Importance of Packing

Following four fundamentally different types of stresses/loads exist during transportation, storage and handling of cargo. Packaging needs to be designed taking these stresses into consideration.

- Static stresses :

Static stresses are caused by stacking and standing cargo on the floor of the container. The main factor is stacking pressure, causing bending and buckling, particularly in the bottom layers. The stacking pressure depends on the dimensions, weight, shape and height of cargo involved.

- Dynamic stresses :

Dynamic stresses can be further classified into 2 categories :

1. Impact Stresses:

Free fall Free fall (dropping), tipping (by exceeding tilting moment), tumbling (rolling edge over edge), bumping (during hoisting, abrupt setting-down or bumping by other cargoes), jolting impacts (during switching), bumping against vehicle walls or other cargo, etc

2. Vibratory Stresses:

occurs due to the movement of the vehicle/vessel, shaking, chaffing (vehicle running), unevenness of travel way, etc.

Climatic stresses act on the packages throughout the entire duration of transport and storage. The impact on the cargo due to climatic loads is dependent on the following three major factors:

• 1. External climatic conditions
  • a. Temperature
  • b. Humidity
  • c. Dew Point Temperature
  • d. Temperature/Dew Point Difference
• 2. Nature of Cargo (mass of the cargo, exposed surface area, hygroscopic nature of cargo, etc)
• 3. Type of container (standard containers, passively ventilated containers, refrigerated containers, etc)

High temperatures, moisture or poor ventilation in the container can lead to cargo or packaging being attached by insects, fungi, mould, bacteria or micro-organisms. Sometimes the cargo is biologically contaminated even before it is loaded into the container. Hence some countries regulate the fumigation of packaging and dunnage by low. We at Hirji Logicon strictly follow the ISPM 15 guidelines.

Expert estimates indicate that 5-10 % of all insured losses on goods can be traced back to inadequate packaging. Above are some examples highlighting consequences of poor packaging.

Convenient goods handling entails designing transport packaging in such a manner that it may be held, lifted, moved, set down and stowed easily, efficiently and safely. Packaging thus has a crucial impact on the efficiency of transport, handling and storage of goods. It should therefore be designed to be easily handled and to permit space-saving storage.

It is important that packaging is optimally designed to store the contents for the required time duration. Special attention needs to be paid to packaging designed for long term storage. Potential risks due to mechanical stresses and climatic conditions can get significantly amplified as the duration of storage increases. Proper packaging design with appropriate corrosion protection, cushioning and marking can help mitigate risks during storage.

Before goods become cargo, they must be correctly packed. What does "correctly packed" or “fit-for-purpose packaging” mean? Packaging must protect the goods against the expected stresses. Every means of transport generates its own specific climatic and mechanical stresses. To design the correct packaging, it is necessary to know the route that the cargo is to take. Knowledge of the route makes it possible to identify the different climate zones and the acceleration forces of the different means of transport that need to be catered for.

Packaging is fit for purpose if it ensures that the packaged goods arrive at the recipient undamaged, taking into consideration the transport, handling and storage loads and stresses, shipping route & duration and the transport load profile. Fit-for-purpose packaging has to be an optimal balance between packaging robustness, packaging cost and time required for packaging.

Not only does proper packaging have a direct impact on your company’s bottom line, its professional presentation and appearance also helps build your reputation as a supplier.

Some key benefits of proper packaging are:

• Avoid claims and liabilities arising from damage caused to goods due to poor packaging.
• Build and sustain reputation as a supplier - Packaging is the first thing that your client sees. Hence proper packaging with a professional appearance is important in building reputation and branding.
• Protect cargo from theft and various mechanical, climatic, biotic and chemical stresses.
• Facilitate efficient loading, transportation and storage to enable optimized supply chain management.
• Ensure integrity of sensitive cargo

At Hirji & Company we understand the value of your cargo and want to provide the highest quality packaging.