Zero losses in transport: Systems to ensure safety in the stowage of goods

Damage to crates, movement of cargo, loss of product, deterioration due to inclement weather… there are many dangers that can occur in the transport of goods. Losses that many companies tend to pre-calculate as customary in their logistics operations. But, what if the real objective was to achieve zero losses in transport?  In Europe, goods transport regulations are already aimed at this objective, highlighting the responsibility of the manufacturer of the load and the requirements to be met in terms of securing and security of the goods.

From our experience in packaging systems, in today’s article we recommend the packaging systems that can be used by a company to protect to the utmost its product and thus avoid loss and damage in transport.

Systems to guarantee maximum security in the transport of goods

For a large production company, it is advisable to use automatic packaging systems that ensure the correct protection and fastening of the product. But which systems are more efficient? We review the recommended end-of-line process that guarantees maximum transport safety:

1. The key of a good palletizing

A good palletizing is the basis for the stability of the product’s goods during transport. For companies with a large production it is essential to perform palletizing with robots or automatic palletizers that ensure the distribution of boxes, bags or other packages according to weight and size. 

2. Preparation of the product to be wrapped

Immediately after palletising, it is important to have systems in place to prepare the product to be packed and secured. In this section we recommend systems such as:

– Pallet centrers and compacters, to ensure the compaction of the product before strapping or wrapping.

– Edge protectors, to protect the boxed product from the strapping pressure. In this case, the edge protection also helps to hold the load during transport, preventing the boxes from shifting.

3. Securing the load

The system that offers the best hold of the product in boxes or blocks is the strapping, as it provides fixation and subjection to the entire load. Depending on the type of merchandise and its distribution on the pallet, it is recommended to use horizontal or vertical strapping systems and even both systems to guarantee the maximum subjection of heavy loads.

Another system that could be used for securing the load is the wrapping system. Although it does not offer total protection against external agents, it reinforces the securing of the load thanks to the application of the elastic cord.

4. Protection of the palletized product

Once the cargo is secured, it is important to have final packaging solutions that offer maximum protection of the product against external agents and weather inclemency during transport such as dust, rain, humidity, etc. In addition to providing protection, this type of systems offer additional subjection to the pallet:

– Thermo-shrink system: This device uses a hood that adapts the film to the shape of the load with the application of heat. The product is completely sealed with the shrinking process, protecting it from any external effect. However, the biggest disadvantage of this system is the need to use a shrink oven, making it a less sustainable solution with higher energy costs and emissions.

– Stretch Hood System: The Stretch Hooder uses also hood film that stretches and fully adapts to the load. The effect is similar to heat shrink, as it leaves the load sealed and protected, but without the need for an oven installation. For this reason, we recommend Stretch Hood over shrink hood in terms of economy and sustainability.

In this section we could also use the wrapping system, with the application of an additional cover to protect the top, although as we have commented the Stretch Hood wrapping provides a better protection of the load as it covers all sides.

In a nutshell, the process of palletizing, strapping and final pallet wrapping is one of the most complete combinations for pallet protection. However, depending on the sector and type of product, we recommend some packaging systems over others. Our technical team can advise you without obligation on the most suitable packaging system to ensure maximum safety of your product in transport and stowage. Remember, both our objective and yours is to achieve these “zero transport losses”.

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