made again and again:

·         A shipping box that is too large with much free space around the packaged goods

·         The cardboard material is not stable enough

·         Use of a damaged or already used cardboard box

·         A cheap, unreinforced sealing material

·         The shipping label does not adhere firmly or is difficult to read

·         6. the shipping carton is not protected against moisture

·         in severe packaged goods is an additional strapping omitted

·         corners and edges are not sufficiently reinforced

·         lack of a stable carton around the primary packaging around

·         To 10. fragile packaged goods wrapped not individually - the danger of glass breakage

3. THE CORRECT OUTER PACKAGING

The sufficiently stable outer packaging is crucial for sending parcels. The carton quality should match the weight, size, and sensitivity of the goods to be shipped. The more pressure- and shock-sensitive, heavier, and larger your goods are, the more stable the outer packaging must be. We, therefore, particularly recommend sturdy cardboard boxes made of corrugated cardboard. Particularly sensitive and heavy items to be shipped, such as household appliances or sporting goods are most safely shipped in shipping boxes made of multi-walled corrugated cardboard.

To cushion the forces acting on it effectively, the cardboard box should neither be used nor damaged. With the size of the outer packaging, make sure that the goods to be shipped still have room for additional padding. If in doubt, you should choose the outer packaging one size larger.

4. THE APPROPRIATE INNER PACKAGING

The packaged goods must be adequately padded inside the shipping box. The inner packaging is also very important because it holds your goods in place during transport, cushions mechanical loads, and protects them from falling and crushing. If the package accidentally falls off the conveyor belt or the pallet, it acts as a buffer.

The inner packaging also prevents direct contact between several shipping goods or with the outer packaging. The upholstery must be correspondingly thick. Packaging several products in one package, such as wine bottles, should also contain separating elements so that the contents are well secured against slipping.

Molded cushions that are precisely tailored to the products are ideal for this purpose. However, multi-layer wraps made of bubble wrap, corrugated cardboard, air chamber bags, or machine-crumpled Kraft paper can also be used.

Loose filling materials such as packaging chips made of paper or plastic are also good for additional padding. However, good compression must be ensured so that the content is sufficiently securely fixed. However, the recipients are rather annoyed when the packaging chips trickle towards them while unpacking and are distributed on the floor.

5. THE SAFE LOCK

A secure closure is at least as important as the outer box. The clasp has several functions. It ensures the stability of the outer packaging, prevents the package from being opened during transport, and serves the recipient as proof of its intactness.

The heavier a package, the more resistant the closure must be. In practice, tear-resistant plastic tapes and thread-reinforced paper tapes have proven their worth. The width should be at least 50mm. The sealing tape should extend beyond the edges, ideally once around the box. In addition, packages over 20 kg should be strapped with plastic or metal straps. When strapping, the tension of the straps must fit. The straps must not stick out, but neither should they cut into the shipping box. To prevent this from happening, corner protectors and edge protection strips made of sturdy solid cardboard can be used.

6. SHIPPING LABELS SECURE ADHESION COMBINED WITH GOOD LEGIBILITY

Shipping labels, address labels, and parcel labels with barcode strips ensure that every shipment reaches the right recipient. The encrypted information of the barcode or barcode must be easy to read. Otherwise, the recipient cannot be read out correctly. In the best-case scenario, the package comes back to the sender or disappears, never to be seen again.

The key to the optimal shipping label is the right combination of label material and adhesive. The labeling of cardboard boxes, plastic containers, and pallets in the logistics area requires tear resistant materials that do not dissolve into their parts if they are worn or damp. The barcode and the address must be printed on the material with high contrast and sharpness.

Shipping labels need to adhere firmly to various environmental conditions. These conditions include different cardboard materials, the surface properties of the package, and cool, damp, or dusty ambient conditions during packaging and transport.

You are on the safe side with the self adhesive cardboard labels from lp24. We produce shipping labels as blank labels or pre-printed logos, which adhere securely to all surfaces. Hazardous goods labels and warning signs made of seawater-proof materials are also part of our range.

Attach the shipping labels to the box so that they are visible. When collecting the goods, the driver must be able to scan the shipping label easily.

