|
How do you pack a box safely for shipping UPS, FedEx, DHL and the
United States Post Office? At postalcenter we are professionally
trained certified packaging experts and we’ve made it our business
to package items safely for shipping.
The information listed below is intended to help you determine
proper packaging for your items and are not the guidelines
themselves. Proper packaging is based on many factors- fragility,
weight, value and the method of transport. Packages with insurance
or declared value coverage must meet or exceed the carrier’s
guidelines to be covered.
In this section we will look at prepping your items, choosing a
container, and general rules of thumb and common sense packaging
results.
Use Correct Shipping
Cushioning materials
Before you put your items in a container to be shipped, you must
prepare and properly cushion them first.
Bubble Wrap
Fragile items require bubble wrap to keep them safe from each other
and to help absorb shock and vibration in transit. Bubble wrap is
not intended to always be used by itself. It is best used together
with polyfill or packing peanuts.
Use bubble wrap correctly
Just using bubble wrap is not enough to ensure safety; it must be
used correctly. Bubble wrap should be wrapped around the item in
order to work. Placing bubble wrap too loosely around an item or in
a box will not always properly do the job.
The Difference between small and large bubble wrap
There are also different strengths and sizes of bubble wrap. We
offer small (3/16”) and large (1/2”) bubble wrap. Small bubble wrap
is best used for small items or in between dishes as a buffer.
Because 3/16” bubble wrap is so thin, it may not be useful on larger
or heavier items. Large bubble wrap (1/2”) is used on heavier items
such as glass, electronics or artwork. In order for bubble wrap to
do its job correctly, you must choose the correct type.
Polyfill, Packing Peanuts, Loose fill
Polyfill/packing peanuts are used to absorb shock and vibration at
to keep your carton tight and from crushing.
Polyfill/packing peanuts can be recycled.
Avoid using newspaper, blankets, clothing and pillows as packaging
cushioning. These items do not properly absorb shock and vibrations
and are not designed for safe packaging.
Foam Injection Cushioning
Foam injection packaging is the safest way to protect an item. The
item is fully encased in custom molded foam pieces.
Common uses of foam injection packaging:
-
High
value items
-
Heavy items
-
Electronics
-
Mirrors
Choose the right
container
Boxes, Mailing tubes and padded envelopes can all be used in
shipping with UPS, FedEx, and DHL. So how do you choose the right
one? Let’s look at each of these and determine their correct use.
Corrugated Boxes
Corrugated boxes are used to keep items in a sturdy container and
make shipments easy to stack in the sorting process. Our boxes are
between 200-275lb. bursting test. Do not use flimsy boxes as they
will crush in transit and the result will be damaged items.
Choose the correct size shipping container
Choose a shipping container that allows for proper cushioning on all
sides of the item(s). The amount of cushioning needed is based on
the fragility, weight, value and transportation type of the
shipment.
Note- Boxes in good condition can sometimes be re-used.
There are 2 types of boxes that cannot be used in standard
shipping. They are:
Mailing Tubes
Mailing tubes are used to ship printed materials such as posters,
banners, artwork or blueprints. They will protect the contents from
folding or creasing. Be careful not to put items that are too heavy
or that shift too much into tubes. The end caps may not be strong
enough to keep them secure inside.
Padded/Bubble Envelopes
Padded or bubble Envelopes are used for items that are not
breakable. It is a common misconception that because they are
padded they will protect fragile items. Items such as glass,
picture frames, or delicate items must never be shipped in a padded
or bubble envelope. |
