If you do export business, you will know the importance of choosing good packaging for the logistics of your products, a factor that must be taken care of in detail and that, in addition, must comply with the regulations of the countries through which the goods will transit.
Packaging goes far beyond a commercial or image issue, it is the main responsible that your goods arrive at their destination in perfect conditions; otherwise, your company can lose a lot of money (and customers!).
It is also important not to confuse the packaging used for shipments with the product’s own packaging; that is, a lamp may have its own box (with its own design for the company, as it is important to differentiate it from private labels), but each group of lamps (for example, each 100 units) is transported in a much larger package that must protect the product during transport from the factory to the point of sale.
Why is packaging important during transport?
Protecting products during transport is essential, not only to avoid impacts, but also to ensure that their performance is not impaired by external factors (e.g. extreme cold or heat).
But there are other reasons. Good packaging facilitates loading and unloading movements, minimizing sudden shocks and their consequences.
Similarly, transporting our products in the right packaging can also make them easier to distribute, a fact that cannot only save us hassle, but also money, since optimizing the delivery process saves costs.
In short, good logistics packaging must be able to contain our products, protect them and do so in a practical way to adapt to their transportation.
Packaging depending on the transport type
There is no doubt, in addition to the type of product, the method of transportation in which our products travel largely determines the packaging.
Packaging for maritime transport
This is certainly the most demanding packaging and the one that requires the greatest security. In addition to the usual requirements that we may need in the packaging to protect our products, transportation by ship forces us to take into account factors such as humidity, which will require special protection.
Packaging for air transport
The advantage of this type of transport is the greater speed, which may lead us to think, mistakenly, that the necessary protection is not so high. However, we must bear in mind that transporting products by air implies altitude and temperature changes, so our products must be protected against these factors.
Packaging for land transport
It is usually considered the most common type of transport, not only because it covers short distances, but also because in both air and sea transport there is almost always a last stage covered by this type of transport.
Land transport, whether by road or rail, involves a greater movement of the goods, which means that impacts may be more frequent. It must be taken into account that, in spite of shorter distances than in sea or air transport, packages may also suffer temperature changes.
Which packaging to choose?
As we have seen, there are different factors that can condition the characteristics of the packaging we need for our products.
Nevertheless, there is currently a wide range of packaging types to choose from on the market, capable of adapting to all types of transport and needs.
Cardboard boxes, one of the most frequent types of packaging
Despite seeming to be a very classic type of packaging, the truth is that boxes are one of the preferred options in logistics. However, we should not make the mistake of thinking of the typical cardboard box that we all have at home to store things, since there is a wide range of these products capable of covering all kinds of needs.
The type of box will vary, logically, depending on the weight. For transporting up to 40 kilos, there are double channel boxes; when the weight exceeds 70 kilos, we will need reinforced double channel boxes.
When the volume is much higher and, in addition, it is especially fragile, we can count on triple channel boxes, which withstand weights of up to 350 kilos and conditions of high temperatures and humidity.
Containers and pallets, two logistics must-haves
In addition to cardboard boxes, we cannot fail to mention two transport classics: containers and pallets.
Containers are especially suitable for land and sea transport and vary according to the weight to be transported. There is a wide variety of containers, from the simplest (which only contain boxes) to refrigerated containers.
Pallets, on the other hand, are rigid platforms on which the goods travel. The products that travel on pallets are usually fastened by straps or shrink wrap and it is important to bear in mind that a crane or lifting platform is responsible for moving them both at their point of origin and at their destination.
We will help you with your logistics!
Transportation is a fundamental part of any transaction and is not always easy to manage. That’s why at S3 Group, as specialists in import and export management, we help all types of companies with the logistics of their international purchases.
A perfect reception of products not only helps companies save money, but is also part of the brand image projected to customers. Choosing the right packaging is key to delivering a satisfactory business experience.