Six logistics functions:

1. Containment:
Contained contents of products and prevented from shifting before they are transported from one place to another.

2. Protection
To protect the contents from damage or loss from outside environmental effects such as moisture, dust, insects and contamination.

3. Apportionment
To reduce output from industrial production to a manageable and desirable consumer size, translating large output of manufacturing into smaller quantities of greater use to customers

4. Unitization
Allow primary packages to be unitized into secondary packages (placed into a corrugated case). Secondary packages are then unitized into stretch-wrapped pallet, and lastly, into a container that is loaded with several pallets. Unitization reduces the amount of times a product must be handled.

5. Convenience
Allow customers to use the products conveniently with little effort wasted by the customers. Example, blister packs, dispensers

6. Communication
The use of unambiguous, readily understood symbols to allow information to be conveyed to customers. Example, use of UPC (Universal Product Code)

Benefits of good packaging

Costs can be reduced and service levels are improved due to customers who are able to obtain more of the same amount of product in lesser space with fewer partials or split shipments from supplier as more products can be placed on the transport vehicle that makes the delivery.

-Lighter packaging save transportation cost
-Careful planning of packaging size allows better use of warehouse space and transportation
-Protective packaging to reduce damage and requirements for special handling
-More environmentally conscious packaging may help save disposal costs and improves company’s image
-Use of returnable containers helps save cost and environmental benefits through reduction of waste products

Paper may be the oldest form packaging. In the First of Second Century B.C., Chinese used sheets of paper that were treated by mulberry bark to wrap foods.
In the 20th century, paper and paperboard packaging increased in popularity, however, with the popularity of plastics increasing in late 1970s and early 1980s, paper and related products faded in use.

History of Plastics

Compared to other packaging materials such as glass, metals and papers, plastic is the youngest. Plastics packaging becomes popular as it is tedious compared to paper. In addition, it is cheap to manufacture and seems to be able to last forever. Plastics packaging is widely in industries such as manufacturing, food, chemical agricultural, etc.

Insulation and cushioning materials as well as foam boxes, packaging sheets become popular in various industries However, due to the rise in environmental concerns lately; current packaging designs are beginning to use recycled and reusable materials.


Example of Logistical Packaging

1. Container

An example of slip sheet

Goods are placed on slip sheets and forklift will pull the load, after which goods will be placed on a truck. Using slip sheets allows unit load to be transported easily. An example of lifting the slip sheet is being shown in Figure 1 below.

The advantages of using slip sheet are that it is fully recyclable and environmental friendly. Other than that, it is usually used for long distance shipping as it is cheaper and lighter compared to using pallets. In addition, slip sheets are bacteria and moisture resistant, maximize warehouse space and hygienic.

The disadvantages of using slip sheet is that it causes slower handling than using pallet and greater damage to goods


3. Plastic Divider Sheets

Divider sheets, also known as tier sheets or layer pads are used to place between products to protect and stabilize products. They are made of 100% plastic that will reduce contamination that will occur from dust and fiber. In addition, plastic divider sheets are recyclable.

There are other types of pallets, such as, nestable pallets, stackable pallets and rackable pallets.

Different types of pallets

5. Tote pans

Tote pans are containers that are used to store loose and small items. It is used in the warehouse when staffs are picking small and loose products. Other than that function, tote pans are also used as cartons for distribution. Tote pans can be reused and it can be made of plastics and steel.

6. Cartons

Disposable boxes like cartons are used to store items. Cartons are usually used for distribution and if there are many cartons, it will be packed on pallets, palletized and store.

7. Crates

A crate is a large container that are used to transport large, bulky and heavy items. Crate is made of plastic, metal and other materials, but it is commonly made of wood as this is because most plastic crates are small and metal is heavy.

Boxes and crates are made of wood and are used store items;therefore, they are often confused with one another. The difference is that crate is a stronger and larger item compared to boxes. The term crate is used to denote wooden boxes and crates, however misusing of the term could result in a container that is not for its initial purpose.

