Top shipping companies in India handle shipment of various shapes and sizes. It is based on these sizes that the material and equipment for packaging and transportation is decided. The shipping industry has set norms and guidelines that are followed to make sure the best practices are followed for shipment of goods.  The packing and shipment of heavy items come with their own set of challenges. The use of hydraulic lifts or the arms of forklifts necessitate packing of goods using materials that can withstand this machinery in order to avoid damage to packaged goods or loss of goods in transit.

How to Pack Heavy Items – Handy Tips & Tricks

Choose Durable Packaging:

The manner in which a product to be shipped is packed is what matters the most in shipping of heavy goods. Although a lot of people prefer recycling packaging material like cardboards, one needs to keep in mind that it may not always be the safest option to be used on heavy goods. Durable corrugated cartons that can withstand the weight of heavy products stacked on them are a must-have material for packaging. Reinforced water activated tape is the best form of tape to be used to seal the boxes, ordinary masking tape won’t do. 

Use proper pallet:

Heavy items must be shipped by securing them to a properly built and structured pallet. These pallets need to be ideally made of wood or plastic; the main criteria being that they need to withstand the load of the shipment. The ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) often sets guidelines for Best freight forwarding companies in India who ship internationally. The process of standardisation of pallets to be used as per the size and dimensions of shipment go a long way in ensuring safe delivery of heavy items.

Wrap and cushion the items:

Remember to place the product at the centre of the cardboard box. This prevents it from tilting to any of the sides during the shipment. An important tip is to make sure there is enough cushioning around the items in the box. Styrofoam, or thick kraft paper are popular cushioning materials that can help prevent shifting of items in a box and also giving proper padding for boxes to be placed over them. 

Avoid making boxes too heavy:

The logic is simple here. The heavier the box, the more chances of it breaking during shipment. It is ideal to distribute the goods into multiple boxes rather than stuffing all into one. 

Seal the boxes properly:

Sealing of the boxes in which goods are packed is a very essential step in the shipment of heavy goods. The usual scotch tape, duct tape, masking tape, painters tape, and other craft-type tapes must be avoided as they are not strong enough to withstand heavy goods. One should go in for heavy duty brown tape or strapping tapes which are a good option for covering seams and holding flaps down. 

It all goes down to ensuring that heavy items are packed appropriately so that they are not damaged in transit. If you want to be doubly sure that your shipment is in the right hands irrespective of its weight, get in touch with a Shipping agent service in India.

Also read: How to lower your freight cost