7 CORRUGATED CARDBOARD

Corrugated cardboard is a light and stable construction made of several layers of paper and a hollow air volume. It is created by gluing together at least one smooth and one corrugated paper web. In cardboard manufacture, up to nine paper webs are used to produce corrugated cardboard.

Many different types of corrugated cardboard and corrugated cardboard packaging are produced depending on the requirements and area of ​​application.

Which corrugated cardboard is best suited for the particular item to be shipped depends on what you want to ship. The heavier or more sensitive the goods are, the more stable the corrugated cardboard box should be. For shipping light goods, cardboard boxes made of one or two wall corrugated cardboard are often sufficient. Single-wall corrugated cardboard consists of a layer of corrugated paper, which is glued on both sides with smooth paper or cardboard.

8. CHECKLIST 10 IMPORTANT PACKAGING TIPS

Improper packaging can cause your goods to be damaged, so it is important to keep the following checklist of our packaging tips in mind:

1. Smallest possible packaging

Size Select the smallest possible packaging size for the goods to be shipped. Make sure that there is still enough space to upholster the goods.

2. Heavy

Items on the bottom, light items on the top, sensitive items on the inside. Heavy items should be packed in the lower area of ​​the parcel, lighter items on the top.

3. Pack compactly without cavities

Cavities easily lead to indented packaging. Therefore, the goods should be packed tightly but not squashed.

4. Avoid contact

Sensitive goods made of glass or plastic should not contact one another or with the outer packaging. Cushioning materials such as bubble wrap or air chamber bags help mechanical cushion loads.

5. Separate the identical packaging of a product range should be spatially separated from one another in the cardboard box.

6. Upholstery: soft for light, hard for heavy.

Soft materials such as bubble wrap are suitable for upholstering light goods, while harder upholstery, e.g., B. Kraft paper, can be used. Products that are at risk of breakage, such as glass, must be padded all around.

7. Upright prefers

Due to their construction, products designed for vertical transport, e.g., B. bottles or tetra packs, must be placed upright in the cardboard box.

8. Prevent

Leakage Seal products at risk of leakage in a bag to prevent leakage in the package.

9. Cushion

Corners and edges Corners and edges are the most stressed during transport. Therefore, it makes sense to pad them additionally.

10. Sealing packages securely in cardboard boxes weighing up to 10 kg, the slots on the bottom and topsides should be glued at least once. If the weight is higher, the box is also glued crosswise.

9. CORRECT HANDLING OF DAMAGED PACKAGES

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for packages to reach the recipient damaged or almost destroyed. Damage can easily happen during transport if the sender does not pack the parcel correctly and securely. So Damage cannot be ruled out, but who is liable for it?

Of course, the logistics company cannot be expected to bring goods that are badly packaged to their destination safely under guarantee. Therefore, he can exclude liability due to inadequate packaging by the sender.

If goods have been sent between two commercial customers, the general terms and conditions of the sender apply. In addition, the recipient must report any transport damage to the seller immediately. When a private individual has bought a movable item from a professional online retailer or another entrepreneur, a consumer goods purchase occurs. This means that the transport risk remains with the entrepreneur.

This is how you should proceed:

1. If you recognize the transport damage upon delivery, you should refuse acceptance. It is important that you state that you did not accept the package because it was damaged externally.

2. Often, everything is fine from the outside, but the contents of the package have broken. In this case, you should take a photo of the damaged content, fill out a damage form and contact the sender.

3. Liability in the event of Damage or loss is usually limited by the general terms and conditions of the parcel services. It is usually between 500 and 750 euros per package. If you take out additional transport insurance with the parcel service, you can increase the amount.

4. If the package does not arrive, the recipient must report the Damage to the parcel service within seven days and submit an inquiry. A shipment is considered lost if it has not been delivered within 20 days of posting, and its whereabouts cannot be determined. If the goods come from a commercial mail-order company, he is obliged to reimburse the purchase price.

Under no circumstances should you use the damaged shipping box to send goods back in it. Torn, dented, or holey cardboard boxes belong in the paper waste. After collection, they are recycled and serve as an important raw material for new, safe shipping boxes, which you can then use without hesitation.

SM Custom Packaging offers the best quality custom burger boxes packaging with the best Burger Packaging plans and thoughts.