8. Strapping

Strapping is usually done to stabilize goods and to keep products from being firmly strapped together. Strap is usually steel or plastic. Strapping will be done by using strapping machine and tools.

9. Shrink-Wrap/Stretch-Wrap

Used for load stabilization
In shrink-wrapping, a film or bag is placed over the load and then heat is applied to shrink the film or bag. Most shrink-wrap applications are being replaced by stretch-wrapping.
In stretch-wrapping, a film is wound around the load while the film is stretched; allows irregular loads to be stabilized; manual or automatic; as compared to shrink-wrapping.

10. Overpacks

An overpack is a secondary container used to contain one or more packages to form one handling unit. All the inner packages must be properly marked and labeled. The overpack must have all the markings and labels of the inner packages, net quantity of the dangerous goods inside and state “Inner packages comply with prescribed specifications”.

11. Drums

All drums must be properly labeled with the drum contents, whether hazardous or non-hazardous, date collected, 24-hour emergency contact number, and name of the responsible party. Under strict legislation by the government, they must be labeled permanently to identify the products, their hazardous characteristics, proper disposal, lot code, etc.

Labels

One rather recent development in packaging is the labeling of the product with the company name and contents information. This packaging method allow customer know more information about the product, especially when they want choose product to buy. Today, there are nearly three-quarters of a million (750,000) registered trademarks in the United States alone. Labels now contain a great deal of information intended to protect and instruct the public.


Infectious Substances

Infectious substances are substances from Category A Infectious substances, Risk Group 4 or classified as a Select Agent. UN 2814 for substances which cause disease in humans or humans and animals. The proper shipping name will be “Infectious substance, affecting humans”. UN 2900 for substances which cause disease only in animals. The proper shipping name is “Infectious substance, affecting animals only”

Diagnostic Specimens

Infectious samples not falling into Infectious Substances are Diagnostic Specimens and must be labeled with “Diagnostic Specimen Packed in Compliance with IATA Packing Instruction 650."
The package must be marked with "UN 3373" and the Proper Shipping Name. Place a diamond shaped UN 3373 label adjacent to the Proper Shipping Name and UN Number. State “Diagnostic Specimen” on the outside of package and include net quantity of infectious substance If dry ice is used, place a Class 9 label adjacent to the dry ice markings and include UN 1845 and the net weight.

Hazard labels for dangerous goods

All dangerous goods are classified in one of nine primary classes, with a label to categorize the nature of the hazard. These labels must be affixed to the outside of the package when it is offered for transport and must remain on the package while it is in transit. Some examples of these are illustrated below:

Class 1 Explosives

Class 2 Gases

Glass 3 Flammable Liquids

Class 4 Flammable solids

Class 5.1 Oxidising substances and Class 5.2 Organic peroxide

Class 6.1 Toxic substances and 6.2 Infectious substances

Class 7 Radioactive material

Class 8 Corrosives

Class 9 Miscellaneous

International pictorial labels

Orientation arrows are required for packages containing infectious substances with more than 50 mL.

Use the “Cargo Only” handling label for air transport and on packages that exceed the quantity limits for transport by passenger aircraft.


Overpack markings are required when the overpack obscures the markings and labels of inner packages. Use the “Overpack” marking in addition to duplicating all markings and inner labels that are not visible through the overpack.


Shipments of hazardous substances within the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations 2004 should be marked with a limited quantity label when they are shipped under the limited quantity exceptions.


OSHA requires that warning labels shall be affixed to containers of regulated waste, refrigerators and freezers containing, blood, and other containers used to store, transport or ship blood or other potentially infectious materials.

Trends

Blanket Wrapping

Blanket wrapping is used to transport valuable items that require delicate handling. It reduces packaging needs and ensures products are received in perfect condition.

