When you increase your shipping volume, small industrial packaging supplies ordering habits can have big consequences. Using the right packaging tape, foam, shrink wrap, and other supplies will reduce labor time and improve consistency. Most importantly, you can prevent costly damage claims.
If procuring packaging supplies falls under your umbrella of responsibilities, you can’t afford to get it wrong. However, choosing the right mix of materials for your workflows can be challenging.
An industrial packaging supplies checklist covers the tapes, shrink wrap, foam, and protective materials shipping teams need to reduce damage, improve consistency, and order the right materials in the right quantities.
What Belongs in an Industrial Packaging Supply Checklist?
Before you can efficiently order packaging and shipping supplies, you need a clear view of what materials your team is using. Many teams mix production materials with industrial packaging supplies, which adds to the confusion and leads to overordering.
To break away from this trend, you will need to break your industrial packaging supplies checklist into four key categories:
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Shipping protection
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Sealing
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Wrapping and stabilization
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Surface and material protection
Separating your materials into these categories helps your procurement team avoid duplicate orders while keeping adequate inventory of each item.
Once you group packaging materials by function, it becomes much easier to standardize what each team uses, spot gaps in your supply program, and order more consistently.
Packaging Tapes and Sealing Basics
Sealing is one of the most important steps for getting goods into the hands of consumers without damage. Ordering sealing supplies like tapes is also one of the most overlooked steps in industrial packaging supply management. If a box or carton isn’t sealed properly, it could fail or burst open in transit.
Here are some tips to standardize your carton sealing process:
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Use consistent tape width and grade
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Choose an application method (manual vs. machine)
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Provide your team with reinforcement guidelines for heavier packages
Not all cartons require the same tape. Here are some considerations when choosing your tape:
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Weight of the package
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Shipping environment
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Handling frequency
Choosing the wrong tape grade based on the weight or dimensions of the package is one of the most common causes of shipment failures. It’s also one of the easiest to fix with better planning.
When to Use Shrink Wrap, Films, and Protective Materials
Shrink wrap is an invaluable resource for securing pallets and preventing packages from shifting during transit. You should use shrink wrap in the following scenarios:
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Mixed-load pallets
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Long-distance shipments
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High-stack storage environments
When your team wraps palletized goods properly, it reduces the risk of tipping or collapsing.
In addition to shrink wrap and films, you’ll also need surface protection materials for delicate or finished goods. Protective films help prevent:
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Scratches
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Dust accumulation
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Moisture exposure
These materials are especially useful for items with painted, polished, or sensitive surfaces. If you handle smaller items or irregular-shaped products, wrapping solutions and foam inserts can:
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Keep items grouped together
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Prevent internal movement inside cartons
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Add cushioning against impact or crushing
When you stabilize and cushion products, you can greatly reduce damage rates and promote better customer satisfaction.
Common Packaging Mistakes That Increase Damage or Labor
Your industrial packaging supplies will only be as effective as your processes. Here are some common mistakes that lead to more labor and increased rates of damage:
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Using the wrong grade of tape on heavy cartons
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Under-wrapping palletized goods
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Inconsistent materials across different teams or shifts
When you standardize the way your employees package, wrap, and tape goods, the result is reduced labor needs and better consistency.
How to Simplify Packaging Supply Purchasing
Managing industrial packaging supplies doesn’t have to be complicated. Making a few adjustments to how you order and inventory your supplies can make a huge impact on your bottom line and packaging efficiency.
Here are some strategies to get you started:
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Standardize the materials you use to limit variations in tape and cushioning materials
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Reduce waste by identifying where excess materials are being used
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Improve when and how you reorder by tracking inventory and setting reorder thresholds
A simpler selection of packaging supplies will reduce reordering headaches and help you maintain adequate stock levels of essentials like tape, shrink wrap, and cushioning.
Match Packaging Materials to Your Shipping Workflow
Are you ready to create a material selection and ordering strategy that aligns with how your business runs every day? Identify where packaging delays happen, what shipments are most prone to damage, and how you can order smarter.
From there, a reliable supplier can help you standardize materials, reduce damage, and keep core packaging supplies in stock. Elevated Industrial Solutions can help your team match tapes, shrink wrap, foam, and protective materials to the way you ship every day. Contact us to talk through your packaging supply needs.
FAQs
What Are Industrial Packaging Supplies?
Industrial packaging supplies include any items used to protect, seal, or stabilize products during storage and shipping. Common examples include tapes, shrink wrap, and cushioning materials.
What Is the Difference Between Packaging Tape and Protective Film?
Packaging tape is used to seal cartons or boxes. Protective films are thin layers of material that you apply to product surfaces to prevent scratches or moisture damage. Tape should not be applied directly to product surfaces, as the strong adhesive can damage the finished surfaces.
When Should a Business Use Shrink Wrap?
Shrink wrap is most effective for stabilizing pallet loads and bundling items. It’s especially useful when you are dealing with mixed loads of palletized boxes or cartons.