The need to use the right packaging can apply in more ways than are always appreciated. In the case of fragile goods, the requirement that they be very well protected so they won’t be broken by impacts is obvious, while common sense will tell you that some items need to be insulated against excessive heat or cold.
However, the requirements for some items may not always be appreciated, especially if you deal in retailing a wide range of goods and do not have specialist knowledge of the specific needs of, and risks to, particular kinds of products.
However, it is important to learn about these and use the right custom packaging to deal with situations that might harm some goods, but not others.
A Static Problem
A prime example of this is electronic goods. These will generally be a bit more robust than some items, but still need some packaging to protect against impacts. However, a particular concern about these is static electricity, which can do serious damage to electronic components.
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a major problem in the world of electronics and it is even possible for users to damage equipment just by transmitting the static charge they have built up from walking across a nylon carpet.
By frazzling your electronics, such discharges can stop devices from mobile phones to USB ports from functioning. ESD can stop computer games from working and even melt wires. Quite simply, it is to be avoided whenever possible.
Of course, nobody wants to pick up static when walking across their carpet; since this can lead to some moments of sudden, sharp pain when touching metal objects. But while non-conductive footwear can help with this, there are many other ways in which ESD can affect devices, including friction during transit.
Packaging To Prevent Static
This is a sufficiently real prospect as to warrant taking steps to ensure your packaging is specifically designed to prevent static affecting any components you are shipping out.
On a practical level, that means that the packaging materials you use in this situation must be non-conductive and capable of shielding electronic devices from any static that might arise. They should be robust enough to remain in place, not break so that the products are suddenly exposed and at risk, as well as offer general protection against impact damage.
A few packaging options exist that fit the bill. A choice that can be made is between anti-static bags and static shielding bags.
An anti-static bag is made from materials that do not generate static when rubbed together. These plastic-based bags are coated with materials that prevent the build-up of static. As it cannot hold any electrical charge, nor can it release one, therefore the electronic items contained within the bag will be safe.
A static shielding bag works differently by using a conductive material like aluminium foil. In this case, it forms a conductive barrier that dissipates the charges whenever the bag touches another surface, preventing it from reaching the electronic goods. This aluminium layer is placed between two anti-static plastic layers, one made of polyester and one of polythene.
This structure, which effectively traps the static, is known as a Faraday Cage, after the great 19th-century pioneering scientist Michael Faraday.
However, one of the easiest ways to protect items from static is an anti-static bubble wrap. This comes from the material having the same properties as an anti-static bag in not allowing static to build up, while offering the further benefit of shielding the item from physical damage. Stretch film can also protect against static, though not so much against impacts.
Making The Right Packaging Choice
The key question you will need to ask is what sort of combination works best for the items in question. For instance, anti-static bubble wrap will be most useful for an item that is a little more fragile, for instance, something that has parts that could be bent or broken, compared with a device inside a metal casing that will be more robust in transit.
Making sure your goods are static-free in transit will prevent a range of avoidable problems. Your customer will be satisfied with the goods they have if they are functioning as they should, so you can benefit from their satisfaction (and positive reviews). This also prevents you from getting lots of items being returned because they aren’t working.
By taking all the right steps to ensure important electronic components and devices are kept safe from impacts, excess heat and static alike, you can minimise the chances of having an unhappy customer at the other end when the package is opened.
