Packing and Shipping Supplies-Buying In Bulk Is Best
There are a wide variety of packing and shipping supplies commercially available to make your operation run more smoothly; both machinery such as parts scales, stretch wrapping machines and shrink wrap heat guns.
There are also consumables such as high strength steel wrapping and stretch film rolls. The advantage of buying these from an industrial supplier is that you will save money purchasing in bulk.
Shrink wrapping not only protects your shipped items, it also gives a very professional look when the shipment arrives at its final destination. Buying bulk rolls of shrink wrapping will let you do mass-mailing and shipping with no interruptions for resupply.
Shrink Wrap It!
Many shops find their packing supplies inventory is in dire need of a shrink wrapping heat gun. These propane powered guns make the shrink wrap process a breeze. Many people only associate shrink wrapping with items you purchase in the store like CDs?and?DVDs. But shrink wrapping as an enhancement to your packing supplies can give sensitive items such as computer monitors or circuitry an extra layer of protection in transit.
Computer boxes are frequently shrink wrapped before shipping; you may wish to use the same precautions in your own operation by adding shrink wrapping to your packing supplies.
An Important Part of Your Shipping Operation
No list of shipping and packaging supplies is complete without a parts scale. This can be a major help to your shipping operation--you will always know what the exact postage should be for smaller shipments and your larger deliveries can be properly marked for weight and safe handling.
If you routinely mail out small packages as part of your shipping department, you may not need a larger parts scale, but if you need shipping and packaging supplies for larger and heavier pieces, be sure to purchase a parts scale with a high weight capacity. Some are rated for over one hundred pounds, and may be a better bet if you need to weigh a lot of heavier objects for shipping.
The Stretch Wrap Machine--Protecting Your Cargo Against Moisture and Pilferage
A stretch wrap machine can increase efficiency in your shipping department by partially automating the process. The stretch wrap machine can wrap palletized cargo as a unit to protect it from rain, moisture and other damaging factors.
Stretch wrapping also makes the shipment more secure from theft or pilferage by sealing many boxes or packages together as a unit. A stretch wrap machine is an excellent investment for shipping and mailing operations with enough volume. These units come with a powered turntable for easy wrapping operations and a counter balanced film mast, and the units have an 'approach ramp' option to allow loading and unloading with a pallet jack.
Additional Packing and Shipping Solutions To Consider
Your packing and shipping supplies list may also need to include 'safety items' such as corner protectors if your shipping area has?machine traffic. You may wish to insure packages waiting on shelves to be shipped have that extra bit of protection against accidental damage from forklift tires or dolly edges.
Some other packing and shipping supplies include the digital floor scale; this unit comes rated up to five thousand pounds. This is the perfect solution for packing operations that do high weight and volume shipping.
You may also want to stock up on?stretch wrap film?before your heaviest shipping season. Having too much is far better than not enough. Stretch wrap operations also require box cutters and replacement blades--a bulk purchase of these items is also a good idea if your budget allows.