| Distribution packaging provides the first and most | | | | Shipping product via rail dates back to the |
| important line of defense against the hazards of | | | | 1800’s and is our oldest form of |
| the distribution environment. A well-designed | | | | land-mechanized transportation. |
| distribution package can make an immediate and | | | | The unique characteristics of rail transport can |
| significant contribution to a company’s bottom | | | | accentuate the shock and vibration your cargo will |
| line by reducing or eliminating product damage and | | | | encounter from the combination of vertical, lateral |
| decreasing transportation costs. A properly | | | | and longitudinal forces. |
| designed package will also enhance company | | | | Railcar coupling shocks are considered separate |
| image. | | | | from other transport shocks because they can |
| The packaging design mission is to achieve | | | | impose severe loads on cargo. These coupling |
| optimum cost by balancing the sensitivity of the | | | | shocks are a result of impacts between cars |
| product with the protection provided by the | | | | during train makeup in switching yards. A minimal |
| packaging to match the hazards existing in the | | | | impact speed of approximately 2 mph is generally |
| distribution environment. | | | | required for actuation of the automatic couplers, |
| The science of distribution packaging is more | | | | while 4 mph is considered undesirable because of |
| sophisticated and complex than most people | | | | potential damage to cargo. In a study of 4,647 |
| expect. There are dozens of methods, techniques | | | | observations of coupling impacts over 50% of |
| and systems for improving distribution packaging | | | | impacts were measured above 5 mph. |
| and reducing total cost. | | | | The type of boxcar your cargo will be |
| Let’s take a look at the distribution | | | | transported in will also create distinctive hazards |
| environment and examine the hazards cargo will | | | | during transport. Studies show lateral low |
| encounter. | | | | frequency, 2-4 Hz, rolling motion in boxcars. This |
| Consider the Airplane | | | | motion is more severe or pronounced in boxcars |
| Shipping product via airfreight presents a variety | | | | equipped with standard draft gears. This type of |
| of challenges. There is no faster way to get your | | | | boxcar is predominantly equipped with roller side |
| shipment from point “a” to point | | | | bearings and allows a greater freedom of |
| “b”, but the additional cost and the | | | | movement. |
| potential for damage creates a problem. | | | | Other concerns during rail transport include |
| Let’s first consider the handling. A shipment | | | | crossing of an intersecting track, weight of cars, |
| that travels via airfreight will be handled many | | | | load configuration, number of active cars, car |
| times by numerous people with a variety of | | | | center of gravity and track orientation. |
| material handling equipment and a diversity of | | | | Consider the 18-Wheeler |
| care levels. Each stage of the journey creates its | | | | Shipping by truck is the backbone of the |
| own tribulations. | | | | distribution environment. Whether product travels |
| Shock and vibration are concerns within an | | | | exclusively by truck or it’s only one of the |
| aircraft’s cargo hold. Turbulence can cause | | | | modes of transport during its journey, a package |
| packaged product to experience severe shocks | | | | will experience many variables, most of them |
| when sudden drops occur. High frequency | | | | beyond your control. |
| vibrations are transmitted from the aircraft engine | | | | Truck shipment exposes product to significant |
| to products and can cause internal component | | | | material handling risks. Manual or mechanical |
| damage in sensitive electrical components. | | | | handling occurs at the loading, unloading and |
| Next consider the cost. Airfreight is your most | | | | transfer points. Designing the proper outer |
| expensive mode of transport and is based on | | | | container, internal cushioning, warnings, impact |
| either the weight or cubic volume of your product | | | | indicators and unitization can minimize the effects |
| and package. Minimizing both of these | | | | of the handling cycle. |
| characteristics can save thousands of dollars per | | | | There is generally very little control over the |
| year. | | | | operation of commercial vehicles and the resulting |
| Finally, consider your destination. There may be | | | | vibrations, shock and impact transmitted to cargo. |
| size restrictions because of the aircraft size that | | | | Some of the factors that can endanger product |
| goes there, pilferage of your product, storage of | | | | include; trailer suspension, tire condition, driver |
| your package outside at the terminal or customs | | | | experience, gross load of trailer, location of cargo |
| and corrosion issues due to humidity from | | | | within the trailer, road conditions and traffic |
| temperature changes. | | | | hazards. |
| Consider the Cargo Ship | | | | Other perils may include the orientation of the |
| Imagine rolling, pitching, heaving, surging, yawing | | | | package, climactic variations and the static |
| and swaying all at the same time. That’s the | | | | compressive load experience. For example, static |
| six different directions a ship at sea may move | | | | compressive load can result in extremely high |
| simultaneously. | | | | dynamic loads on the bottom containers, even for |
| Packaging for ocean shipment requires the use of | | | | the low stacking heights in vehicles. A level of one |
| specialized techniques that go beyond other forms | | | | G acceleration will add the equivalent of a static |
| of transport packaging. Much of the annual cargo | | | | load twice that existing on the bottom container. |
| loss can be prevented or minimized. Recognizing | | | | Considering all these factors effects whether a |
| the proper preparation, packing, marking and | | | | product will successfully be delivered damage- |
| blocking and bracing can have a great influence on | | | | free when traveling through the distribution |
| successful delivery of goods. | | | | environment. Balancing the protection level and the |
| Where your cargo is stowed on the ship will | | | | cost is where the true savings can be found |
| dictate most of the type of shock or vibration | | | | when developing a packaging solution. |
| your product will experience during ocean | | | | Mike Nyberg is the Founder and CEO of Packnet |
| transport. For most cargo ships, the bow area | | | | Ltd., a custom packaging and crating company |
| receives the highest shock from the ship leaving | | | | located in Burnsville and Faribault, Minnesota. He is |
| the water and returning with a slam. A container | | | | also co-founder and board member of NueSku, an |
| located on the middle deck of a ship may travel in | | | | engineering firm specializing in designing and |
| a 70-foot arc with each complete roll; as often as | | | | prototyping retail packaging. |
| 7 to 10 times each minute. A container located in | | | | Mike earned his BA degree from Gustavus |
| the stern of the ship may experience continuous | | | | Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota with a |
| vibration from the engine and propeller excitations. | | | | major in economics. |
| Corrosion causes billions of dollars a year in | | | | Mike founded Packnet in 1987 with the mission to |
| product loss. There are specific corrosion inhibitor | | | | provide high quality custom packaging products |
| techniques that protect cargo from the harsh and | | | | and services on quick turn-around basis to a wide |
| random environments products will encounter | | | | variety of local and national manufacturing |
| when exporting by ocean freight. | | | | companies. |
| Consider the Train | | | | |