The definition of dangerous goods
Substances, objects and products that, in some way, pose a threat to the external environment, personal health or safety. Would you have thought that things seemingly as harmless as … nail polish remover, dry ice, cell phone with lithium batteries or aerosol whipped cream are all considered as dangerous goods? It is important to know which hazard class does our product to be shipped belong to (for example, toxic, infectious, flammable substances) … Depending on this, it will be possible to determine what type of transport, packaging and labelling will be required.
Essential requirements for packaging
The appropriate packaging of dangerous goods therefore depends primarily on the hazard class and the physical properties of the product. Take a simple example: as corrosive substances react strongly with metal, such packaging should be avoided! There are so-called packaging groups, which puts the products in very, medium or less dangerous categories – it also determines the nature of the packaging and the mandatory information to be included!
Whether it is rail, road or air transport, compliance with the rules and caution should be exercised. The protective packaging, inner packaging must also meet strict requirements, and should not react to the goods to be transported! The packaging must be sealed in such a way that the consignment can’t get out to the cargo space, or worse, to the external environment.
Packaging suitable for the transport of dangerous goods
Depending on the vehicle, the Transport of Dangerous Goods can be in simple (for example, wooden boxes, bags, barrels and cans) or complex, combined packaging (box with lining, multiple cans in one box). What’s really important is that in any case, certified packaging should be used, i.e. those that have undergone the necessary tests, such as cumulation, dropping, sealing and resistance to pressure. These will be carried out by Technical Safety Oversight. If everything is in order, the packaging will receive the UN seal. In addition to the UN number, the packaging must bear the appropriate labels indicating the hazard class/packaging group or the nature of the hazard and the handling of the goods.
How can Strapa-Pack help you?
We’ve been preparing dangerous goods for transport for over 20 years. Two of our colleagues also have a valid IATA exam and they have not only completed initial training, but they renew their certificates ever two year, which guarantees that we will always support our clients with fresh, up-to-date expertise.
We have a wide range of UN qualified corrugated paper boxes, blank boxes and wooden boxes available to our customers. We provide for appropriate markings and labels, prepare, and attach the necessary documents.
The safe and sound Transport of Dangerous Goods with the help of Strapa-Pack!
The post Transport of Dangerous Goods: What kind of packaging material is the best to choose? first appeared on Strapa-Pack Packaging Ltd..]]>
These packaging solutions help to maintain the integrity of the product during the entire distribution cycle. In addition to the protection of goods, aspects such as cost-effectiveness and sustainable development have also become important.
The good news is that if you know your options, you will gain a significant advantage over your competitors.
In this article, we will show you the most popular solutions, and we will give you some simple tips on how to choose the best packaging.
This can also be useful: Top 5 packaging mistakes to avoid!
The importance of packaging in logistics
Damage to the goods almost always creates a negative impression on buyers, trading partners. Proper (transport) packaging ensures that your product arrives to the recipient in perfect condition, without loss of quality or depreciation.
In summary, packaging optimization plays a key role in increasing supply chain efficiency, controlling costs, and in the overall judgement of the company.
Types of protective packaging
Polystyrene foam packaging fill
The function of foam packaging is to protect the goods from shocks and external impacts. This super practical cushioning filling material prevents the product from moving inside the package, for example, in a cardboard box.
Foam packaging has different types:
- Packing peanuts/ foam popcorn come really useful when transporting irregular-shaped products and are perfect for packaging boxes of any shape.
- Another great alternative is the use of foam panels, which divide the box into smaller sections and compartments. This allows for the transportation of two different products within the same packaging, ensuring proper distribution.
Bubble wrap
Another great protective packaging option that the packaging industry offers is the bubble wrap, which is available in the form of a bags or film.
It is an extremely versatile material, but its application has been somewhat undermined in recent times due to the increased demand for environmentally friendly packaging.
In maritime transport, barrier foil and VCI and intercept films provide excellent protection against rust and corrosion.
Paper wrap
It is recycled/reusable and can therefore be considered as an absolutely sustainable option. In most cases, this type of packaging is not self-sealing, so the usage of adhesive tape is also required. Paper packaging is suitable for almost all product types.
Tips for choosing the right protective packaging
As you can see, fortunately, we have a lot to choose from. In order to decide which packaging will be the best for your product, you should consider the following aspects.
