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December 28, 2008
6:15 PM

Heads up! This time, this post would be about argomento numero uno (topic number one in Latin); Shrink-Wrapping!

Shrink-wrapping is one the value-added services found in certain distribution centres and warehouses. Shrink-wraps are a versatile medium of packaging and protection. It could be applied to almost anything and for whatever cause. It also provides an extra membrane of protection for the materials wrapped. It looks like something found in the kitchen, especially useful in covering a container of dough when baking, or to preserve goodness of fruits to ensure freshness.

The process involves a roll of translucent film usually about 40 cm wide and a thickness of an arm, scissors, a plastic tube covering the fingers of the user (to avoid blistering of fingers)/or a stand as featured in the video below, plus lots of precision due to the nature of shrink-wraps sticking its surfaces together.



Today, we caught up with Solyh (Lyh) whom will be giving an insight of this value-adding service.
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Edeson (Ed), Joanne (Jo) & Ziyun (Zy): Hey, we heard you had a short stint previously at a local distribution centre. Could you share with us your experiences?

Lyh: Oh, that was during December 2006 when i had just finished my O levels that i had a stint with DHL's Changi Airfreight Cargo Centre there as a contract worker. That is why I would like to share with you the practices there as experienced by me, as a bottom-up point of view.

Ed: So, among them is the shrink-wrap service? For what purposes is it applied?

Lyh: In my workplace, they had a variety of shrink-wrapping services for air-freight containers, cartons' cages, luggage bags and also cartons that had tore apart while in transit/handling.

Jo: Whoa, cartons that had tore apart while in transit/handling? Sounds messy...i hope that will not happen to my 'online spree' (definition at: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/spree) order shipment. Anyways, what is this shrink-wrap service is used for, respectively?

Lyh:
  • As in for air-freight containers, they are used to avoid contact of the containers with aircraft oil, which this would always stain our clothings when handling it. Furthermore, shrink-wrap is used for securing the freight load from the vibrations in air travel which may thus open its lift-gates. However, it would be more crucial to securely shrink-wrap these freight if the container is using a canvas lift (an opening to unload/load goods) as it is more susceptible to wear-and-tear.
  • Cartons are placed in steel castored 'roll cages' to facilitate the movement of the cartons around the WH/DC before being shipped out. Thus this is used as a temporary measure. It would also secure the cages as these cages are sometimes filled to the brim and the weight of these cartons may pry open the cages, though properly closed, if it was not shrink-wrapped.
  • Luggage bags are shrink-wrapped to prevent it from the rough and tumble of the plane journey and the handling of it in the airports. This is to stop those bags that could not shut properly from pouring its contents out.
  • Lastly, shrink-wrapping plus taping will also prevent further damage towards carton boxes which are torn, mainly due to reckless personnel handling. These cartons may be set aside to quantify its content and report for damages if it had split open as I did experienced once.
Zy & Ed: Oh so the shrink-wraps are used for many purposes though some are used for prevention as an added measure or as a result of an accident.

Lyh: Yes, that is correct. Furthermore these services, mainly included in the freight charges are usually applied as needed, depending on its situation. This is a value-adding service that gives a peace of mind for customers, not just delivering the item as it was in the past. However, some large air freight cargo containers needed to be shrink-wrapped each time, probably due to the distance of travel or as to the customer's requirements, such as Emirates cargoes.

Ed, Jo, Zy: Alright, that would be all for this post. Till the next one in 2009! Happy New Year!

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References
Shrink-wrap video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCCBC6eGeNw&feature=related
Pictures: http://www.kissner.com/images/plastic-wrap-stretch.jpg http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_news/air_cargo/air_cargo.jpg


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{About}

Behind the pseudonyms & image thumbnails
From: Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore, 01º 22' N, 103º 48' E, Earth
Course of study: Junior students of Logistics Operations & Management


The Individuals
This team is made up of 4 souls:

-Edeson-
` loves travelling & languages
` hopes for world peace

-Joanne-
` loves purple
` loves food

-SoL.Y.H-
` His strife: Nobody owes me a life, so get with it.
` Dream job: Social worker at Unicef.

-Zi Yun
` Loves Latin Dance ( Feel the beat, Feel my Passion)
` Loving Him

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http://www.tp.edu.sg/

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