Working in a warehouse or distribution center, there are many threats to
safety. From wayward forklifts, to heavy lifting injuries, to unsecured items
like box cutters; there’s always the potential for harm. But when it comes to
packages and pallets, there are a number of products that can make handling
safer for workers.
The easiest way to improve warehouse safety is to ensure proper pallet
unitization. What this means is that all packages are secured on the pallet so
that even if they get bumped or jostled, none of the boxes will fall over or
become unstable. There are a few products designed specifically for pallet
unitization.
Shrink and Stretch Film
Shrink and stretch
film is probably the most commonly used and secure method for pallet
unitization. Once the correct number of boxes or other items are stacked on a
pallet, the entire lot is wrapped in layers of stretch film to hold everything
together. When the pallet is then transported, everything will be held in place
to prevent spills and damage. There are a number of shrink and stretch film
options depending on needs such as strength or ease of use. There are even colored bundling
stretch films to color code inventory for easy sorting.
Strapping Materials
If you don’t have an entire pallet of packages, but rather just a few
items, it could be more efficient to strap them together rather than stretch
wrapping them. This will keep the packages together without taking as much time
to wrap and unwrap. There are a number of strapping materials to choose from
including steel strapping for heavy loads, polyester strapping with is
non-corrosive and lighter than steel, and polypropylene strapping tape for
general packing use that allows for some stretch. You’ll also need to consider
other supporting products, such as strapping sealers, strapping shears, and
strapping tensioners, so make sure you have all necessary items in place before
you get started.
Edge Protectors
For fragile products that require extra care during handling, edge protectors can provide extra
support while serving as a “bumper” on corners. Printed edge
protectors can also convey messages to workers, which is especially important for
items that should not be stacked or require additional handling instructions.
Though this isn’t a true unitization product in that it still requires some
form of wrapping, it does provide an additional layer of protection and
support.
Have any questions about which pallet unitization product is right for
you? Feel free to email custserv@stamarpackaging.com
for a consultation.