Returnable Containers

Returnable Containers are rapidly becoming a standard method for shipping parts. The advantages are economic, efficiency, and environmental.

Plastic Pallets

Advantages:

-Precise and consistent specifications

-Do not absorb humidity

-Some can be moulded so that that can be nested when empty -No sharp edges, loose nails or splinters

-Can be cleaned effectively

-Very low maintenance required

-Can be manufactured from recovered material

-Can be lightweight (depending on density) -Long life if handled correctly

-Washable and not prone to infection or infestation

Disadvantages:

Seaborne Containerization Trend

Year TEUs

1969 - 270,000

1979 - 2,650,000

1989 4,785,000

1999 11,600,000

Improvements in port handling efficiency, thus lowering costs and helping lower freight charges and, in turn, boosting trade flows has resulted from the introduction of containers.

Containerization has revolutionized cargo shipping. Today, approximately 90% of non-bulk cargo worldwide moves by containers stacked on transport ships; 26% of all containers originate from China.

In addition, containerization improved cargo security as the products in containers are not visible to viewer and thus, less likely to be stolen. In addition, containers’ doors sealed and this reduced the "falling off the truck" syndrome that long plagued the shipping industry.

Some of the largest global companies containerizing shipments today are Patrick Global Shipping, Bowen Exports, and Theiler & Sons Goods, LLC.

Case Study

Rubber banding wrapping instead of shrink wrapping

Company: Traex / Menasha Corporation

Summary :

Rubber pallet bands replace shrink wrap for securing skid-loads in warehouse operations, yielding annual savings of $49,706 from reduced labor and materials.

Action :

Traex manufactures injection molded plastics and other products for the food service industry.

Finished products are boxed in corrugated containers and stored on pallets in the warehouse until needed to fill orders. Previously the company stretch-wrapped the pallet-loads by hand for transfer to the warehouse. The wrapping process was time-consuming and required most of one employee's attention over three shifts. The process also exposed workers to the risk of back injury from stooping and straining.

Traex began to study a change in this method of warehousing on pallets when its waste hauler announced a new requirement: old stretch-wrap removed from pallets during the order-filling process henceforth would have to be baled for disposal.

Beginning in April 1995, Traex began testing rubber pallet bands to secure loads. Unstretched bands measure 3/4" wide by 92" in circumference, the proper size for use with 40" x 48" pallets. Typically, two bands are used per skid, one looping around the top layer of boxes and the other about mid-load. Bands are applied by hand, an operation that takes one worker about 10 seconds per band. (By comparison, stretch-wrapping required about 1 minute per skid.) When skids are brought from the warehouse to fill orders, the bands are quickly removed and tossed in a container for reuse. From pallet-loading at the production line, to warehouse, to pallet-unloading, bands make the roundtrip in about six weeks.

With training provided by the warehouse manager, this change in operations was adopted easily. Employees like the rubber bands better than shrink-wrap. After 10 months under test, only four bands broke. There is no risk from snapping bands.

Benefits

The most important saving is reduced labor cost. Traex calculates that it recovered the cost of its initial supply of rubber bands in just four 3-shift production days. Here is the company's summary of overall annual savings:

Reduced labor $50,112

Reduced disposal expense 400

Reduced purchase of stretch-wrap 195

550 rubber bands @ 1.82 - 1,001

NET SAVING $49,706

Reduced demand for stretch wrap has freed some storage space, and additional labor has been saved by avoiding baling of stretch-wrap. Occasional use of temporary workers for unwrapping stretch-wrap has ended, as have occasional injuries to workers from using a knife to cut away stretch-wrap.

The group's analysis of the case

Based on the case study of using rubber banding wrapping instead of shrink wrap as shown in the references, it was shown that it helps in reducing labor cost, storage cost and prevent wastage of materials like shrink wrap. Rubber banding wrapping also helps in saving the environment as it can be recycled which results in the cost savings for the shrink wrap method will require a new shrink wrap to be used for a new product packaged.

