Packaging to Protect Products
Packaging plays an essential part in protecting products whilst in transit and storage before reaching the end user. It is critical to ensure the right packaging is used to protect your products from vibration, shock, corrosion, and weather conditions during these transitions. Stable outer packaging such as wooden containers does not provide sufficient protection on its own, there are further actions that need to be taken to completely protect your packaged products. As a leading provider of intelligent and innovative bespoke packaging solutions, we have explained below the main ways products can incur damages whilst in transit and storage before being supplied to the end user and the types of packaging that can prevent these damages from occurring.
Shock and Vibration
No matter how your packaged products are being shipped, every mode of transport subjects the packages to some amount of vibration at various frequencies. Therefore, it is important that the design of the packaging prevents an increase in vibration beyond the product’s natural vibration frequency. A product’s natural vibration frequency is the rate at which vibrations and oscillations occur without the influence of any external forces. In order to avoid any damage occurring while the product is in transit, the products must be packaged using cushioning materials in order to absorb the shock of the external forces that are causing an increased vibration frequency.
Corrosion
Corrosion is a common occurrence for metal products that are being left in storage for a significant amount of time and are not properly protected. It is the chemical process that occurs when metal begins to combine with other elements in the air, such as oxygen, which can happen when products are not properly sealed in their packaging. Rust is the most common form of corrosion, typically resulting from metal that has been exposed to moisture. However, other elements in the air can also produce corrosion such as salts, organic acids and industrial emissions, as well as other external pressures such as machining processes and fingerprints.
Weather Conditions
Climatic stresses can act on packages throughout the entire duration of transit and storage. When packages are shipped across the world, they are transported through different climate zones with a range of different temperatures and levels of humidity, which can have a damaging effect on the packages and their contents. During transit and storage, it is possible for packaging containers to be exposed to higher relative humidity or to direct precipitation caused by a change in temperature. This leads to the formation of condensation on the packaged goods or on the walls of the containers. This causes the moisture content of the container to rise and result in a reduction in strength.
Choosing the Right Packaging
When sourcing packaging to protect your products during transit and storage, it is important to consider the size and shape of the product, the materials required to prevent damage and the requirements and expectations of the recipient. At Taylor Packaging we offer more than 5,000 high-quality packaging solutions designed to help you protect, pack, post and ship your products safely and securely.
Our portfolio includes a range of Cushioning and Protection products, which are designed to protect your packages from shock and vibration, and Vapour Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) products, which are designed to protect your packages from corrosion and climate stresses. We also provide a range of eco-friendly packaging products, ensuring your company meets and exceeds regulations when shipping to different parts of the world.
Cushioning and Protection
We supply a range of bespoke suspension and retention cushioning solutions designed to safely hold your product in the centre of your shipping container and keeps it securely in place, protecting it from shock and vibration. These products include Air Cushions, Loose Fill and Pack Tiger.
VCI
Our sister company Zerust UK, is a global leader in Vapour Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) technology and corrosion management, and we supply a range of its VCI solutions including Valeno Films, Abrigo Papers and Diffusers. VCI technology works by covering the surface of the packaged product with a layer of vapour phase inhibitors so that particles from harmful substances such as water, oxygen and acid gases are deflected from the surface of the product. Once the product has been removed from the packaging, the protective layer vaporises leaving the product damage free.
Eco-Friendly Packaging
Eco-friendly packaging has become a rapidly growing trend and there is an increasing number of businesses looking to go ‘green’. This has led to a surge in the production of new and innovative eco-friendly packaging such as recyclable plastics and biodegradable materials. We have a wide range of products suitable for use where environmental impact must be considered, including Green Light products suitable for cushioning and protection purposes such as Loose Fill and Air Cushions, as well as other eco-friendly products from our Natur-Tec range.
To find out more about our bespoke protective and eco-friendly packaging solutions, click here.