Managing Business Responsibly

Packing And Crating Electronics

by Priscilla Terry

Electrostatic discharge and hot or cold temperatures can damage electronic products that are being shipped across the country. Use packing and crating techniques that will preserve the condition of circuitry, wiring, and other fragile components.

Damage To Sensitive Materials

Electrostatic discharge is the release of static electricity between two electrically-charged items. This discharge is often brought on quickly and may be a direct result of static electricity. Placing electronic equipment inside of static-safe containers or using ESD packaging that has been either supplied by the manufacturer of the equipment or purchased separately will protect sensitive equipment.

If ESD packaging will be purchased separately, familiarize yourself with the main classifications noted for this type of packaging. ESD packaging falls into three categories. Conductive, dissipative, and anti-static materials are sold through retailers that market shipping products.

A Crating System

If new products are being shipped out and the electronic equipment is stored inside of its original packaging, each box that a manufactured good came in can be placed inside of a shipping crate. ESD packaging should be nestled in between boxes that electronics are stored in.

If you will be shipping out a line of used products and do not have the original packaging, mailing sleeves or corrugated cartons should be used to store the electronic devices. ESD packaging can be used to wrap loose electronics that will be placed inside of a sleeve or carton. 

Battery And Wire Containment

The improper packing of batteries could leak to acid leaking from each cell. Batteries should be wrapped individually. To prevent heat exposure, an insulating material should be used to wrap each battery. Wire ties are constructed of plastic. These accessories should be used to contain the ends of wires. A tie can be secured to each end of a series of wires.

Before placing wires in a shipping carton, the wires should be unknotted and laid out in a straight formation. Afterward, the wire groups can be folded in half. Each bundle of wires should rest upon an insulating material that is within a crate. If heavy components will be stored next to the wires, the groups of wires can be placed inside a small box.

The small box can be pressed down into the insulating materials that are within a shipping crate. Signage should be secured to the outside of the crate. The signage should specify what types of contents are inside of the crate and any handling instructions that will protect the products that are inside of the container.  

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