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You should consider the type of the product to be shipped
Ceramic, food products, textiles and sensitive machinery – some examples where it is particularly important that the protective packaging is extra safe.
Always select the right packaging in accordance with the specific characteristics of the goods! This helps to avoid situations such as over-wrapping or under-wrapping (be careful, both may result in unnecessary costs).
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Consider your route
Besides possible external impacts such as shocks and drops, for all modes of transport (road, air, sea, etc.) there are specific environmental hazards that the packaging must withstand.
In order to know exactly what risks your product will be exposed to on the selected route; you may also use “smart” tools, such as the shock recorder. Once installed in the transport vehicle, it records the characteristics of a particular road and the factors that threaten the package (vibrations, shocks, accelerations).
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It is important to meet safety standards
There are a number of test protocols and international standards related to protective packaging in order to ensure it is appropriate for its purpose. In any case, it is advisable to be familiar with the regulations governing the transportation of a given product and to apply the protocols.
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Test the design and check its performance
Optimisation is needed to achieve a balance between protection, sustainability and economic efficiency!
Always test the ability of the protective packaging to guarantee the safety of the product being shipped.
Perhaps you should redesign your packaging?
Contact us to find out how we can help you!
The post How to choose the right protective packaging? 4 Simple tips for making the best decision first appeared on Strapa-Pack Packaging Ltd..]]>Have you heard of them? If you haven’t, it’s high time you got to know our special packaging materials!
Indicators, i.e. transport control tools
We use different indicators, i.e. transport control tools to prevent damage to cargo, which can detect all shipping irregularities during the journey of the package. Our wide range of products allow us to offer our partners the best solution. Stockwatches, tiltwatches, humidity and temperature indicators significantly reduce the risk of shipping damage. Indicators make it possible to determine the place and time of the shipping damage and draw attention to careful and responsible handling of goods.
Special materials for container securing
Our Company undertakes to secure packages and goods in containers in a professional manner in order to avoid any shipping damage. For this, we use special techniques and tools such as fastening straps, wedging or the above mentioned dunnage bags. Our popular product, the inflatable dunnage bag, works very simply: it fills the gaps between the cargos and stabilises and supports the shipment. It provides maximum protection against shocks and jolts in case of all modes of transport.
Foils and films for a wide variety of packaging requirements
In the product range of Strapa-Pack you can find almost all types of foils and films: for example, traditional stretch film for hand and machine packaging, custom-sized PE film or laminated film (associated). Our intercept and fibre reinforced, and our VCI foils provide extra protection against corrosion during maritime transport. Air bubble films, antistatic air bubble films, shrink and foam films are also available for order. We also customize and process foil!
Vapour barriers in an environmentally friendly design (bentonite)
High humidity is a problem that is most likely to be encountered during maritime transport. Therefore, it is essential to use vapour barriers, since without them corrosion and precipitated salt can lead to an inoperable or unusable product or machine. The eco-friendly bentonite desiccant bags absorb moisture and provide high protection against external environmental impacts. They are essential for the transport of technical and industrial products.
Our company, Strapa-Pack Ltd. sells high-quality packaging materials made with modern technology. From our wide range, we will help you choose the products that will provide the most effective solution to your packaging problems.
Self-produced corrugated paper boxes, wooden crates, pallet foil and other extra tools…
Anything you might need!
The post Special packaging materials: Indicators, container securing products, foils and vapour barriers first appeared on Strapa-Pack Packaging Ltd..]]>Whatever the product is, there is no risk-free mode of transport. The safety of the goods to be transported and the environment is a primary objective in logistics. Packaging materials have evolved rapidly over the last few years and decades, so they can meet even the highest expectations. From this article you can be updated what options can foils offer to protect your shipment and which type of film is suitable for your purposes.
Industrial protective films: laminated film and barrier foil
Sea transport is a popular and cheap mode of transport, which requires special packaging solutions. Over a long transit period of up to 60 days, salty water and high humidity can lead to rust formation and that can easily damage the shipment. It is therefore essential to apply so-called dry, corrosion-protection packaging.
This means using vapour barriers such as silica gel or the totally environmentally friendly bentonite desiccant, and this is where using laminated films can also come useful. The oxygen and water vapour barrier capacity of the foil is outstanding, so you can be sure that your goods are safe. The industrial films that can be purchased in rolls are available indifferent versions in response to different needs: standard, fibre-reinforced or antistatic design, available in different thicknesses (microns).
