BUILDING THE BEST BOX FOR YOU

Here's a checklist of what we need to know in order to build the best package for your application

The Product Itself

• Product form (solid, fluid, changes with temperature, etc)
• Weight of product
  
• Shape
• Strength/fragility
• Ability to self-support a portion of stacked load
• Subject to contamination or degradation or corrosion
• Potential to contaminate other articles nearby
• Easily scuffed or is itself abrasive
• Perishable
• Hygroscopic
• Easily corroded
• Sensitive to magnetic filed or produces one itself
• Value
• Quantity per package
• Other protective issues

Set-Up and Packing

• Box set up method (manual, automatic, semi-automatic)
  
• Temperatures and humidity/moisture conditions during filling/packing
  
• Packaging equipment considerations (speeds, throughputs, product handling, etc.)
  
• Closure method (manual, automatic, semi-automatic)
  
• Closure materials (staples, tape, strapping, glue, film)
  
• Relative need for containment, puncture resistance, moisture resistance and stacking strength
  
• Clean room environment

Distribution and Storage

• Transportation mode (motor freight, rail, ship, air, inter-modal, overnight or single parcel shipment or some
  combination)
  
• The number of layers in the stack during transportation
  
• The stacking pattern and use of pallets, pallet style and pallet overhang
  
• The number of units high that the package is stacked in the warehouse
  
• Temperature, humidity and moisture conditions during transportation and storage
  
• Total transit and storage time

Marketing Considerations

• Graphics
  
• Budget
  
• RFID
  
• Bar Coding
  
• Product display
  
• Ease of use (opening, closing, reuse, storage, dispensing and measuring)
  
• Recycling/recyclability markings

Regulatory and Other Issues

• Hazardous materials (solvents, flammable liquids, etc) that require special Dept. of Transportation and United
  Nations package certification and labeling
  
• Disposal and environmental issues (reuse, recycle, source reduction)
  
• Unique international requirements
  
• BMC (Box Manufacturer Certificate) labeling required for boxes shipped by common carrier truck, rail and
  sometimes single parcel carriers
• Regulatory markings