This is an innovative invention as in recent trend, being environmental friendly will help gain competitive advantage over others. And in today’s world context, saving costs has become a challenge and a need to be achieved as there are many competitors. Hence with this innovation in packaging, it not only helps Traex to save costs, it also helps gain competitive advantage in being environmental friendly.

Therefore, I feel that flexibility in logistical packaging is the key to success of the company. Logistical packaging is important as if a package is more standard and easy to access, it will help save a lot of time and labor in doing the packaging. This can be shown in this case as much works are simplified through this innovation which saves much time in doing the wrapping.

3M reusable pak

Company: 3M

Through packaging innovation, 3M’s Audio and Video Products Division has created enormous industry interest in its new bulk videotape logistical shipping container, the 3M Reusable Pak. This new container eliminates the cardboard, plastic, and foam waste associated with other packaging methods. The 3M Reusable Pak not only reduces waste and disposal fees, it has saved millions of dollars in material costs and eliminated over 1.4 million cubic feet of waste from entering area landfills and incinerators.

Background

As a leading producer of bulk videotape for the film duplication and packaging industry, 3M was looking into videotape packaging when the Audio Video Duplicator Association approached 3M and requested help in finding ways to reduce packaging waste. Previous shipments of videotape in the "pancake" format lead to the creation of 1 cubic foot of waste for every 8 pancakes shipped. The same waste stream inflated customer’s labor costs by increasing the handling expense for both incoming shipments and waste disposal. In addition the previous packaging involved 11 different components to create a standard package for the shipment of 8 pancakes. Because of the complexity of the packaging, 3M incurred increased expense for both labor and material. As the need to redesign the packaging became evident, a survey demonstrated that 3M customers rated recyclability, reusability, environmental impacts and low cost equally when considering package design. Creating a healthier environment and bottom line became the important fuel for the challenge of a better package design.

Solution

3M created an innovative patented solution that eliminates all dunnage, reduces the number of packaging components to 2, saves labor costs and eliminates any material from entering the waste stream. In this case, the annual 1.4 million cubic feet of waste is eliminated. The solution involves the use of two identical panels, blow molded out of HDPE in an interdigitated format that allows for interchangeability. Each panel collapses to create a stack ratio of 3 to 1 allowing for the return shipment and reuse by 3M to be economically feasible. Through the simplicity of the 2 piece design and use of non fiber material, customer’s handling costs were also significantly reduced by making the containers safe for transport directly into clean rooms. In some instances, all hand contact can be eliminated for additional customer productivity enhancement. The success created by the 3M Reusable Pak has created significant opportunities for a new system in logistical packaging. These systems will incorporate design efforts that begin with the customer’s design process and eliminate dunnage, create better unitized loads, add enhanced ergonomic designs and increase efficiency. All of which add money to the bottom line.

The group’s analysis of the case

Based on the case study of 3M Reusable Pak, it shows how each packages panel can be collapse to allow the packages to be reused by 3M for the return shipment. This help to save cost as the carton can be used to and fro of the shipment.

This helps to eliminates waste materials which prove to be environmental friendly. It also minimizes errors as standard packages are used to contain the products and it is used for to and fro shipments hence people handling the shipment will not be confused. And with standard packaging and packages that are not of odd shaped it helps to save a lot of cost in transportation as it can contain more per (m3).

Therefore, all in all with an excellent packaging it will help to save a lot of costs such as transportation, storage and labour costs.

