[FR] RAJA’s guide to choosing your shipping tubes
4min read
18/10/2023
Are you looking for the ideal packaging for long, narrow goods? There’s a good chance that shipping tubes are the best solution for packaging and protecting your products! In this handy article, you’ll find out which one to choose from our wide range available for secure mailings.
1. Why use tubes to ship your products?
All long, narrow products can be packaged in a cardboard or plastic tube specifically for shipping. Whether you choose corrugated cardboard or plastic, this type of packaging protects your products from knocks, tears, dirt and moisture. For example, you can ship :
- Posters,
- Large-format documents,
- maps,
- Long spare parts,
- Rolls of wallpaper, fabric, etc.
Good to know
Many cardboard or plastic tubes are closed with a tipwhich is easy to apply. But some offer an adhesive closure, the advantage of which is not only to secure the product during shipment, but also to make any attempt to open the package visible.
2. The selection of shipping tubes you need
Need to send this type of product by post or any other carrier? Discover here a selection of packaging that will enable you to pack your goods securely.
| Round cardboard tubes .  |
. –The most popular shipping tube: immediately ready for use. –Shock-resistant thanks to spiral-wound cardboard. – Easy toopen and close thanks to plastic end caps with grip tabs. –Environmentally friendly : made from recycled paper. |
| Triangular tubes .  |
. –The most practical shipping tube: make the most of your storage or shipping space. – No rolling! –With adhesive strip for quick, permanent closure. –Environmentally friendly : made from FSC-certified paper. |
Square tubes |
. –The most stable shipping tube: perfectly stackable. – And itwon ‘t roll! –With adhesive strip for quick closure and perforations for quick opening. –Environmentally friendly : made from recycled paper. |
Reinforced square tubes |
. –The strongest shipping tube: ideal for fragile products. –No rolling! – Quickopening and closing by the end caps. –Made from 2 mm thick spiral-wound cardboard. |
3. Round tubes and postal surcharges: how to avoid them?
If you send your cardboard tube via a standard courier service such as Bpost, you should be aware that there are certain maximum dimensions you must take into account. This will help you avoid a surcharge. For large parcels, for example, the following values apply:
- Maximum weight of 30 kg.
- The longest side must not exceed 1.5 m.
- Total dimensions must not exceed 3 m (1 x length + 2 x width + 2 x height).
You should also bear in mind that round shipping tubes are subject to a postal surcharge. This is because round packaging cannot be mechanised when handled by the carrier and therefore requires manual handling, which generates additional costs. So how can you avoid this surcharge? There are two possibilities:
- Choose square tubes, which correspond well to the cardboard packaging shapes that bpost can handle .
- Use sleeves, which fit over your round shipping tubes to stabilise them on bpost’s conveyors.
4. Three more tips for packing a poster or large-format document properly
Whichever carton you choose to pack a poster or a large-format document, this type of product requires real attention during order preparation. Here are 3 extra tips to ensure your goods arrive in optimum condition:
- Wrap the poster in a plastic sleeve to protect it even better from moisture and possible snags. You can choose a heat-sealable sleeve to secure it around the product .
- Roll the poster in tissue paper or kraft paper to enhance your parcel. In addition to this wrap technique, you can also use these materials as cushioning in the shipping tube, filling your packaging at each end of the poster.
- Use a elastic band to secure the poster so that it retains its shape. Take care, however, that the elastic is not too tight, to avoid damaging your product.
You’re now a specialist in packaging with shipping tubes, and can send your long, narrow goods with peace of mind!
