Heavy orders put pressure on all aspects of their packaging. Bottoms need to provide stability while being lifted; sides need to remain rigid throughout transportation. Using shipping containers that support the weight of an order is the first step to supporting these types of shipments throughout transport.

first determine the total weight of the complete shipment including product, any inner packaging materials (i.e., bags, inserts), cushioning supplies (e.g., bubble wrap) and/or additional materials included within the shipment. Once you know this number use it as the basis for selecting a shipping container. What works best for a light item may not have sufficient strength to carry a heavy load of tools, fasteners, metal parts etc.

Look at the manufacturer’s specification guide for the strength ratings and recommended applications for the shipping container. Even though Two shipping containers may be the same in terms of dimension, one may be significantly stronger than another. If there is any doubt about which shipping container would meet your needs based upon the weight of your products and/or shipping methods contact your supplier for assistance.

When choosing the correct shipping container ensure that there is sufficient clearance space surrounding the packaged product to allow for adequate protection during transit. Adequate space prevents large, heavy objects from gaining momentum due to shifting. Conversely, excessive space could also limit the amount of cushioning available for protecting the contents.

Measure the product with its wrapping/packaging intact prior to determining the interior dimensions of the shipping container.

Before inserting the product into the shipping container protect all exposed corners/edges of metal products from rubbing against the shipping container itself. Metal corners are notorious for wearing holes through corrugated cardboard when subjected to continuous friction. Use appropriately sized edge protectors, custom-made supports or internal packaging to dissipate the friction.

Ensure that all sharp corners/points of products are isolated from adjacent box surfaces.

Create a level foundation inside the shipping container. Packaging materials should be able to bear the weight of the product without deforming under extreme pressure. Loose fill materials such as foam peanuts, Styrofoam “peanuts”, etc., tend to displace or flatten rapidly when subjected to extreme compression from a heavy object. Distribute the weight of heavy objects over multiple areas of the bottom of the shipping container instead of allowing them to rest solely upon a single point.

Prevent heavy objects from impacting one another. Package individual components separately with stiff partitions/dividers or use internal shipping containers with separate compartments as necessary. Ensure that internal packaging provides adequate separation to maintain position and prevent damage among items. Additional loose filling at the top will not adequately compensate for voids/gaps between heavy components located closer to the bottom.

Close and seal the shipping container with tape suitable for both the type of carton used and weight loaded into the carton. Close both top and bottom center and edge seams securely. Apply tape only to clean/dry corrugated cardboard surfaces and apply firmly in motion. More tape does not make up for a poor quality or damaged shipping container.

Carefully inspect the completed package before it ships out. Inspect for warped/collapsed side panels, gaps at seams or sagging bottoms. Lift the package gently but firmly. If it flexes/bows in any way review both the exterior carton as well as any internal support systems. Consider splitting larger shipments into smaller parcels.

Document your successful use of specific shipping containers and methods for future repeats. Document any reported damages and adjust your packaging accordingly. Sturdy shipping containers combined with proper internal support and secure seals minimize movement and stress placed on packages containing heavy goods.

Has it taken you at least 10 minutes to locate a small item that you know is around the workshop?

Maybe it was a small bolt, a washer, a piece of hardware or another piece to complete a job. Maybe you knew it was somewhere in the workshop; however, it would take far too long to locate it.

This can become a major issue on a daily basis to companies who sell numerous smaller components.

This is where poly bags will begin to make a difference. Poly bags are simply made from plastic and are available in many different sizes & types. These can be utilized as containers for organizing, protecting and sorting the many various types of smaller components. Although, they do appear to be relatively insignificant, these bags can provide tremendous assistance in maintaining efficiency in a busy workshop environment.

Consider a furniture parts manufacturer. Each shipment of furniture parts may contain multiple screws, bolts, washers & brackets. In the event these individual parts were not contained within their respective poly bags prior to being packed into their shipping container, they would be able to become entangled amongst other shipping packaging materials or potentially get lost.

However, if each category of parts were to be contained within their separate poly bag before being packaged in their shipping carton, both the shipper and the customer would have an easier time locating the correct parts upon arrival.

In addition to assisting in organizing your shipments, poly bags can also assist in tracking inventory. Consider a situation where there are approximately 1000 or more small metal hardware components located in one large storage bin. When an employee needs to locate a specific quantity of a particular type of component, he/she has to stop and manually count the components.

