Shipping out! How to protect the goods?

Outbound shipping? Do not panic: in our online shop, you will find both dehydration chains for containers, which prevent the insidious phenomenon of "container rain," and bags of silica gel or activated clay. All can be used to protect goods during shipments.

Here is how to choose the best container desiccant for different types of shipping. Then, with just a few questions, you can figure out how to best protect goods from humidity...

Whole container or groupage?

Here's the first question: Will I ship an entire container, or will I do a groupage and rely on the shippers for the groupage?

Set up and protect an entire container

The full container (or multiple full containers) is the choice for those with very high shipping volumes.

In this case, the shipper will deliver an empty container (or several empty containers) to me, which I will be responsible for filling.

Once the container is full, I close it, seal it (with simple stickers that will act as a "guarantee seal"), and have the courier pick it up. Get set to go!

Therefore, it is easy to understand that protecting what is inside the container is entirely my responsibility. The courier won't even open what I sealed...

It is my responsibility, for example, to store parcels and keep them safe, and it's my job to keep them from getting wet.

This is how dehydration chains usually work,

This is the typical case in which dehydration chains, also called container bags, are used. They serve to prevent the famous rain of containers.

What is "container rain."

Imagine a journey of several months, perhaps to Asian regions, followed by further the container was kept for months in an open yard, where it was completely sealed but still exposed to all weather.

When temperatures rise, the humidity in the container's air, packaging, and goods tend to evaporate. But when the temperatures drop again, it condenses on the walls and roof of the container, making it rain inside the container.

Protecting the goods from "container rain" is very important because it keeps the packages from getting too wet and, with them, the goods they contain. Even finding unreadable labels because they have been damaged by rain is a big pity, as it can make delivery to the correct recipient impossible.

How Dehydration Chains or Container Bags Work

The desiccant chains are composed, in extreme synthesis, of:

• Calcium chloride can soak up much more than silica gel (but, unlike silica gel, it releases irritating leachate as it absorbs water).
• An absorbent material, usually gel or something made from plants, absorbs most of the leachate, preventing damage to the container or goods.
• The packages must still be sufficiently protected (even conventional nylon or polyethylene sheets are sufficient) so that a few drops of leachate that get out of the chains won't hurt them, especially if they have a long way to go.

 

Visit our shop's page about dehydration chains for containers to find out how much they cost, what sizes they come in, and other technical details.

Barrier material or protection sheets for groupage shipments

The alternative to full container shipping is consolidated or consolidated shipping.

In this case, I'll give the carrier my packages, and he will store them in his container with those of other customers. The freight forwarder cannot be expected to be interested in protecting the goods from humidity: I will have to move around independently, working on the packaging by myself.

Depending on the situation, I can use simple polyethylene protection sheets or better barrier material.

How to prepare parcels for groupage

There are more or less effective protection materials, but the best ones also have higher costs. That is why, therefore, several factors should be carefully considered before picking one.

The trip's length and how it will be done are the first things to think about.

A week-long trip presents limited risks; a boat trip of several months, perhaps on tropical or subtropical routes, is quite another matter.

The second factor is the kind of goods we ship, including how expensive and fragile they are.

So, in some cases, lighter protection will be enough, while in others, the packages will need to be completely sealed and have anti-humidity materials inside.

We recommend you to get in touch with Britwrap if you want to buy best container desiccant.

The barrier material: the most effective protection

The barrier material is an extremely valuable product, a multi-layer sheet that protects against both humidity and ultraviolet rays; it is used even for extremely sensitive goods.

It is used to cover packages, isolating them completely. Self-sealing pliers are a special tool you need to use to close it.

Closed in the barrier material, the collar is perfectly waterproof and protected. Depending on the type of goods transported, it may be useful to insert common silica gel or clay bags inside to avoid humidity problems.