When companies search for container liners, the actual requirement is not always the liner itself.
The real problem may be:
– Cargo contacting container walls or floors
– Products moving during transportation
– Empty spaces between palletised loads
– Damaged product surfaces
– Unstable unit loads
– Strapping pressure
– Insufficient edge protection
– Poor use of available container space
Before selecting additional packaging material, it is important to identify what exactly needs to be protected and from what.
Different transport-packaging components perform different functions.
For some export applications, Eltete solutions such as Flatboard, Dunnage Bags, Edgeboard, Slip Sheets and Paper Pallets can be combined according to the actual transportation requirements.
Why Are You Searching for Container Liners?
A useful starting point is to identify the problem occurring inside the shipping container.
Ask:
Q – Is the cargo contacting the container wall?
Q – Is the container floor creating a risk of product damage?
Q – Are pallets moving into empty spaces?
Q – Are cartons becoming unstable during transportation?
Q – Do products need to be separated from one another?
Q – Is too much space being occupied by conventional pallets?
Each problem requires a different approach.
Adding one packaging component without identifying the cause may simply increase the amount of packaging being used.
Eltete’s Transport Packaging Solutions concept instead combines different components according to product, handling and transportation requirements.
1. Protecting Cargo from Container Walls and Floors
One reason a company may search for a container lining solution is to create separation between its cargo and the internal surfaces of the transport unit.
Eltete identifies Flatboard as suitable for side and floor protection inside containers and trains.
Container walls and floors may contain uneven or hard contact areas that can affect transported goods.
Flatboard can be positioned between the cargo and these surfaces to create a protective separation layer.
This may be relevant for products such as:
– Panels
– Long industrial components
– Bundled products
– Finished surfaces
– Metal products
– Furniture components
– Other products requiring surface separation
However, Flatboard is not a cargo-securing system by itself.
If the load is also able to move inside the container, additional stabilisation may be required.
2. Preventing Cargo Movement Inside the Container
Another reason businesses search for container protection is cargo movement.
Even when each pallet is properly packed, empty spaces may remain between complete unit loads.
Eltete Dunnage Bags are designed specifically for this type of problem.
The inflatable bags are positioned inside available gaps between cargo units and inflated to occupy the empty space.
Eltete states that Dunnage Bags can be used in:
– Containers
– Trucks
– Trains
– Ships
They help cushion transported loads, restrict movement and reduce the risk of cargo shifting into available spaces.
Therefore:
Flatboard protects against surface contact.
Dunnage Bags help control space between cargo units.
They perform different functions.
3. Protecting Corners and Edges Before Container Loading
Container protection should not begin only after the goods have entered the container.
The individual palletised load should already be stable and adequately protected.
Eltete Edgeboard can be positioned around vulnerable corners of cartons and unit loads.
Depending on the application, Edgeboard can support:
– Corner protection
– Load stabilisation
– Unitisation
– Stacking
– Protection beneath strapping
It can also be combined with stretch film and strapping as part of the complete transport package.
If cartons are already unstable before they are loaded, adding protection to the shipping container itself may not solve the underlying problem.
4. Protecting Products from Strapping Pressure
Heavy export loads are sometimes secured using plastic or steel strapping.
While strapping can help secure the shipment, concentrated pressure at the contact point may affect cartons or product edges.
Eltete Flatboard and Edgeboard can be used in suitable applications to create protection between securing materials and the product.
Eltete specifically identifies Flatboard for protection against strapping contact and Edgeboard as part of transport-packaging systems using plastic or steel strapping.
The appropriate profile or board should be selected according to:
– Product
– Strap position
– Load
– Surface sensitivity
– Required protection
– Packaging configuration
5. Reducing Empty Space Inside Shipping Containers
Sometimes the issue is not protection against the container itself.
It is space utilisation.
Traditional pallet systems occupy physical volume underneath every load.
For suitable applications, Eltete Slip Sheets provide a thin paper-based load platform that can replace conventional wooden or plastic pallets.
Eltete states that Slip Sheets are used where businesses want to optimise space throughout the logistics chain and may support savings in transportation, material and storage.
Because a Slip Sheet has a much lower profile than a conventional pallet, suitable operations may be able to use available container space more efficiently.
However, Slip Sheets require compatible handling arrangements.
The sending and receiving operations must therefore be evaluated before replacing conventional pallets.
6. Protecting the Entire Unit Load
Looking only at the inside of the container can overlook problems with the actual packaging.
A complete export load may require several levels of protection:
– Product level
Protect vulnerable product areas using suitable cushioning, profiles, dividers or separation components.
