As a business owner, you know that having a good packaging and shipping system in place is essential for the successful distribution of your products. However, understanding how to properly package and ship liquids may feel difficult; after all, many factors are at play when it comes to correctly preparing these goods.

Whether you’re selling beverages, cosmetics, hazardous liquids, or other products, knowing how to package and ship these items safely is essential. Proper shipment procedures help you keep your inventory safe while ensuring products arrive at their destination in one piece. In this blog post, we’ll look at what every business owner should know about packing and shipping liquids effectively so that your customers get exactly what they ordered on time.

Find the Right Primary Packaging

Primary packaging is an incredibly important part of the packaging and shipping processes for liquids, as it keeps the product safe and secure during its entire journey. Without this initial layer of protection, leaks and product degradation could occur due to a lack of proper containment. Proper primary packaging also enables secure secondary packaging, which, in turn, creates stable pallets that protect the product throughout the rest of the supply chain. Furthermore, incorrect primary packaging can also lead to increased costs associated with delays or similar issues caused by improper protection during transit.

Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider all primary packaging options when preparing liquids for shipment to obtain the best results. Pay attention to characteristics such as container type and size, weight, capacity demands, and more. Each of these factors helps inform the selection of a suitable primary packaging solution designed to protect your liquid products through every step along their path.

Different Packaging Materials for Liquids

Whether you’re working with hazardous liquids or sensitive food items, it’s essential to choose a primary packaging material that works for whatever liquid you want to ship. Make sure the packaging materials you choose won’t cause a reaction with your liquid products. Moreover, pay attention to properties like porousness, rigidity, and weight.

For example, plastic is a porous material, so plastic containers will allow air to seep through. For cosmetics, this means scents will escape the packaging. For other products—such as alcohol—this porousness can reduce the shelf life of the item.

Glass, on the other hand, is a nonporous material that helps create an airtight package for your liquid. However, glass is heavy and fragile, so you’ll have to adjust your packaging line accordingly to create safe and stable product loads.

Understand the Regulations for Shipping Liquids

Shipping liquids is not a process to take lightly. Industry and local regulations are a huge part of what you need to know about packaging and shipping liquids. Understanding these regulations guarantees a smooth shipping process and helps you avoid delays, legal issues, and other complications.

It’s important to note that some liquids are strictly prohibited or require specific compliances or documentation to ship. Similarly, some liquid products require certain packaging materials to ship safely and legally. Knowing which materials you need can save time and effort by preventing delays in transit due to inappropriate use of packaging components.

It is also important to consider what type of carrier you want to work with, as some carriers may have extra restrictions on the types of liquids they can transport. By familiarizing yourself with all the rules and regulations you’ll face throughout your supply chain, you can ensure your shipment is compliant and safe for transit.

Working With Hazardous Liquids

There are a few specific tips and best practices to follow when working with hazardous liquids. First and foremost, make sure your team knows and follows all industry standards and best practices regarding the storage and transportation of hazardous materials. Provide routine training so employees are always up to date on compliances and regulations.

It is also important to secure containers before loading them onto vehicles. Perform consistent inspections before transport and check for leaks or spills that can cause safety risks or monetary losses.

Additionally, ensure all workers use personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling hazardous liquids. This includes gloves, eye protection, and clothing fit for the task at hand.

Finally, label all shipments properly according to local laws so transport companies are aware of the dangerous cargo they are carrying. By adhering to these tips, companies can ensure a safe delivery while minimizing losses or hazards due to negligence.

Tips for Preventing Leaks

When it comes to shipping liquid products, preventing leaks is essential. Leaks damage products, deteriorate packaging, and can put employees at risk throughout your supply chain. For these reasons, it’s important to use proper sealing techniques, which help prevent any spillage during transport. Additionally, use packaging best practices—such as creating secure cases or adding cushioning materials to product cases—to protect items from shifting around and breaking during transit.

Create Stable Cases With a Case Packer Machine

No matter what kind of items you work with, product stability is key to a smooth shipping process. A case packer machine can help you create stable product cases that will keep your liquid items safe and secure during transit. The versatility and flexibility of automatic case packers allow you to pack a wide variety of liquid items, including products in cans, glass containers, plastic bottles, and more. With multi-format options that can handle film only, tray and film, pad and film, and wraparound cases, you can consistently and reliably package any liquid product your facility handles. By using a case packer machine, you can ensure your products ship with proper protection and security. You’ll also reduce the time and labor required to pack and ship your products.

Pay Attention To Containment Force

Another crucial packaging step is stretch wrapping product pallets. A consistent and efficient stretch wrapping process allows you to properly unitize and contain liquid products safely.

One of the most important aspects of this step in the packaging line is containment force. The right amount of containment force creates a stable load, reduces the risk of spills, and allows products to move securely through your supply chain. Remember that too little tension on your stretch film can lead to unstable pallets that will tip and break, while too much tension can crush products or product packaging. Therefore, it’s important to use a stretch wrapper machine that can apply the precise amount of containment force necessary for each product load.

Robopac USA’s stretch wrappers use patented Cube Technology to reliably secure the load without damaging the product. With the machine’s powerful stretch wrapping capabilities and programmable multilevel variable containment force settings, you can create a stable pallet that protects your liquid products throughout your entire supply chain.

Enhance safety and efficiency in your packaging line with semi-automatic stretch wrap machines and other secondary packaging equipment from Robopac USA. Visit us today to learn more about our advanced packaging solutions.

What To Know About Packaging and Shipping Liquids