Any tangible thing you can imagine sails on cargo ships around the world every day in all its states: liquid, solid and gaseous.

It doesn’t matter if the goods are products of clients or of someone who is moving from the country, what is clear is that all cargo must arrive at its destination in good conditions, which is why packaging is equally important in all cases.

In order for the cargo to arrive in good condition, it must be adequately protected, taking into account the situations to which it may be exposed during the journey and all the processes to which it is subjected during its transit. Well, no one wants their merchandise to arrive damaged at its destination and not be able to make an insurance claim for not having packed it properly.

What should we take into account when preparing the packaging of our cargo?

There are many factors that influence the load throughout the journey and each of them mus be carefully assessed to choose the best protection option, there are the most important:

• Weather conditions such as humidity and salinity that can cause oxidation and corrosion.
• The extreme temperatures that the package may experience during the journey, both hot and cold, must be well insulated in these cases.
• The contamination that products such as food must avoid in order not to alter theis qualities.
• The sudden movements of the load that the cranes can produce in the loading and unloading operations.

Once the above has been analyzed and taking into account that the merchandise must be transported in containers, it is worth talking about the options that exist to protect the cargo inside them:

• Fixing systems such as lashing straps, air bags, steel cables, wooden supports, etc… immobilize the load inside the container.
• VCI aluminum and desiccant salts make barrier and anti-humidity materials to prevent corrosion, mold and damage caused by excess moisture.
• Isothermal insulators protect products and merchandise from temperature changes without the need to use special containers.
• Containers for liquids and bulk are antiseptic containers and safe for the transport of liquids and bulk that ensure their isolation and prevent contact of the product with other substances, such as big bags, liners, flexitank, etc.

What function do the labels have?

On the other hand, there are the labels, as it are very important since the people who handle the merchandise do not know what product they are dealing with. So, it must be indicated in detail, on all visible faces of the package, how to treat the load so that the pallet is managed properly and with care (“upwards”, “fragile”, “do not stack”, etc…).

Which are the most common mistakes when packing?

Despite the above, there are external factors that cannot be controlled, but if we start with and adequate packaging for each merchandise, we will be able to claim in case of damage. Therefore, good packaging implies that the load does not protrude from the packaging or that the boxes are poorly stacked, for example. Some mistakes are:

• Loading too much weight on the same pallet.
• Placing loads that are too large on pallets.
• Stack goods that should not be stacked.
• Load boxes on pallets without shrink wrap or any other type of material that secures them.

Therefore, with all of the above, we can conclude that any aspect that could potentially affect the cargo must be taken into account to ensure that it arrives in perfect condition at its destination and to make an additional effort when packing the merchandise, to use the most suitable material. Dor very expensive fragile goods, you have to invest more in packaging and, if necessary, hire a company specialized in professional packaging services.

Transglory team