If instead, the employer had pre-packaged the various quantities of components in advance by placing a specified number of components in each poly bag (i.e., 20-25), employees could then easily pull out the correct quantity of bags based upon their customers’ orders.

By utilizing this method, employers can save valuable time, particularly when their customers frequently order the exact same product.

While a cardboard box itself seems like such a minor component of your company, this is often because most people do not realize that the type of box used will greatly impact their ability to send products efficiently.

If you regularly ship products using a cardboard box, then there are several potential pitfalls which could occur by simply selecting the wrong type of cardboard box for your specific needs.

Some of these issues include wasting money, increasing the amount of time spent packaging, and damaging your customer orders.

In this article we’ll provide some ways to select the appropriate cardboard box for your business.

**Selecting the Correct Dimensions (Size)**

We have all had experiences where we received a package and inside were many layers of bubble wrap or packing peanuts. This is likely due to shipping a smaller item in a large box.

This increases the cost of the material needed as well as the time required to package and prepare the item for shipping. A far more efficient option would be to use cardboard boxes specifically designed for your products. You should allow sufficient room for cushioning; however, you shouldn’t have to fill excessive amounts of unused space in a box when shipping a small item.

Using cardboard boxes which meet the dimensions of your products will assist in saving money on packaging supplies as well as lower your shipping costs.

**Do Not Purchase Strength That Is Unnecessary**

There are many instances when companies will purchase cardboard boxes with high strength ratings and never utilize them. When shipping light weight items, a standard cardboard box typically has all the necessary features to adequately support it. However, heavier products require more robust cardboard boxes. For example, shipping a number of textbooks versus shipping a couple shirts. These represent two completely different types of jobs. Selecting the correct cardboard box strength will ensure that you have adequate protection of your products while minimizing unnecessary expense.

**Simplify the Process of Packing**

When your staff members are responsible for preparing/packing 50-100 packages per day, a delay of even a minute or less can become cumulative. One simple example of how easy it becomes to create inconvenience is when searching through multiple containers of different sized boxes to locate a box to place an order in. Having multiple commonly utilized box sizes readily available near your employees’ workstations will significantly improve efficiency in the process of packing. Staffers can quickly identify the proper box size and place the order inside the box. This eliminates guesswork, wasted time, and headaches.

**Protect the Satisfaction of Your Customers**

Nobody likes opening a package and finding damage to the contents. Damaging products can result in returns/refunds/ replacements as well as dissatisfied customers. Utilizing cardboard boxes that properly secure and protect your products is crucial. In addition to utilizing suitable cardboard boxes, they must be compatible with the product being shipped. Fragile items may require additional protection via extra cushioning. Heavier items may require stronger side panels. All packages should fit securely within the box so that movement/shifting occurs minimally throughout transit.

**Small Savings Can Result in Large Amounts Over Time**

Although saving $0.05 on a single shipment may appear insignificant, what happens if you are sending out 1,000 packages each month? Those small savings can equate to substantial dollars saved over time. Therefore, it makes sense to invest some time thinking about how you can optimize the selection of cardboard boxes for your business at Packaging Supplies.com. We offer a wide variety of cardboard boxes that can accommodate all forms of shipping requirements whether you ship dozens or hundreds of packages.

You’ve sealed the box, you’ve labeled it and your next shipment is ready. However, prior to placing the shipment in the pickup area there is one last step to ensure that any errors made during this process are corrected as quickly as possible.

As part of your duties using proper shipping supplies will help you complete your shipments in a timely manner. Proper use of those supplies will assist in ensuring that your shipments arrive at the correct customer in good condition.

Begin by verifying the contents of the box just prior to closing it. Verify that the contents of the box match what was ordered from the order document. In cases where two similar looking items were shipped (such as both red), verify that the items are identified by the product name and/or item number, instead of solely relying on appearance. Add any additional components or documentation required for completing the shipment.

Verify that adequate packing material is in place to prevent movement of the contents within the box. Ensure that no corners are exposed and that none of the items touch each other (if applicable). Allowing yourself enough time to resolve issues with packaging prior to closing and labeling will ultimately save you a lot of time down the road, if you had to cut open the closed package.