Fresh Fruit Salad Packaging for Airfreight, South Africa and UK

Fresh fruit salad is exported daily between Heathrow, London and South Africa’s retail shelf ready for consumer’s selection. A span of control is needed by the exporters in the quality of preparation, presentation and delivery of a fragile product. The edible fresh fruit is diced into smaller pieces that are easy to serve. The different varieties of fruit are then mixed together in punnet-sized consumer packs, normal clear plastic. It was then sealed with a film to protect the product throughout its journey to the end consumer. Each of these consumer packs is labeled. Throughout this process there is strict quality control to ensure that the flavor, sizing and trimming meet the retailer’s standards. Consumer packs are arranged in set quantities into transport cardboard boxes, labelled and sealed. Pallets of the transport boxes are then arranged according to their different destinations of distribution centre in the UK. Correct quantity must go to each depot daily. Pallets are then labeled with their destination and other information. The next stage in the distribution channel is the transfer of the products from one continent to another by airfreight. Fresh fruit salad which is prepared in Johannesburg, South Africa, is sent that same evening from Johannesburg airport by air cargo to Heathrow, London, where it arrives in the early hours of the morning (about 5 am). It is distributed to the various retailers’ distribution centre that morning so that it can be on the retailers’ shelves by the time consumers are leaving work to go home. They can collect their fresh fruit salad and eat it with the evening meal or snack on the way home.

The group’s analysis of the case

To ensure that the fruit is not spoilt in the process of airfreight, breathability of packaging and packaging design for improved space utilization has to be exercised

Breathability is through the thin membrane film sealing the top of the consumer punnet pack containing the ready-to-eat fresh fruit salad. Some plants continue to live even after they have been harvested; a well- known instance is cut flowers. The packaging and the transport container have to allow the flow of vapours to escape. This applies to fresh fruit salad and is addressed by pores that are so tiny they are not visible. It has been known for fresh fruit salad packages to be placed upside down and the juices to leak out through these pores in the film. When this happens the product has to be thrown away.

Second aspect is the packaging design for improved space utilization. As the fresh fruit salad is ready to eat, the weight of the product has already been reduced to a minimum when the skin and non-edible parts were removed during the production process. By reducing the actual weight in this way, it is important to design the packaging so it is the minimum cube. In airfreight, both weight and cube impact on the cost of transportation, hence it is worth examining those instances where there has been a redesign of the packaging to improve space utilization. In field research the author found out that the original design for the fresh fruit salad consumer pack was in the shape of a bowl. But this bowl design was not space efficient, although there is a need to be space efficient when using expensive airfreight. It was this bowl design, with one packed upside down on top of another to save space, that had the disastrous result of leakage and consequent product waste. The packaging logistics redesign was a rectangular shape with a sloping base such that, by rotation of one pack by 180 degrees, it fitted on the bottom pack in a space-efficient way. By implementing this design at source, less space was needed for airfreight, the problem of leaking from upside-down bowls was eliminated and the packages did not need to be re-sorted in the UK prior to destination to the retail distribution centre.

Conclusion

Logistics packaging is important in protecting and delivering the products to customers safely. It helps to reduce costs, improve customer service levels and increase environmental awareness. The earliest form of packaging started from paper but was later faded due to the increasing popularity of plastics which is widely used today.
There are many kinds of packaging such as containers, pallets, crates, drum and shrink-wrap. One of the recent development in packaging is the labeling on products and packages. Some of them include regulatory labels such as the hazard label which describes the nature of a dangerous good and it has to be affixed outside the package during transportation. There are also international pictorial labels that help in communicating the types of products in the packages to people. It is noticed that there are trends in the way of packaging such as the use of blanket wrapping, returnable containers, plastic pallets and containerization.
In regards to the case study of rubber banding versus shrink wrapping, we conclude that rubber banding is a better way of securing the cartons on pallets as it helps in reducing time and costs in terms of labour, storage and disposal.
Based on the case study of 3M Reusable Pak, we conclude that the packaging helps to eliminate waste materials, minimizes errors of confusions and reduce transportation costs.
The case study of transporting the fresh fruits, it was analyzed that the, breathability of packaging and packaging design for improved space utilization is important for preventing the spoilage of the fruits.
In conclusion, the various aspects are important to the logistical packaging as it protects the goods and keeps them in good condition from the origin to the end customers. The findings have provided a knowledge of the common packages used today and the case studies helped in determining the best way of packaging the goods to keep in good condition at the lowest cost..

Reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packaging

http://www.library.yale.edu/Sys_Demo/Twede-f.pdf

http://www.ehs.cornell.edu/lrs/chp/17.labeling.req.html

http://www.ilpi.com/msds/osha/cpl2238d.html#paragraphf

http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/smc/department/printable/0,,1954_2139_188228,00.html

http://www.apclabels.com/tla.php#Chemical

http://www.mass.gov/dph/bls/div_6_2_infectious_substance_shipping_guide.doc

http://www.mass.gov/dph/bls/div_6_2_infectious_substance_shipping_guide.doc

http://www.igps.net/pdf/iGPS_Environment_110206.pdf

http://www.ruscopackaging.com/Product_Catalog/Plastic_Strapping/plastic_strapping.html

http://www.4cpacks.com/ppstrap.htm

http://www.grantpackagingllc.com/plasticstrap.html

http://www.5es.co.uk/reverse_logistics/rtp/rtp_types/pallets.htm

http://www.barcominc.com/solutions/ContainerTracking.pdf

http://www.5es.co.uk/reverse_logistics/rtp/rtp_types/pallets.htm

http://www.gwtrans.com/blanket_wrap.html

http://www.barcominc.com/solutions/ContainerTracking.pdf

http://www.5es.co.uk/reverse_logistics/rtp/rtp_types/pallets.htm

http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/ipgrain/ipgrains.pdf

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26fr%3Dyfp-t-310%26va%3Dplastics%26sz%3Dall&w=300&h=197&imgurl=www.kupro.nl%2Fimg%2Fplastics_throwaway2.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kupro.nl%2Fplastics_throwaway.html&size=23.7kB&name=plastics_throwaway2.jpg&p=plastics&type=jpeg&no=1&tt=568,656&oid=94beb317e9b69494&ei=ISO-8859-1

4:53 AM

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Research for the project •

History of Logistical Packaging

http://www.scrib.org/downloads/activity_cards/english/the_history_of_packaging.pdf

http://www.bagmanofcantley.co.uk/html/history_of_packaging.html

http://ohioline.osu.edu/cd-fact/0133.html

Forms of Packaging

Very early in time, packaging was made from animal skins, large leaves and vegetables. Water was kept in containers made from coconut shells, animal skins or gourds - the hollowed-out dried skins of fruit and vegetables. When containers were needed, nature provided gourds, shells, and leaves to use. Later, containers were fashioned from natural materials, such as hollowed logs, woven grasses and animal organs.

Fabrics were made into garments, used to wrap products or formed into bags. With the weaving process, grasses, and later reeds, were made into baskets to store food surpluses. Main functions of packaging are to allow products for easy transport, and to protect it until we are ready to eat it, which reduces the amount we waste.

Different kinds of packaging material



-Paper and Paper Products Paper may be the oldest form of what today is referred to as "flexible packaging." Sheets of treated mulberry bark were used by the Chinese to wrap foods as early as the First or Second century B.C. But these first papers were somewhat different from those used today.

Paper and paperboard packaging increased in popularity well into the 20th century. Then with the advent of plastics as a significant player in packaging (late 1970s and early 1980s), paper and its related products tend to fade in use. Lately that trend has halted as designers try to respond to environmental concerns.

-Plasti

Plastics

Plastic is the youngest in comparison with other packaging materials. Although discovered in the 19th century, most plastics were reserved for military and wartime use.

For packaging, molded deodorant squeeze bottles were introduced in 1947 and in 1958. The Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE) container only became available during the last two decades with its use for beverages entering the market in 1977.
Current packaging designs are beginning to incorporate recyclable and recycled plastics but the search for reuse functions continues.

-Labels and Trademarks

One rather recent development in packaging is the labeling of the product with the company name and contents information.

