To ensure that goods arrive safely at their destination, Antalis Verpackungen GmbH advises customers and offers solutions for optimum product protection.
8 May 2024
Lightweight but robust: the construction of interconnected air chambers provides airbag protection for sensitive products. The packaging is customised to the product requirements. (Image: Antalis Verpackungen GmbH)
Transport goods are exposed to various stresses and risks on their way to the recipient. Packaging should offer protection against impacts, for example. To ensure that everything arrives safely at its destination, Antalis Verpackungen GmbH takes a close look at the supply chain, advises its customers and offers solutions for optimum product protection.
Supply chain expert Kai Kettler knows what forces affect freight during its journey and what levers are available to neutralise their effects. „With the right measures Avoid transport damage as far as possible“, he emphasises. Companies should take a close look at the options available for several reasons: „Improper handling, storage or packaging can result in considerable financial losses, including a loss of image due to high complaint rates. A reliable and secure supply chain strengthens customer loyalty, This ensures a good reputation with suppliers and partners and saves on expensive replacement or repair services,“ explains the expert.
Know what happens along the way
As an expert in supply chain processes, Kai Kettler knows exactly how to minimise transport burdens and costs. (Image: Antalis Verpackungen GmbH)
„For many technical products in particular, global transport is the worst phase of their life. The material and type of protective packaging are therefore always based on the expected transport stresses and are adapted accordingly.“
Precise knowledge of the supply chain and its framework conditions is therefore of central importance. In addition to the more transparent shock loads associated with individual shipments/parcel services, there are many other influential factors, such as the climatic conditions along the freight route: „Extreme temperature fluctuations or a warm and humid tropical climate can favour the formation of condensation. Metals and alloys in particular must therefore be protected by special corrosion and moisture barriers,“ says Kai Kettler. In addition to chemical factors, mechanical forces in particular can have a negative impact. If the load is not appropriately secured, this can lead to Vibrations and impacts often lead to abrasion damage, compression damage or even fatigue fractures.
Simulation of transport loads
Customised PE foam packaging can be used universally thanks to intelligent packaging development, reducing the variety of packaging. (Image: Antalis Verpackungen GmbH)
„Before packaging goes into series production, we therefore anticipate the transport route in test laboratories simulated conditions and determine whether it can withstand the loads,“ reports Kai Kettler. In order to identify any weak points, the acceleration forces that characterise certain distribution channels are simulated in addition to climatic factors. „In addition to the load changes that can occur during transport by lorry or ship, handling processes in particular are subject to their own dynamics,“ the expert explains. Tests are therefore carried out, for example, on how the Impact of a forklift truck or stacking loads in a lift or warehouse can. System-related loads for parcel consignments - from the automated sorting system to the careless parcel carrier - are also simulated in accordance with applicable industry standards using special tilt and drop tests.
Lower costs with the right fuse
Cast fibre packaging made from recycled paper fibre is a plastic-free alternative to conventional polystyrene packaging. (Image: Antalis Verpackungen GmbH)
„In order to minimise damage and costs, it is important to really think through the transport route to the end,“ summarises Kai Kettler. With this approach, the optimum solution can sometimes look very different from what one would expect at first glance. The fact that a More packaging does not necessarily mean better protection The expert uses an example to illustrate what this means: A man buys a glass shower screen from a DIY store. This is completely enclosed in corrugated cardboard packaging. To make it fit into his small car, he helps it along a little, unknowingly deforming the packaging in sensitive areas, thereby damaging the product and complaining that it is „already damaged“: „Based on this customer's experience, we have deliberately made large parts of the optimised packaging transparent. Buyers can now see and understand what fragile freight they are transporting. This led to a massive reduction in the number of complaints due to transport damage,“ summarises Kai Kettler. In another case, a customer was helped to Conversion of its dispatch route and customised packaging advised:
„At first glance, the price per package is significantly higher than transport on a pallet due to the higher protection requirements of an individual shipping solution. However, the freight and logistics costs of a parcel service provider are much more favourable. In the specific case of a cooker hood manufacturer, we were able to save around 25 euros in total costs per product by switching from pallets to optimised protective packaging in parcel shipping and also improve the overall process speed.“