– Package level
Strengthen vulnerable corners, surfaces or structural areas.
– Unit-load level
Stabilise cartons or products using suitable Edgeboard, wrapping, strapping and a compatible load base.
– Container level
Protect against internal surfaces and control available empty spaces between loads.
Eltete’s transport-packaging approach combines components according to these different requirements rather than relying on one product for every function.
Flatboard or Dunnage Bag: Which One Do You Need?
The correct solution depends on the actual problem.
– Problem: Products contact the container wall or floor
Consider a suitable protective separation component such as Flatboard.
– Problem: Cargo moves sideways into a gap
Consider suitable Dunnage Bags for cargo-level void filling.
– Problem: Pallet corners are being damaged
Evaluate Edgeboard.
– Problem: Strapping damages the package
Evaluate suitable Edgeboard or Flatboard protection at contact points.
– Problem: Conventional pallets use too much container space
Evaluate whether Slip Sheets or another paper-based load platform are suitable for the logistics system.
– Problem: The entire package needs structural improvement
A customised combination of Eltete transport-packaging components may be required.
The correct solution should always be determined from the complete shipping application.
Container Protection Should Start Before Loading
Protecting goods inside a shipping container starts during the packaging-design stage.
Before loading, manufacturers should evaluate factors such as:
– Product dimensions
– Product weight
– Surface sensitivity
– Packaging strength
– Load distribution
– Pallet or load-base design
– Stacking arrangement
– Available gaps
– Securing method
– Handling equipment
– Transport route
– Destination
Eltete states that its solutions are selected according to individual product and logistics requirements rather than treating one packaging configuration as suitable for every shipment.
Q – Can Multiple Protection Methods Be Combined?
A – Yes.
Different components can perform different jobs within one transport-packaging system.
For example, an export shipment could potentially use:
– Paper Pallet or Slip Sheet
for load handling.
– Edgeboard
for corners and load stabilisation.
– Flatboard
for suitable surface or container wall/floor protection.
– Stretch film or strapping
for unitisation.
– Dunnage Bags
for gaps between complete loads inside the container.
The exact combination depends on the actual shipment.
The objective is not to use every available component.
It is to use the right component in the right location for the right function.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q – What are container liners used for?
A – Companies searching for container liners may be trying to solve several different problems, including cargo-surface contact, contamination protection, movement or other transportation concerns.
The first step should be identifying the specific risk affecting the shipment before choosing a packaging solution.
Q – Does Eltete manufacture container liners?
A – Eltete Malaysia’s published product range focuses on paper-based transport packaging solutions such as Edgeboard, Slip Sheets, Paper Pallets, Honeycomb Board, protective profiles, Flatboard, The Box and other transport-packaging components.
For container-level protection, suitable Eltete products may help solve specific problems such as surface contact or cargo movement.
Q – Can Flatboard be used inside shipping containers?
A – Yes.
Eltete identifies side and floor protection inside containers and trains as one of the applications for Flatboard.
Q – Can Dunnage Bags be used inside shipping containers?
A – Yes.
Eltete states that PROSAK Dunnage Bags can be used inside containers as well as trucks, trains and ships.
Q – What is the difference between Flatboard and Dunnage Bags?
A – They perform different functions.
Flatboard can create a protective separation layer between cargo and surfaces such as container walls or floors.
Dunnage Bags are inflatable products used to occupy gaps between complete cargo units and help restrict movement.
Q – Can Edgeboard be used for container shipments?
A – Yes.
Edgeboard can form part of a palletised or transport-packaging system used for export shipments, providing functions including corner protection, stabilisation and stacking support.
Q – Can Slip Sheets help increase container space utilisation?
A – Eltete identifies space optimisation throughout the logistics chain as one of the reasons for using Slip Sheets.
They have a much thinner structure than conventional pallets, although suitable handling equipment and operational compatibility are required.
Find the Actual Packaging Problem First
If your company is currently searching for container liners, begin by identifying the exact transportation problem you are trying to solve.
Is it:
– Surface protection?
– Cargo movement?
– Empty container space?
– Damaged pallet corners?
– Strapping pressure?
– Load instability?
– Inefficient use of container space?
Once the problem is identified, the appropriate transport-packaging components can be selected around the product and shipping process.
Eltete Malaysia provides paper-based transport packaging solutions for manufacturers, exporters and logistics operations, including Flatboard, Edgeboard, Slip Sheets, Paper Pallets and other customised protective components.
Contact Eltete Malaysia to discuss your current container-loading and transport-packaging requirements.
