Distributors are an important part of the economy’s supply chain. These entities range from globally recognized distributors of consumer goods to industrial distributors that help reallocate pipes, tools, aftermarket auto parts, electronics, and more. With so many goods going into and out of distribution centers, packaging is a major ingredient of everyday operations. Items that arrive in bulk may need to be individually wrapped and stored for an indefinite period before shipping them to the end user. In order to optimize these packaging processes, Cortec offers several creative ideas for goods protection and waste reduction.
Corrosion and ESD Protection
Distributors of metal parts and electronics face extra challenges for ensuring these sensitive parts reach end users in like-new condition. Metal features are susceptible to condensation and subsequent corrosion from fluctuating temperatures and humidity during shipping. Many electronics are also at risk for electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage. Fortunately, a variety of protective packaging options exist. VpCI® Films, Bags, and Papers protect metal components from corrosion by conditioning the packaging interior with Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors. These form a protective molecular layer on metal surfaces that does not affect physical properties or need to be cleaned off when the part is unpacked. Yet, it is relatively simple to achieve this protection by slipping a tool or auto part inside a VpCI®-126 Bag or wrapping it in a layer of CorShield® VpCI®-146 Paper (a USDA Certified Biobased Product). EcoSonic® VpCI®-125 HP Permanent ESD Bags combine the same corrosion protection with ESD protection for packaging of sensitive electronics.
Automated Packaging
In many cases, distributors need to work quickly, using automated equipment to repackage bulk goods into individual bags. Fortunately, where corrosion is a concern, a variety of VpCI® packaging materials are compatible with automation. For example, VpCI®-126 Shrink Film can be customized for use on automated heat shrink tunnels. Automated packaging in VpCI® paper bags is also possible with CorShield® VpCI®-146 Heat Sealable Paper, which can be made into custom envelopes and bags by heat-sealing the edges together. The paper can be run on form, fill, seal machinery to automatically package small metal parts in what looks similar to a potato chip bag but contains Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors for rust prevention.
Reclaiming Box Waste
Because distributors receive goods from many different suppliers and redistribute them to end users, it is common for them to have a large amount of box waste that needs to be shipped offsite for recycling. In spite of good intentions, such initiatives demand time, labor, and fees that could be used elsewhere. An exciting
alternative is to recycle the boxes in house. By chopping up discarded cardboard boxes and using them to fill bags made out of EcoShield® Heat Sealable Paper, distributors can recycle their box waste and create dunnage bags to meeting their own need for packaging fill in outgoing shipments. This follows the example of a U.S. tool distributor who did so by installing special processing CorShield® VpCI®-146 equipment along with a vertical form, fill, seal system from PAC Machinery’s sister company, Audion. The “circular economy” move made both environmental and business sense for the company by eliminating the need for both the recycling service and high volumes of packaging fill paper.
A New Packaging Solution for a New Year
Distribution centers span the industries, with plenty of candidates for corrosion and ESD protection. Beyond those who specifically handle metal parts and electronics are many others who simply need a better way to recycle box waste. Cortec® is here to help each type of distributor find solutions that make their packaging more effective and efficient. Contact Cortec® to start exploring better packaging options for distribution centers today!
Keywords: packaging solutions and logistics, protective packaging for distribution, box recycling, heat sealable paper, dunnage bags, recycling initiatives, circular economy, VCI film, VCI paper, distribution environment
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