Every year a huge amount of cargo is shipped around the world by sea. According to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the total is over 11 billion tons, a massive 90% of all products. So, the industry is vital to modern life. There is a lot to think about here though, including how to protect different goods from the conditions. Things like foiling services can be incredibly useful. Let’s have a closer look to see how they can help.
The risks
Transporting goods by sea has always been a risky job. So much so that businesses were established purely to provide insurance for different cargoes. There are several risks, including ships sinking or goods perishing on the way. Theft is also a problem, including modern maritime piracy.
The biggest risks in many cases though are damage because cargo moves or deteriorates in the conditions. It can cause problems with various goods, from metals to foodstuffs. In the worst cases it means the products aren’t usable when they reach port.
Protecting cargo
Luckily, there are a number of different ways to protect cargoes during shipping. Packing containers effectively is really important, ensuring proper weight distribution and making sure things can’t move around. If you’re dealing with metals, using films, VCI inhibitors, desiccants, oil, grease, and water repellent coatings is wise.
In many cases, the main aim is to protect the goods you are shipping against moisture and salt air. They can cause big issues like corrosion and rot. A wise idea is to use foiling services or lamination. It can provide impressive barrier protection to preserve products.
If you’re shipping goods in cardboard boxes or similar packages, you also need to make sure the moisture won’t cause them to disintegrate. Again foil or laminate is a good option. It can prevent products from spilling or getting damaged if boxes collapse.
You need to be especially careful when you are shipping food on cargo ships. The conditions can cause massive deterioration. It’s vital to use packaging with high quality barrier properties to maximise preservation, particularly for sensitive products or if cargoes will be at sea for a long time.
Most importantly, you should think about the vulnerability of each different cargo. You can then plan for the conditions and ensure you have the right protection in place.
Talk to us about foiling services
We’re proud to be one of the leading foiling specialists in the UK. Our knowledge and experience means we can provide solutions for various needs. Crucially, we can offer recommendations if you need to protect different goods and substrates in a variety of conditions. Plus, we can offer foils to improve aesthetics, security, and more.
So, if you’re thinking about packaging or finishing different materials, speak to us. We have access to the best foils in the world, including recyclable options. We’d be happy to recommend them for any kind of need. Then, you can expect the best results with us in terms of supplying or applying the foil. We achieve very high standards with all of our foiling services. It ensures you get unbeatable performance.