How to Create Top-Notch Industrial Packaging
For many companies, industrial packing is critical to protect their products. If you're trying to figure out how to ship an industrial product, it's important to know how to create top-not packaging. That's a great idea, but how do you accomplish it?
Complete the Product's Form Factor First
While you might have some room to modify the packaging after the product hits the market, the reality is changes are often costly. You'll want the package to be as tight as possible to minimize waste and provide protection. Whenever possible, finalize the form and size of the product before designing the industrial packaging.
Keep the Design Simple
Traditionally, packaging for industrial products is fairly sparse. It doesn't need a lot of branding or graphics because most customers know the companies that make the products like the backs of their hands. You want the packaging to be highly human- and machine-readable. Avoid setups that might obstruct scanners. Likewise, maximize readability by using large and simple fonts that distinguish commonly confused letters, such as capital I and lowercase l. Remember, you're not selling a bag of corn in a supermarket so appearance is a very low priority.
Offer Stackability
Ideally, industrial packaging should allow units to fit together well in shipments. If you have to send several large industrial components together, for example, you'll want to design the crates to work as a unit. Make sure you can place the heaviest stuff with the strongest packaging on the bottom. Prevent shifting by using packaging materials that aren't too smooth. Shipping companies and warehouses will appreciate your choices if you do this.
Package for Extreme Conditions
Many products and components will degrade under extreme conditions. If you're sending a metal component to a customer, for example, you'll likely want to have a seal to prevent the ingress of humid air. Similarly, semiconductor packaging might need insulation to prevent the product from cracking due to extremes of cold and heat. Think of the worst scenario the product will face in transit and try to plan for an event 10% worse than that.
Unpacking Matters
It's not just critical that everything goes into a crate or box well. The customer needs to get the product out. If there are complexities with the unpacking process, provide visual instructions on the outside of the package. Similarly, clearly label each package so the customer can quickly match different components to where they'll go. Test how well a person unfamiliar with the product and packaging can handle the unpacking process.
Contact industrial packaging services to learn more about your options.