1. Best Practice for Shipping Pre-Production Material

2. Best Practices for Shipping Pre-Production Material
Please contact a Minth Packaging Engineer to assist with ordering wood boxes for pre-production shipments or determining packaging for pre-production shipments:
Gina Cossin Sr. Packaging Engineer Farmington Hills, MI
Jeremy Knowles Packaging Engineer Farmington Hills, MI
Luis Rodriguez Packaging Engineer MMC, Aguascalientes, MX
Fernando Lopez Packaging Engineer MMX, Aguascalientes, MX
Pre-production Materials should be shipped in Nail Wood Boxes constructed from Plywood & Lumber when shipping more than 100 pounds domestic or international. Use foam fingers as interior dunnage or wrap the parts in foam sheets when the surface of the parts need to be protected. All void space should be filled with foam sheets, bubble wrap, bogus paper or air pillows. Place several layers of foam sheets over parts with a Class A surface before filling the void space and to prevent the part from coming into contact with the wood box lid.

3. Best Practices for Shipping Pre-Production Material
Ordering a Wood Box Instructions
Please provide the following information: Inside Dimensions of wood box, weight being put into the wood box, quantity of wood boxes required, mode of transportation (ground vs. air and domestic vs. international) and whether or not shipping needs to be included in the quote when requesting a wood box.
Tip – It is best to identify the foam rails width and have a wood box built to that width so they fit well, reducing movement.
Make sure to indicate the wood box should be made with plywood walls, top and bottom (not an open “crate” design). Also, wood box must be in compliance with ISPM 15 requirements and should withstand stacking up to 120” of similar product and weight without damage occurring.

4. Best Practices for Shipping Pre-Production Material
When shipping less than 100 pounds ground domestic or international:
Small Parcel Ground – Individual cartons not palletized
RSC or FOL style cartons should be used. HSC style and Tray styles should not be used for shipping small parcel. HSC style and Tray style cartons should be overpacked into an RSC or FOL style carton.
RSC- Regular Slotted Container – Flaps meet in the middle - One piece carton
FOL- Full Overlap Slotted Container - One piece carton
HSC or Tray Style – 2 pieces make up the carton and reduce the strength.

5. Best Practices for Shipping Pre-Production Material
When shipping less than 100 pounds ground domestic or international:
Small Parcel Ground (continued)
Doublewall (350# or 51 ECT minimum) cartons are recommended for cartons pounds or when parts will ship to multiple locations in the same packaging.
Use foam fingers, wrap the parts in sheets of foam or use partitions when the surface needs protection.
Fill all void space with sheets of foam, bubble wrap, bogus paper or air pillows. Place several layers of foam sheets over parts with a Class A surface before filling the void space.
Overpack all single wall cartons under 45 pounds, fill void between the boxes.
To test pack, follow FedEx Free-Fall Drop Test Procedure in the link below (test should use scrap parts). Open the carton and evaluate the results before shipping.

6. Best Practices for Shipping Pre-Production Material
When shipping less than 100 pounds domestic or international:
LTL (Less than Truck Load) Palletized Loads
Cartons should hold equal or less than weight indicated on the boxmaker’s certificate.
If it is uncertain whether or not a pallet can withstand double stacking, use corner supports, with a tray top and bottom.
Follow Palletization section of the Packaging Guidelines.
Use foam fingers, wrap the parts in sheets of foam or use partitions when the surface needs protection.
Fill all void space with sheets of foam, bubble wrap, bogus paper or air pillows. Place several layers of foam sheets over parts with a Class A surface before filling the void space.

7. Best Practices for Shipping Pre-Production Material
When shipping less than 100 pounds domestic or international:
Air
Doublewall (350# or 51 ECT minimum) cartons are recommended.
RSC or FOL style cartons should be used when shipping loose cartons (not palletized). HSC style and Tray styles should not be used when shipping loose cartons or must be overpacked into an RSC or FOL carton.
Use foam fingers, wrap the parts in sheets of foam or use partitions when the surface needs protection.
Fill all void space with sheets of foam, bubble wrap, bogus paper or air pillows. Place several layers of foam sheets over parts with a Class A surface before filling the void space.
Ship on a pallet when shipping multiple cartons.
Overpack boxes when not shipping on a pallet. Fill void space between cartons.
To test pack, follow FedEx Free-Fall Drop Test Procedure in the link below (test should use scrap parts and a sample box). Open the carton and evaluate the results before shipping.

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