Five tips for packing your goods safely
Good packing protects your goods from moisture, shocks and pressure all the way to the destination.
A shipment changes hands several times, is lifted, stacked and moved on trucks, ships or aircraft. Packing is the cheapest insurance you have, so it is worth doing well.
1. Use strong, clean boxes. Choose new or good-condition corrugated cartons that suit the weight inside. A box that bulges or has soft corners will not survive stacking. Do not put heavy items in a small weak box.
2. Fill every gap. Items that can move inside the box can hit each other. Use paper, air cushions or foam so nothing shifts, and keep fragile items away from the walls of the carton.
3. Protect against moisture. Wrap items that are sensitive to humidity in plastic, and close the box well with strong packing tape on all seams. For long sea journeys, moisture protection matters even more.
4. Use pallets for heavy or many boxes. Boxes stacked on a pallet and wrapped with stretch film are easier to lift and less likely to be damaged. Keep the load within the edges of the pallet.
5. Label clearly. Write the consignee name, address and phone number on the outside, add handling marks for fragile goods, and keep a copy of the details inside the package. Remove or cover old labels from reused boxes.
Also weigh and measure your packages after packing, because the final weight and size are what shipping prices are based on. If your goods are valuable or unusual in shape, ask us about custom packing before you ship.
General information only. Rules, duties and transit times differ between countries and carriers, so always confirm the details of your own shipment with our team.