Popular and cost-effective: Bubble-wrap
The product, which many simply refer to as pop-up foil, is the ideal solution for packaging fragile goods. The air-filled spheres provide perfect padding. The material is polyethylene, i.e. plastic, which is environmentally friendly due to its recyclability. It is highly flexible so they can be easily custom-welded into bags of different sizes.
The bubbles are of different sizes: The two-layer, small bubble film can be 40-75, and the large bubble version can be up to three layers and 170 microns thick.
Air-cushion films are generally available in natural colours. Pink is most often the antistatic version with ESD protection, which prevents electrical discharges when transporting electronic products
Polyethylene shrink film: the perfect solution for packaging large equipment
In most cases, machinery and equipment are of very high financial value, so special care must be taken to protect them. Polyethylene shrink film is a simple but effective packaging solution. When applied with the help of a so-called hot air gun, high temperatures cause the film to shrink, thus perfectly tightening and fitting it to the shape of the product.
It is a highly flexible and robust material with a very high tensile strength which is able to protect the shipment from dust, various impurities and weather conditions. Its thickness is determined in microns. It is also available in an antistatic, anti-slip and UV resistant design in various widths according to different needs.
Maximum corrosion protection: VCI and intercept technology
HIf you are worried about that your products might be destroyed by corrosion, you should choose VCI and intercept films. These modern packaging tools can effectively combat corrosion. By the evaporation of a special material, VCI forms an invisible protective layer onthe untreated metal surface, completely covering it, even in hard-to-reach locations. If the packaging is not opened, the protection can last for up to 2 years. The so-called intercept provides and even more modern technology: highly porous copper particles are permanently embedded in a plastic matrix and react with all corrosive gases and elements. The oiling of the product is no longer necessary in this case.
Strapa-Pack’s colorful selection on offer includes all types of films mentioned above! In addition, we offer our customers hand or machine packaging by stretch films as well as a wide range of shrink and foam films! We also customize and process films!
Choose the product that best matches your purposes and protect your cargo from corrosion and moisture. Do you have any questions? We are more than happy to help!
If you want to transport goods fast to a faraway country, the obvious choice is air transport. It is fast and safe and allows you – within the framework of combined transport – to deliver your shipment to Uzbekistan or even to Iceland. This is all well and good, but there is also a huge cost increasing factor to this form of transport that you must not forget. This disadvantage is none other than the strict weight limit, which can greatly increase the basic fee, which is relatively high anyway. So what kind of packaging should be used if we decide on air transport?
Strapa-Pack’s solution for air transport: wooden crate reconsidered
Traditional wooden boxes or crates are too heavy, and the paper packaging may not guarantee sufficient protection for your product. But don’t give up on fast and secure transportation, as we can provide you with a great solution! In response to the above- mentioned problems, Strapa-Pack has developed a new kind of packaging, especially recommended for air transport.
Combined packaging: all benefits combined in a single packaging
We have developed a kind of crate, which is a so-called combined packaging. You do not have to think of a complicated thing: it means that we have combined the most beneficial properties of the raw materials used. Corrugated cardboard is cheap, flexible and environmentally friendly and most importantly, thanks to its lightweight nature, it counteracts the large mass of the wooden crate. Needless to say that due to this quite robust savings can be achieved in the case of air transport. At the same time, it has a super- resistant feature due to the density of the wood, in which even a multi-ton high-value machine can be transported without injury. Moreover, with the help of this kind of packaging, you can safely stack and store your consignment. In conclusion, our lightweight crate is an economical and tough alternative, which is the best choice for air transport.
A packaging solution for everyone – powerful solution tailored to your specific needs
Heavy industrial equipment, sensitive technical equipment or even fragile, high-value works of art. In our combined packaging, practically any product, which is suitable for air transport, – other than dangerous goods – can be safely transported. Do you need a unique solution? No problem at all! The crate can be made in any size and design. You can also request it with legs, aiding stability and stacking, and with practical textile handles! Depending on the degree of protection you need, we can also make our packaging from 3 layers, 5 layers or 7 layers of corrugated cardboard.
If you want to save on your air transport costs, do not hesitate to contact us!
The lightweight crate is now on offer at Strapa-Pack!