Friday, January 11, 2008
Types of Packaging for Break Bulk Cargo
1. Bagged Cargo
The commodity itself has to be robust to withstand outside pressure and compression for the bags will only hold the contents in one place and will not provide protection against external damage. Such commodities are: fertilizers, grain, seeds, dried fruit, sugar, coconut, coffee, flour, salt etc.
1. Bagged Cargo
The commodity itself has to be robust to withstand outside pressure and compression for the bags will only hold the contents in one place and will not provide protection against external damage. Such commodities are: fertilizers, grain, seeds, dried fruit, sugar, coconut, coffee, flour, salt etc.
2. Fibreboard Boxes and Cartons
They are widely used because they are cheap and economy efficient. Able to withstand normal transport hazards and protect the contents against loss of damage. If in transit, the carton boxes may have to be placed onto a pallet and properly strap in order to protect them from pilferage and damage.
3. Wooden Cases
These have stood the test of time and the main advantage is that they have wall strength to support superimposed loads. They are more expensive than cartontype packing due to the cost of the wood.
They are suitable when goods are carried by conventional methods and when they are sensitive to heat, dampness etc. The goods may require protection by way of packing with layers of insulating materials, tar paper, sealed plastic covering etc.
4. Wooden Crates
Suitable for wooden packages built like a skeleton. The open crate can be used when the contents are sufficiently resilient to require a minimal form of packaging to facilitate handling and stowage. Sometimes, it is used as an outer package to consolidate fibreboard boxes or give cartons extra protection, e.g. use for carriage of large pieces of machinery.
5. Drums, Barrels, Casks.
Generally used for liquid such as latex, chemical, whisky, detergents, oil, paints, powders, cement etc.
6. Shrink Wrapping
Dry chemicals, granular and powdered substances in bags cannot be easily strapped on to a pallet. When these items have to be utilized, bags are stowed on the pallet and interlocked; a polythene sheet of suitable gauge is then draped over the bags. This unit is then passed through a tunnel oven where polythene is heat-sealed tight, binding the bags to the pallet to form a good unit load.
7. Preservation against Corrosion
Machinery when being packed for export by sea has to be preserved against humidity and corrosion. All open parts are chemically treated and sometimes greased. The best preservation is to vaccuum-seal the machine. Some other methods involve the use of sufficient quantity of silica gel, depending on the volume of the package.
signing off~ © 4:07 AM