Transport packaging is essential for protecting the product being transported. It can come in various sizes and shapes and made of different types of materials. And all of this must be taken into account in order to protect the cargo from damage and also from perishing, theft, contamination and so on.
Packaging objectives
Packaging protection
Packages can be protected using shrink or stretch films, and also simple plastic or metal tapes wrapped around the stack. Protection can also be done by palletizing or unitizing in containers.
Factors that can affect packaging
Packaging can be affected in various ways by the movements of loading, unloading and transportation itself. It should also be noted that, in international transportation, cargo may be subjected to climatic variations, vibrations, etc. In maritime transport, for example, it may be subjected to rocking, pitching and heading movements.
Hazardous goods
The packaging of dangerous goods must be suitable for transportation. This type of transportation is regulated by the following bodies:
- Maritime: IMO’s International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code;
- Air: Iata’s Dangerous Goods Regulations;
Symbology and identification
The marking of packages is the identification of the goods and the batch to be shipped. It is beneficial for the packages to be numbered as well. This allows for the individualization of the cargo and ensures greater security during transport.
Another important point is the identification of the weight of each package. All packages must be identified, with appropriate labels regarding their hazardous nature. They must also be labeled for handling instructions, such as indicating if they are fragile, etc.
