What should I consider when shipping by container?
The type of packaging and the procedure applied to products shipped in containers can have a significant impact on a company’s bottom line. Moreover, losses due to inadequate packaging of goods shipped in containers amount to nearly 5 billion dollars per year worldwide.
In light of this information, it is clear that if you are considering shipping products by container, you should package them in a manner that will ensure their protection under the applicable constraints.
Here are some different elements to consider when using container shipping.
Shipping by air, sea or land?
One of the most important shipping parameters is how quickly the container will arrive at its destination. If the goods need to be delivered as soon as possible, air transport is a much faster shipping option than sea transport. However, there is of course a cost associated with this speed. Air shipping costs are much higher than road and sea transport.
Yet, if your shipment weighs less than 45 kilos, air shipping is often more cost-effective. In addition, if your goods are perishable or sensitive (such as flowers or medicines), air travel is often the best option.
Furthermore, air transport is often better suited to high-value products because of concerns about damage, theft or the time value of money.
Environmental impact is another issue to be considered in relation to the mode of transport. The carbon footprint of air transport is massive compared to sea transport.
Will the goods shipped be exposed to extreme conditions?
Since containers can be shipped almost anywhere on the planet, the one containing your precious cargo may be subject to special weather conditions. You must therefore ensure that it is packaged in a manner that will withstand these conditions.
For example, if you have to send metal parts in a container that crosses the ocean on a ship, you should consider protecting them from rust by packaging them with suitable barrier bags which are an essential part of the transport industry. This ensures that the salty and humid air won’t degrade the cargo and it will arrive safely at its destination without any trace of oxidation.
Other types of goods are rather sensitive to temperature variations. For example, there are some pharmaceutical and medical products that can lose their effectiveness or even become unusable if they undergo a significant thermal shock. The same applies to many foodstuffs, which must absolutely be stored at specific temperatures if they are to be consumed safely and retain their full flavor. These products must therefore be protected with cold chain packaging, which protects the goods from temperature changes.
Are the products well protected against shocks?
Most of the time, goods shipped in containers will travel considerable distances. The container can even be moved using different means of transport. This suggests that the container may be subjected to shocks, either during transport or during handling when goods are being transferred. Of course, if the products you ship are fragile, they must be protected against shocks and vibrations.
To ensure this, you can design the optimal packaging based on your product’s protection requirements such as weight distribution, shape and physical contour, among others.
In summary, a shipping container can be subjected to extreme weather conditions and shocks. The risks that the goods you ship by container will be damaged during transport will be high if they are not properly protected by the right packaging.
If you are looking for a logistics partner who can help you design the perfect packaging to protect your products for container shipment, please do not hesitate to contact Creopack. With over 30 years of experience in packaging solutions, our team will ensure that your products arrive at their destination in perfect condition.