End receiver absorbs costs of poor packaging

KEVIN MAYHEW
THE STANDARD of packaging received in containers which originate in countries that adhere to the same requirements as South Africa makes one wonder what is being done to skirt the rules, says managing director of Shipping and General, Regan Moodley. Inferior packaging has a serious effect on the entire supply chain and particularly on the end receiver who has to absorb delays and extra costs for repackaging, he says. The Shipping and General packaging service is often used to repack items such as heavy machinery, computers and sensitive equipment that is high value and vulnerable to damage if not transported and packaged correctly, he said. “The quality and type of material that is used for packaging is very important. It is not one type or size that fits all. Stresses in transit have to be taken into account as boxes are packed into containers that will be subject to unpredictable conditions at sea and during loading and offloading. “Yet we open containers to find that their contents have been put into packaging that is totally unsuitable for the item and it all has to be repacked,” he told FTW. “If goods are packaged correctly at the outset it saves all parties a high degree of needless worry and avoidable delays. South Africa is a signatory to important international regulations that govern materials used for packaging. This is particularly important in wooden packaging or palleting. “It is difficult for the authorities to police other elements of packaging such as a box’s ability to support boxes stacked one on top of the other. It is a difficult call, but something must be done to try to end this needless practice,” he concluded.