Official trademarks were pioneered in 1866 by Smith Brothers for their cough drops marketed in large glass jars. This was a new idea - using the package to "brand" a product for the benefit of the consumer. Today, there are nearly three-quarters of a million (750,000) registered trademarks in the United States alone. Labels now contain a great deal of information intended to protect and instruct the public.

Introduction

http://www.plog.lth.se/

Packaging logistics covers the design of a product, its package and packing, as well as the adaptation and control of the distribution system and the administrative and information systems associated with the processes throughout the whole chain from raw product, via various processing stages, to the distribution to the end user, and on to recycling and recovery. As both packaging and logistics form important parts of packaging logistics thinking, safe delivery can be offered to customers and users at a low cost

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-64302/logistics

Two purposes are served by packaging: promoting the product and protecting it. The promotional effort is to make the product stand out on a store shelf and say “take me home” to the customer walking down the store aisle. The protective function is to protect the product and, in some instances, to keep the product from damaging surrounding items.

Examples of Logistical Packaging

http://slipsheet.net/

Plastic Slip Sheets, an economical material handling solution for applications that involve push-pull devices. Slip Sheets serve as a platform for work-in-process and storage applications. They are fully recyclable and provide an environmentally-friendly solution to wood or fiberboard materials commonly used for slip sheets.

Advantages:

· Moisture and Bacteria Resistant
· Non-porous-no bacteria growth or insect larvae
· High Tensile Strength (Pull Resistance)
· Hygienic · Maximize Shipping and Warehouse Space
· Less expensive than wood pallets
· 100% reusable and recyclable

Plastic Reusable Divider Sheets (also known as Tier Sheets, Layer Pads)
Designed as placement between layers of product to protect and stabilize contents, while minimizing contamination. These fully recyclable sheets are manufactured with Polypropylene plastic.

Divider Sheets offer greater cleanliness, strength and moisture resistance than corrugated or solid fiberboard divider sheets. The 100% plastic design reduces the product contamination that can occur from dust, fiber and splinters found in these alternative sheet materials.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slip_Sheet



Slip Sheets are thin pallet-sized sheets made of plastic or fibreboard, used in commercial shipping. Goods are placed on the slip sheets and then secured - usually by pallet shrouds or pallet wrap. A specially adapted fork lift truck drags the load onto itself and places it into a truck. At the destination the process is reversed. Slip sheets are very common in the United States but less so in Europe where there is no common standard.



http://www.ise.ncsu.edu/kay/mhetax/UnitEq/Slipshet/index.htm


Description



The slip sheet is used as a unit load support device in vehicle delivery and transportation of products. When slip sheets are supported by a pallet board, roller conveyor surface, flat load carrying surface, or a cart or lift truck, the structural strength of the slip sheet supports the product loads weight. With the slip sheet supported by one of these transportation devices the unit load can easily be transported both internally within a facility and externally between two facility locations.The basic setup for lifting the slip sheet unit load is seen below (Fig 1).




Slip Sheet Types



There are several types of slip sheets that can be used for the transportation of a unit load depending upon the desired use of the sheet. The slip sheet is shaped and dimensioned to the size of the product or unit load. The type of slip sheet varies depending on both the number of lip extensions and the material from which it is manufactured. Single Lip Slip Sheet: The first type of slip sheet is the single lip (tab) slip sheet

http://www.ise.ncsu.edu/kay/mhetax/UnitEq/index.htm#Selfrestraining%20(no%20equipment

Advantages of unit loads:

Bins/Baskets/Racks Storage

Cartons

Shrink-Wrap/Stretch-Wrap

In stretch-wrapping, a film is wound around the load while the film is stretched; allows irregular loads to be stabilized; manual or automatic; as compared to shrink-wrapping, stretch-wrapping has lower material, labor, and energy costs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crate

http://www.surplus-safety.com/products/productdetail.asp?ProductCode=DG05

The air eligible marking may be used on shipments of dangerous goods prepared in accordance with the International Air Transport Dangerous Goods Regulations.

