If you’re shipping temperature-sensitive products, one of your biggest concerns is ensuring that the recommended temperature for those products is maintained. This recommended level changes depending on the type of product being shipped, such as wine versus pharmaceuticals. However, regardless of the product being shipped, if it’s temperature-sensitive, you want to use proper passive pallet covers, not shrink wrap.
Read more: Shrink Wrap Is No Substitute For Pallet CoversShrink Wrap Protection
Shrink wrap is a technique where a thin sheet of transparent plastic is placed on a product, and then the air is removed, while heat is applied. This tightens the plastic around the product and creates a seal. In some cases, this may be all the protection that a product requires. A shrink wrap seal can be comparatively quick to apply, and it can easily be scaled up to accommodate many different sizes of products. It also keeps products dry and protects them from dirt and dust.
However, shrink wrap does not protect products from heat. If the environment’s temperature changes, a product that has been shrink-wrapped will also be affected and raise or lower its temperature in accordance with environmental changes. Shrink wrap is also a one-time use application, as the wrap itself must be damaged to remove it from the product once you are ready to unpack it.
Passive Pallet Covers
When using passive pallet covers, you get an “insulated blanket” that is designed to fit products shipped on cargo pallets. They envelop a product from all sides, and optionally, a base can also be used to cover the bottom of a shipment. Because there are several thick layers of materials, passive pallet covers preserve the original, recommended temperature of a product.
Passive pallet covers offer superior protection to shrink wrap in several ways. Shrink wrap only provides protection from liquids such as rainfall or discoloration from particles like dirt. Passive pallet covers do all this, but also preserve the temperature, and offer some physical protection from bumps, “bruises,” and other damage that might affect more delicate shipments, such as fresh produce. Also, unlike shrink wrap, passive pallet covers are reusable. Once they have arrived at their destination, it’s a simple matter of removing the protective layers to access the products underneath and then using them again for another shipment.
If you’re shipping temperature-sensitive products and want to know what kind of shipping method will safely transport them to their destination, we can help. Contact us to explain your shipping needs and obtain a quote.
