advice on preventing shipping damage of metal extrusions

Can you be more specific about the damage and what you think is causing it. Forklift? Shifting? Securing?

 

Some time damage in transit is minimal compared to the damage done by loading or unloading. Make sure that people that load/ unload actually know how to load/unload it the best way possible to minimize damage.

 

Are you shipping flatbed or van? Truckload or LTL? If it's LTL your freight gets handled a lot prior to destination.

 

if it's getting crushed, you need to put some sort of framing around it or else fill the screeds with something to prevent it from collapsing. IE, wood or plastic inserts.

Is it's getting scratch damages, you may want to consider plastic wrapping them with a heat shrink type protective cover.

If it's getting fork damage, get a new nut on the fork lift steering wheel.

 

That's what I was thinking if we are thinking about the same thinking! What do you think? If it's bowing or collapsing from tightening down the straps, it could be as simple as a design improvement. Like a precision fit plastic truss filler you push inside on 2 ft centers before capping the ends. That would improve the crushing strength ten fold, cost pennies, light weight and a product improvement.

Unless if it has ridges for strength, why can't it be stacked and banded like lumber?

 

Another idea is to take a field trip to a level manufacturer like Stanley and steal their ideas for packaging and shipping since they are both similar products.

Or off the wall, build a one length screed like 6 feet that screws together. A finisher can make his desired length and take it apart and throw it in the back of his pickup, not having to worry about how to haul it around. Packaging can be boxed then and shipped in a van.

 

I would really help if you put a picture on this post. Right now it's all guess work. If we see it we can help you.

 

because if it's the product I THINK this is....

http://www.diamondtool.net/dt/p/cem...aft-tool-co-extru-litetrade-magnesium-screeds


Good luck unless you really do something to really protect it in-transit. you can't just toss this stuff in a pile like that and NOT expect damage. I used to run ready-mix concrete truck as well as work concrete back in the 90's and these things are light and strong if handled the way intended. But if you do something it's not designed for, you bend the hell out of it now.

Otherwise if you are just bundling it like regular 2X4 wood stock. Good luck protecting it.

Now it is handling damage from be rough handle on the dock, you got bigger issues.

 

That's what I can only imagine is rough handling on the dock pawned off on the truck driver or the truck drivers strap down so tight they are getting damaged that way. It's super strong vertically but vulnerable horizontally. That part should be considered when packaging. Maybe Kllee is right and they are cramming them in a van sidewards. I know when I worked for Central they done that crap and all kinds of stuff got damaged.

Yeah Beer we have to wait. But curious minds want to know. Ask a question and leave.