This Magnetized Material handling label provides a quick reference for shipping personnel.

Labels can help protect products from mishandling.

All employees working with cryogenic liquids must be aware of their hazards and must have proper knowledge of identifying packages containing such hazardous materials.

The Keep Away From Heat label is required for transportation by air of self-reacting materials including class 4.1 spontaneously combustibles and class 5.2 organic peroxides.

ICC The Compliance Center carries keep dry labels for shipments that must be protected from excessive humidity and cannot get wet. Great for use on packages containing chemicals that become reactive with water (Class 4.3 chemicals). Cold temperature labels alert shippers, handlers, and cold storage workers to keep your packages refrigerated or frozen at all times.

Internationally recognized symbols get your message across. Properly identify diagnostic specimens, foods, liquids, and other materials with our cold temperature labels. There are several labels to choose from according to the special instruction your packages require.

Case Study

http://web.indstate.edu/recycle/9628.html

KEY WORDS OFFICE FURNITURE, LOGISTICAL SHIPPING

Summary
10 parts of an office chair that are used in the greatest number during assembly, and is required that those parts to be shipped in returnable packaging, the company saves at least $70,000 a year, among other benefits

Action
Both Herman Miller North America and its subsidiaries can provide a number of well documented examples of how the company and the natural environment each benefit from reusable, returnable packaging rather than expendable, throwaway packaging. This concept is taken by the Aeron chair a big step further.

Company: Traex / Menasha Corporation

Summary Rubber pallet bands replace shrink wrap for securing skid-loads in warehouse operations, yielding annual savings of $49,706 from reduced labor and materials.

Action :
Traex manufactures injection molded plastics and other products for the food service industry. Finished products are boxed in corrugated containers and stored on pallets in the warehouse until needed to fill orders.

Previously the company stretch-wrapped the pallet-loads by hand for transfer to the warehouse. The wrapping process was time-consuming and required most of one employee's attention over three shifts. The process also exposed workers to the risk of back injury from stooping and straining.

Traex began to study a change in this method of warehousing on pallets when its waste hauler announced a new requirement: old stretch-wrap removed from pallets during the order-filling process henceforth would have to be baled for disposal. Beginning in April 1995, Traex began testing rubber pallet bands to secure loads. (Aero Pallet Bands, 7501 W. 99th Place, Bridgeview, IL 60455. 800-662-1009, 708-430-4900. Fax: 708-430-4909.) Unstretched bands measure 3/4" wide by 92" in circumference, the proper size for use with 40" x 48" pallets.

Typically, two bands are used per skid, one looping around the top layer of boxes and the other about mid-load. Bands are applied by hand, an operation that takes one worker about 10 seconds per band. (By comparison, stretch-wrapping required about 1 minute per skid.) When skids are brought from the warehouse to fill orders, the bands are quickly removed and tossed in a container for reuse. From pallet-loading at the production line, to warehouse, to pallet-unloading, bands make the roundtrip in about six weeks. With training provided by the warehouse manager, this change in operations was adopted easily.

Employees like the rubber bands better than shrink-wrap. After 10 months under test, only four bands broke. There is no risk from snapping bands. Payback The most important saving is reduced labor cost. Traex calculates that it recovered the cost of its initial supply of rubber bands in just four 3-shift production days.

Here is the company's summary of overall annual savings: Reduced labor $50,112 Reduced disposal expense 400 Reduced purchase of stretch-wrap 195 550 rubber bands @ 1.82 - 1,001 NET SAVING $49,706 Other benefits Reduced demand for stretch wrap has freed some storage space, and additional labor has been saved by avoiding baling of stretch-wrap. Occasional use of temporary workers for unwrapping stretch-wrap has ended, as have occasional injuries to workers from using a knife to cut away stretch-wrap.

Other References

http://www.airchina.com.cn/CargoService/ShipperNotice/default.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Containerization