| > | | | | boxes. |
| In today’s internet consumer world courier | | | | Wrap fragile materials individually so they do not |
| services are high profile. Millions of buyers & | | | | touch each other. |
| sellers rely on their services on a daily basis. | | | | Even the stickiest labels can come off. An extra |
| Unfortunately of the numerous consignments | | | | address label placed inside the package is a good |
| made every day, many are rejected or have to | | | | precaution. |
| be returned & subsequently replaced due to | | | | Remove old address/shipping labels from your |
| damage in transit. | | | | packages. |
| The party at fault is always hard to pin down. Are | | | | Use cushioned bags, such as padded and bubble |
| the couriers responsible for the damage or was | | | | bags to carry such things as diskettes, tapes, |
| the packaging substandard? Of course, as we all | | | | keys and small electronic parts. These bags |
| know prevention is better than cure. But we | | | | provide good shock absorption performance. |
| don’t live in a perfect world. The only | | | | Waterproof and anti-static versions are also |
| protection from heavy handed couriers is the | | | | available. |
| quality of the materials & packaging methods | | | | Boxes are the most commonly used type of |
| employed. We offer the following packaging | | | | package. The range of sizes and shapes, the |
| advice based on our couriers recommendations; | | | | different combinations of materials, and the |
| Packaging advice for product protectionIt is | | | | number of accessories available to strengthen and |
| recommended that you leave a space of at least | | | | secure them, make boxes the most suitable way |
| 50mm between the outer container and the | | | | to pack your shipments.If you are shipping |
| product inside. This space should be filled with | | | | wooden boxes, ensure that the corners are |
| padding of some sort, preferably bubble wrap, | | | | correctly protected and check that the box is not |
| corrugated paper, shredded paper or suitable | | | | splintered, as this can cause injuries to people |
| loose fill material. | | | | handling the boxes. Sometimes, heavy-duty |
| The following are the most common | | | | double walled cardboard is a suitable and cheaper |
| purpose-made products to be found on the | | | | alternative to wood. |
| market: | | | | All packages must be sealed to prevent the |
| CushioningSheets, pads & rolls | | | | contents from falling out. A good seal helps to |
| Different types of cushioning are available, from | | | | strengthen your package, however, please be |
| polystyrene or biodegradable loose fill "chips", | | | | aware that any shipment may be opened for |
| "shreds" and "peanut" shaped materials to rolls of | | | | inspection by customs or security authorities while |
| bubbled plastic sheet ie bubble wrap.Loose | | | | in transit. |
| cushioning is usually made out of very lightweight | | | | Always use strong tapes such as polypropylene |
| materials - it's used to fill in corners, keep the | | | | or vinyl adhesive tape. Other types of tape such |
| articles centred in the container and provide | | | | as fibre reinforced paper tapes may also be |
| cushioning and shock absorption. It is clean and | | | | used.The use of string around your box is not |
| reusable but can be very bulky to store. Many of | | | | recommend as it can cut through the cardboard |
| the fillings available in the market are | | | | and damage your package. |
| manufactured from recycled products. If | | | | The use of wrapping paper around boxes or non |
| exporting, try to avoid the use of polystyrene, as | | | | contained objects is only recommended for items |
| in many countries it is considered not to be | | | | like textile products, in order to prevent damage |
| environmentally friendly and a fine could be | | | | by dust. Remember to enclose the wrapped |
| imposed. Vegetable based and biodegradable | | | | object in a box.Wrapping paper can also be used |
| materials are preferred.Bubble wrap provides very | | | | as a cushioning material by crumpling it and placing |
| good protection to shock, vibration and abrasion, | | | | it in the interior of a box.When using shrink wrap |
| as well as being lightweight and flexible. | | | | films, stick labels on the boxes and not on the |
| When packing items or stacked objects, you | | | | films. Often the film is broken down to scan each |
| should always use dividers, which provide | | | | shipment's bar code. |
| absorption to shocks.The most frequently used | | | | When applied correctly, with the proper tension, |
| dividers are corrugated cardboard sheets, | | | | strapping is an ideal way to strengthen your |
| chipboard sheets, or plain brown "Kraft-paper" | | | | shipment. Loose strapping is useless and too tight |
| sheets. Rolls of corrugated boxes, cut to size, are | | | | strapping can damage the box, by cutting through |
| excellent for low cost padding. Foam sheeting is | | | | it. |
| recommended to wrap up fragile objects. | | | | Edge protectors are available in plastic and |
| As your shipment is transported, it may be | | | | recycled cardboard. When using strapping, edge |
| exposed to adverse environments caused by | | | | protectors prevent damage to your shipment by |
| weather conditions and transport vibrations, so | | | | distributing the strapping pressure and tension |
| correct packaging is vital. | | | | uniformly across the box edge, preventing |
| Where possible use sturdy corrugated cardboard | | | | damage to the cardboard. |