Pack bulky items correctly

After packing, you are often smarter! “The box was too heavily packed!”, “The surface is scratched!”, “Careful, that’s fragile… KLIRR!” or other scenarios that show that proper packaging is not that simple. Especially with bulky items, packaging is often an aspect that is not taken into account enough, which usually leads to frustration and annoyance on the part of the recipient.

Packing or shipping bulky goods: A (multi-million) heavy market

According to statista.de, about 9% of the population nationwide moves every year.

No wonder, then, that there are now more than 1,700 removal transport companies with a turnover of 620 million €.

When moving into their new four walls, most Germans take the opportunity to get a breath of fresh air with their furniture. And in line with the trend, they also like to do this at home from the (old) sofa:
Online furniture purchases are a big market. The annual turnover of the German furniture company Westwing alone was around €267 million (in 2019).

It’s the packaging that counts

Regardless of whether it’s a removal company, online retailer or freight forwarder: in any case, bulky items should be carefully packed in order to deliver the transported goods to the recipient undamaged.
High-quality packaging is the best way to set yourself apart from the competition and build up a satisfied clientele in the long term.

The basic equipment for packaging

No matter if office or private household:
With the moving set, you get the basics for proper packing. The set consists of 40 moving boxes with carrying handles, a hand dispenser with six rolls of packing tape, a roll of bubble wrap and a wipe-proof marker for labelling.
The boxes should not only be labelled according to content, there should also be a mark where the top and bottom are to avoid damage.

The hand dispenser, in particular, does the job for higher volumes of packaging. In the hand, the dispenser is immediately ready for use.

Bubble wrap is ideal for cushioning objects and for protecting surfaces to prevent soiling and scratches.

The general rule is: cushioning and protecting

Adequate padding must be provided for corners and edges.
All pieces of furniture and individual parts that are grouped together as a package must be completely wrapped in bubble w rap or a moving blanket before they are subsequently packed. Z-cardboard or endless corrugated cardboard is perfect for packing different sizes.

Edge protectors and corner protectors should also be considered.

Carton with automatic bottom

Time is money! And those who work carefully need more time. Cartons with automatic bottom are extremely time-saving, as the video in the comparison test proves: The carton is folded and closed in just 9 seconds.

The boxes with automatic base are available in different sizes and designs. The range includes heavy-duty boxes that can be packed with a weight of up to 30 kg. All items reach their destination safely.

For light and delicate products, such as glasses, or heavy and fragile products, such as crockery or bottles, appropriate compartments, i.e. partitions, should be used for shipping. Thanks to the compartments, no individual packaging is necessary. For ceramics, special packaging for cups offers special protection. This allows items to be packed and shipped quickly and, above all, safely.

Shipping tubes

To send posters, posters or calendars crease-free, mailing tubes in different sizes in the colours brown or white are suitable.
Just open the lid, put the rolled document inside, close the lid securely and you’re done! With a sleeve, shipping becomes cheaper, rolling away is prevented and there is also enough space for shipping labels.

Packing bulky goods correctly

Every parcel service provider has defined exactly how big and how heavy a parcel may be. Everything that is larger and heavier and cannot be packed in cardboard boxes is considered bulky goods.
Bulky goods cannot be processed by automatic sorting systems. It would jam, roll away or get damaged. Bulky goods are therefore not sortable. This includes rolls, bags, wooden crates, sofas and cupboards.

Sending a cupboard

In general, it is advisable to send wardrobes disassembled. Each part of the wardrobe should be packed separately. If the wardrobe cannot be completely disassembled, drawers and doors must be fixed with adhesive tape.

All loose parts such as clothes rails, keys, handles and shelves should be removed to avoid unnecessary transport damage. Shelves can be stacked with partitions made of paper or bubble wrap. Without protection between the shelves, even small impurities will scratch the surface during transport.

Clothes boxes

The wardrobe is packed – how do the wardrobe contents move?

Clothes boxes are a clever way to transport clothes without creases.
They are quick and easy to pack, and the clothes can be hung up on hangers just like in a wardrobe – perfect for transporting or storing seasonal clothes, for example.

Packing a sofa correctly

The sofa is probably the bulkiest product to transport. Seating groups can usually be taken apart, but even the individual parts are still bulky and large.

A cardboard box is laid out on a one-way pallet or Euro pallet. Then the sofa is placed upright on the pallet – depending on the transport service provider, a maximum height must be observed. The sofa is then secured with the tensioning straps so that it cannot slip on the pallet.
If the sofa protrudes above the pallet, the sides must be additionally secured with edge protectors and cardboard.
Last but not least, the entire sofa is wrapped with sufficient bubble wrap or stretch film to prevent the surface from becoming soiled during transport.

Conclusion: There is not THE one solution for packing bulky items.

Special items also require special packaging. No matter what bulky item you want to pack, transport and ship. RAJA will find the right solution for you!

https://www.rajapack.de/verpackungsnews/wie-verpacke-ich-mein-fahrrad/

Read more

For example, you can find out how to pack such a bulky item as a bicycle safely for transport in our article: How do I pack my bicycle safely.