Right Packaging Products for Shipping, Corrugated Boxes, Mailers

Shipping Corrugated Boxes

July 9 2010- Packaging products are meant to keep the materials, that are inside them, safe. When shipping goods from one place to another, this function of packaging products increases even more. However, choosing the right packaging products for shipping is as important as the quality of packing materials and the right use of packing supplies (how things are packed in the packaging boxes or other supplies.) Here are some facts and issues along with some tips to select the right packaging products for shipping purposes.

Types of Packaging Products for Shipping

When choosing the right package for a product to be shipped, it is important to decide what type of shipping container should be used. Whenever there is the mention of packaging products, the first thing that comes to mind is the shipping containers in form of corrugated boxes. However, there is one more packaging product that is equally useful and economical for shipping purpose and that is the mailers. This is also true that not all types of goods can be packed off in mailers. At the same time, not everything can either be packed in corrugated boxes. So, here comes the time to decide between the two packaging products- corrugated boxes or mailers- for shipping. But before knowing how to choose the type of shipping container most appropriate to the productā€™s requirements, its better to have a short introductions of both- corrugated boxes and mailers.

Corrugated Boxes - the Popular Packaging Product for Shipping

Boxes made from various grades and types of corrugated fiberboard are most common shipping packages used worldwide. These corrugated boxes provide strength and rigidity for stacking and compression loads, secure closure, wide range of sizes capable of containing any product/s- larege or small. They are available locally nearly anywhere in the world. They provide ultimate protection and are also lightweight as compared to wooden crates, barrels, etc. apart from being reasonably inexpensive.

Mailers - Perfect Packaging Product for Shipping Smaller Goods

Bubble Mailers

Mailers are various types of bags or envelopes designed for shipping products through single parcel systems such as UPS and postal service. If chosen appropriately, they can prove to be most economical packaging products for shipping. Mailers are simple to pack and to close. They are lighter weight, need less storage space and are cheaper than boxes. However, they cannot be used for every possible shipment.

Tips on Choosing the Right Packaging Products for Shipping

The following tips will assist you in determining the right packaging product - a mailer or a corrugated box- for shipping your required goods.

If your product to be shipped is within certain dimensional limits, you can use mailers as your packing material. The height of the good should not exceed 2 or 3 inches. It should be relatively flat and the length and width of the product must both be such that can fit into an available mailer size though mailers are available in several standard sizes. If your product fulfills all the required conditions regarding dimensions but yet can not fit into any standard sized mailer, you might use corrugated containers that are often available in special sizes for short runs to adjust odd sized or shaped products.
The product that has to be packed for shipping must be capable of withstanding compressive forces as the packages are stacked inside carrier vehicles with other packaged products on top during transportation. The weight of these will bear on all items in the stack below. Products that can get damaged by compression must be packed in a corrugated box container and not a mailer.
Shipping Mailers

Even if thinking of packing goods in mailers, the product to be packed should be strong and tough and be capable of enduring hardship, wear, etc. To get an idea about whether a thing is strong enough, one can imagine dropping it off from say 20-25 inches height. If the product can sustain such a blow, it can be packed away in mailers though the mailer should be padded or a cushioned mailer (it can also be air cellular, foam lined and macerated paper mailer) otherwise a corrugated box should only be used as a safe option for packaging product. The choice between air cellular, foams or macerated paper will depend upon weight of the mailer - air cellular being the lightest and paper the heaviest - or other factors such as surface protection and water resistance.

Tips on Choosing Mailer for Packing Products for Shipping

Mailers are available in different styles and the appropriate one should be chosen after examining the product to be shipped.

Utility mailer made of paper or plastic
Reinforced mailer with no padding, but having greater resistance to tear and puncture
Cushioned or padded mailer - air cellular or foam lined, macerated paper, etc.
Rigid mailer - their fiberboard construction prevents bending and creasing of the contents inside them.

To choose the right sized mailer as packaging product for shipping, use the formulae given below:

Width of Mailer = Width of product + Thickness of product + 1 inch
Length of Mailer= Length of product + Thickness of product + 2 inches

To make sure that mailers do not come open in transit, using self-sealing designs or pressure sensitive tape can be an option. Some mailers may be folded over and stapled, but tape is the more typical option. Where moisture or water resistance has also to be considered, using plastic or plastic-lined mailers can be appropriate. They can be heat-sealed to insure additional package safety while shipping.

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