Importance of Dunnage in Shipping and Transportation
The most significant stipulation for warehouse owners and supply chain professionals is to ship their products safely to their destination anywhere in the world. These items go through multiple checkpoints during international shipping, and this is why shippers prefer dunnage during shipping.
The term ‘dunnage’ is used for several things in shipping, such as bubble wraps, crinkle papers, plastics, and boards that secure items and keep them safe throughout the journey. These products protect items and boxes from damage and ensure that they reach the customer safely.
WHAT IS A DUNNAGE? A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW
‘dunnage’ refers to durable padding materials for protecting goods and items during shipping. These materials could be anything like bubble wrap and plastics or craft papers that provide high-quality cushioning to the shipped item. Sealed boxes and bags accompany the dunnage to keep items safe. In this regard, vendors of reconditioned pallets recommend never placing small items in oversized boxes or fragile items in loose packets. The chances of items and products getting damaged increase manifold times.
DUNNAGE IN SHIPPING AND ITS IMPORTANCE
It is a fact that during transits and shipping, items and their packages go through very rough environmental conditions. They face similar situations in a warehouse during storage, supply chain, and transportation. They are packed and shipped in trucks and other commercial vehicles for considerable distances, and this is where reconditioned pallets and dunnage become very effective. Their role is to absorb shocks, and it is a beneficial tactic practised by warehouse owners to keep products undamaged. Let us see how dunnage and cheap pallets keep a particular item safe during transportation.
COMPLETE SHOCK ABSORPTION
Sensitive and fragile items can drop, get squashed or collide with each other and get damaged. However, if they are packed safely in dunnage like bubble wraps and boxes, they will be completely safe as they act as shock absorbers and reduce the impact of damage.
Another target behind using dunnage and reconditioned pallets is that they ensure complete moisture protection during transit. It is also sad that items will stay exposed to excessively humid conditions during transportation. The goods will remain completely moisture-free with suitable materials and safe packaging. Dunnage helps in this by protecting sensitive items like electrical goods and other perishable products including food items.
COMPLETE DAMAGE CONTROL GUARANTEED
Numerous situations during the transportation process in a truck, train, aeroplane or ship can cause internal damage to the items. This can be prevented with the help of dunnage and proper sealing techniques that completely prevent unwanted incidents. Dunnage helps a lot in preserving product quality and ensuring that it reaches safely to its final destination.
ITEMS CATEGORISED AS DUNNAGE
Apart from cheap pallets, reconditioned pallets, and similar other products, several things are used during shipping, and they are all kept in the category of dunnage. Here are some significant materials used to safeguard products and items during transportation.
Inflatable airbags are the first and most effective product used during shipping to secure cargo. They are made from polythene or polypropylene and can withstand extreme pressure. They are placed in the gaps between the items in shipping containers to restrict their movement and provide a cushion or sponge-like thing for shock absorption.
This is the most common item categorised as dunnage, and these are plastic films filled with air bubbles to provide cushion and protection to fragile items. These bubble wraps are shock absorbers that protect goods from vibration and shocks. They are immensely useful in items like glassware, ceramics, and electronics, as when tightly packed with bubble wraps, they stay safe from scratches, cracks, dents, etc.
Apart from these two essential items, other important safety products, like corrugated paper, air pillows, foam, steel, and metal bars, are also used during transportation and shipping. They are used in products like automotive parts, medical devices and safeguarding electronic items. Then, wooden crates and pallets, plastic pallets, and similar products are frequently used to keep products and items safe as they travel across continents.