Editor�s Note: This is the first of a two-part series on packaging supplies. This article deals with exterior or shipping packaging forms, and it was written with small- to medium-sized operations (between 1,000 and 5,000 packages per month) in mind, but those falling slightly above or below this range can also benefit from the information presented here.
Exterior Containers � The Start of the Selection Process
Certainly the first, if not the most important, decision that must be made in the process of choosing the right package for a product is deciding what kind of shipping container should be used. Although we tend to think automatically of shipping containers in terms of corrugated boxes, many products can be safely and economically shipped in any number of different types of mailers. Each type of container (boxes and mailers) has its own set of advantages and limitations. An efficient shipping operation is one in which each product shipped will be sent in the type of container most appropriate to the product�s requirements.
The first determination should be either a box or a mailer. Such determination should be based on the specific attributes of the container and requirements of the products to be packaged. First, let�s look at the various features of each type of container.
Boxes �Boxes made with various grades and types of corrugated fiberboard are the most commonly used shipping packages. These boxes offer structural strength and rigidity for stacking and compression loads as well as secure closure (for product containment and security). They are available virtually anywhere in the world and come in an extremely large range of sizes capable of containing any product or group of products from very small to very large. For the protection they afford, corrugated boxes can be considered lightweight (compared to wooden crates, barrels, etc.) and reasonably inexpensive.
Boxes are classified by their style and the type of corrugated fiberboard used in their construction. The Fibre Box Handbook published by the Fibre Box Association describes dozens of standard box styles available in the US today. Note that FEFCO in Europe publishes a comparable listing of styles commonly used in Europe. Each box style is designed for a combination of physical and performance attributes of the finished container while minimizing or optimizing the amount of fiberboard required. The most common style used in the US is the 0201 � Regular Slotted Container (RSC) in which all flaps are equal in height, and the major flaps (the longest pairs) meet in the middle. This style uses the least amount of fiberboard for any given box dimensions.
In addition to styles, boxes are categorized by the grade of the fiberboard used. Two common means of classifying board is the Mullen Burst Test and the Edge Crush Test (ECT). Commercial boxes will most often have a Box Makers Certificate (BMC) stamped on the bottom flaps. Typically, the stamp will be circular with information included inside. Specifically, the grade of board used (Burst or ECT) will be listed along with the size and gross weight limits for that style of box and that grade of corrugated. These limits were originally established by the railroads for common commodities shipped by rail. They have been carried forward by the motor freight industry, primarily those involved in LTL Common Carrier shipments.
It is important to keep in mind that the size and gross weight limits are originally based on requirements for boxes shipped on pallets, used primarily for their stacking strength. Such limits will seldom apply to packages shipped LTL common carrier, UPS, Federal Express, Postal Service, etc. Recent studies indicate that these limits are too high for these types of shipments. In fact, for valuable or critical products shipped single parcel or LTL, it is realistic to consider limiting the amount of product in a box to 50% or 60% of the BMC�s stated maximum gross weight. The shipper might have to go up one or two categories of Mullen Burst or ECT value, but the trade-off of cost versus potential loss of product might be more than worthwhile in these cases.
If you feel a corrugated box is the appropriate shipping container for your needs, the next step is to select the right dimensions (contents must obviously fit into the box) and then ensure that the corrugated used is sufficiently strong to both protect the products during shipment and to maintain package integrity through all the impacts, compressive forces, vibrations, heat, moisture and humidity the package will encounter during shipment.
Mailers � These types of bags or envelopes are designed for shipping products via single parcel systems (i.e., UPS, Postal Service and Federal Express). When their use is appropriate, they offer the shipper greater economies and efficiencies than corrugated boxes. Mailers are simple to pack and to close. They use minimal materials, are lighter weight, take up less storage space and are more economical to purchase than boxes. However, they cannot be used for every possible shipment.
There are some guidelines that can help you establish whether a shipment can go in a mailer or whether it would be more appropriate to use a corrugated box. The dimensions of the products to be packaged must be within certain limits. Height should not exceed two inches or three inches; generally the item should be relatively flat. And the length and width of the product must both be such that they will fit into an available mailer size. Mailers come in several standard sizes. Products having dimensions greater than these standard sizes will most often have to be packaged in some other manner. Corrugated containers are often available in special sizes for short runs to accommodate odd sized or configured products.
Furthermore, the products to be packaged should be capable of withstanding compressive forces. Packages will be stacked inside carrier vehicles with other packaged products on top during shipment. The weight of these will bear on all items in the stack below. For products that can be damaged by compression (i.e., cigars), a corrugated container would be necessary. Otherwise, if the product can withstand compressive loads on its own, mailers can be a preferred alternative to boxes.
Although there are several types of padded or cushioned mailers � including air cellular, foam-lined and macerated paper � a product shipped in even these should be fairly rugged. A crude way to estimate whether a product is sufficiently rugged would be to think about whether dropping it from mid-thigh height (approximately 24 inches high) would cause substantial damage. If it would, then the shipper would be advised to think about using corrugated containers with an inch or two of cushioning materials. If the product would probably survive such an impact, a cushioned mailer might provide enough protection. The choice between air cellular, foams or macerated paper will be based on weight of the mailer (air cellular is the lightest, paper the heaviest) or other factors such as surface protection and water resistance.
For products that seem appropriate for shipping in mailers, the user must then decide which type is most appropriate. Mailers are available in several different styles including utility (paper or plastic), reinforced (no padding but having greater resistance to tear and puncture), cushioned or padded (as mentioned above, air cellular or foam-lined, macerated paper, etc.), and rigid (rigid fiberboard construction prevents bending and creasing of the contents). Each type can be purchased with or without self-sealing capabilities and is available in a wide range of standard sizes (widths and lengths).
The selection of the appropriate type will depend on the nature of the product being packaged, cushioning requirements and susceptibility to folding and creasing. After selecting the appropriate type of mailer, the dimensional requirements will be based on what size mailer will adequately contain the products. (Editor�s Note: Selecting the right size mailer for a given product can, at times, be a challenge. A �Guide to Choosing the Correct Size Jiffy Mailer from Sealed Air� is on Sealed Air�s Web site www.sealedair.com. There you will find a calculator for determining the correct mailer size for your product.)
Closure
Proper closure is an issue for both boxes and mailers. For boxes, this most often relates to the selection of specific tapes having the required performance properties for the application at hand. Tapes for box closure are available in plain and reinforced paper and plastic forms, with pressure-sensitive or water-activated adhesive systems. The tape chosen for any given range of applications must be strong enough to hold the contents in place and maintain package integrity for the entire shipping cycle. This relates to the strength of the substrate, paper, plastic or reinforced, the type of adhesive system and the width of the tape. Heavy or large boxes will require wider, stronger tapes.
For mailers, you want to make sure they do not come open in transit. This is most often accomplished using self-sealing designs or pressure-sensitive tape. Some mailers may be folded over and stapled, but tape is the more typical option. And where moisture or water resistance is an issue, many plastic or plastic-lined mailers can be heat-sealed to ensure additional package integrity.
For those instances where the product must be shipped in corrugated shipping containers, more often than not, the shipper will also have to consider the selection of appropriate interior packaging to be used in conjunction with the container. Generally grouped as cushioning, void fill or a combination of the two, the materials and forms available for these applications are quite numerous. Part 2 of this article will deal with the selection and application of these materials.
William R. Armstrong, CPP, is technical development manager of Sealed Air Corporation. For additional information, visit www.sealedair.com.
