How to Determine the Best Packaging for Sheet Metal Parts and Assemblies
A lot of work goes into partnering with a custom fabricator to manufacture quality sheet metal parts and assemblies. So, you want to be sure that after production is finished and the goods are sent, they arrive undamaged and ready for use.
It’s always a good idea to do some research and speak with your manufacturer to make sure your goods are shipped in the right packaging. A good sheet metal fabricator will also want products to arrive in perfect condition as much as you do to avoid returns and quality issues. They should try to accommodate any reasonable packaging demands you make and help you to not only find the right packaging, but also a cost-effective way of providing it for you.
A good way to look at packaging design is to consider it as an important part of the sheet metal production process. There’s no point creating high quality parts and assemblies only to have them damaged during transit or arrive in an unpresentable way. Packaging design should take into consideration the entire logistics cycle, shipping requirements and the material and geometry of the sheet metal parts themselves.
There’s lots to think about when it comes to packaging sheet metal products for shipping. In this guide, we’ll cover the primary factors that influence packaging design and the different packaging types that are available.
Shipping Methods for Sheet Metal Products
Before you start thinking about how to design packaging for your parts, you should think about how you will be shipping those parts.
Are you shipping parts packed in bulk, or individually?
Are you sending sets of components to be assembled later in kits?
Are you shipping sheet metal assemblies fully assembled or knocked down for assembly at the end customer side?
All of these scenarios will impact how you think about your sheet metal product packaging. The main factors to consider are:
Cost savings associated with closely packed deliveries
What assembly procedures can be carried out after delivery
Other logistical considerations in the shipping process
Here are some of the use cases as well as the pros and cons of bulk shipments, knock down shipments and fully assembled deliveries.