Upon closure of the package, verify that the tape adheres correctly and does not pull off when opened. Make certain that tape lies flat against the cardboard and seals securely. If any edges of the tape appear to have pulled away, you will want to make the necessary repairs to secure the seal prior to stacking completed packages together.

Next, compare the shipping label provided to the customer’s information found on the order document. Verify that the shipping label contains the customers name and full street address, along with any apartment or suite number (where applicable). When shipping multiple orders at one time, retain each shipping label to its respective package, so they don’t become jumbled.

Affix the shipping label to a clean area where it will be easily readable. Be careful not to wrap the barcode around any corners of the package and avoid laying it directly over any seams. Also, smooth out any wrinkles in the label and verify that all printing is legible and black. A shipping label with faded ink or damage should be replaced immediately.

When using a reused outer package, completely remove or completely cover existing shipping labels and bar codes. Excess shipping labels can lead to confusion when processing incoming shipments. Inspect all sides of the container to ensure that previous labels are removed from view.

In addition to your reusable shipping containers, consider having a digital scale and measuring device available near your shipping supplies. Weigh and measure your completed shipment (including all packaging) to verify accuracy. Simply weighing a product does not account for the weight of the packaging, padding and/or other materials used in completing your shipment. Carefully log your final measurements when creating your shipment documentation.

Inspect the exterior of the packaging for signs of damage such as; rips, moisture, or bulges on any side(s). Set any questionable packages aside for further inspection/evaluation before allowing them to be placed in the designated pickup area.

Lastly, after reviewing your shipments, place all verified shipments in a designated “pickup” area. Store any uncompleted shipments in a different area, making it impossible for them to accidentally leave with completed shipments.

Performing a final review ensures that all your shipping supplies function as intended. Additionally, it provides your staff with a definitive checkpoint when determining whether an order is indeed ready for delivery.

A time when a box is so much packaging as you really needed.

Products such as parts, clothing, hardware, food etc., can often be packaged by using a poly bag instead of a box. Poly bags are lightweight; take up less space to store and come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and styles.

You will find that picking the right poly bags is somewhat the key to success.

Determine the best size

When you purchase a poly bag, you should look at the size of the poly bag compared to the item you will be placing into it.

If the bag is too small, it can be difficult to get the product into the bag or sometimes even close it. Conversely, if you buy a poly bag that is far too big, you end up wasting more plastic than necessary.

Measure the item before buying bags

Before purchasing a poly bag, determine the exact measurements of the item(s) you intend to package.

Consider the thickness of the item

In addition to determining the proper size of the poly bag (length x width), you also need to determine whether or not the product you are packaging requires a specific thickness of poly bag.

For example, thin poly bags are ideal for use with light-weighted products without sharp edges. Thicker poly bags would be recommended for heavier products which are likely to cause damage to the bag during storage, shipment, or unpacking.

Select the proper closure type for the product

Poly bags can also vary in terms of their closure types. Some poly bags have an open-top design. Depending upon the product, these bags can then be sealed using various methods including: tape, ties, staples, and/or heat sealers.

Other types of poly bags include those that contain a zipper-type closure that allows the customer to reseal the bag after opening it. Examples of products that lend themselves well to this type of closure include small parts, hardware, craft supplies, etc. This style of closure provides additional security against unauthorized access to the contents of the bag.

Self-sealing poly bags provide an added benefit over resealable poly bags. Self- sealing poly bags eliminate the need to physically close the top of the bag prior to sealing. In turn, this speeds up the overall process of packaging.

Protect products from environmental elements

Protection does not necessarily equate to preventing a product from breaking. Sometimes, the main reason for utilizing a protective covering like a poly bag is to prevent environmental elements from damaging the product.

Examples of environmental elements that can potentially damage your product include dust, dirt, and moisture. By placing your product within a clear poly bag, you will create a simple barrier between your product and potential contaminants. At the same time, you will still allow customers to view what is contained within the bag. As such, poly bags are used for both storing and shipping products.

Match the correct poly bag to the product and process

Just like there is no perfect poly bag that fits every product and application, similarly, there is no single “best” way to pack most products. Each product and process requires consideration based upon factors such as: product size/weight/shapes/type; how the bag needs to be closed; and how much protection is required for each product.