Category: Complete Packaging Systems News

T-Loading Pulpboard Rolls

Posted on by teamA-GG

When shipping pulpboard rolls in cushion-equipped boxcars, more rolls can be shipped in a single railcar by using an on-side or T-Loading method. T-loading consists of loading the first layer of rolls into a railcar using an AAR approved loading pattern then adding a second layer of rolls on top, placed in bilge position. This creates a “T” like pattern with the pulpboard, as shown in the diagram below from the AAR’s publication Best Practices for Loading Roll Paper in Railcars. To secure the pulpboard, each roll on its side must have a chock placed underneath it and there must be a blocking roll at or before the doorposts at the A and B end of the railcar. Chocks used under the pulpboard must be of an appropriate height and width, whether they are built up corrugated chocks or rubber alternatives. Blocking rolls must be slightly higher than the adjacent rolls in the first layer. This can be accomplished by using a slightly taller roll or by placing risers underneath the blocking roll to increase its height. The top of the blocking roll, along with the chocks, will stop the second layer of pulpboard from rolling towards the doorway area of the railcar. When T-loading, the doorway must be loaded and secured using an AAR approved method. Shippers should advise the consignee that these loads contain two layers with rolls placed on their sides, so they are properly equipped when unloading the shipment.

T-Loading is only AAR approved for certain roll sizes and with certain commodities. Please ensure you review section 6.6 of the AAR’s Best Practices for Loading Roll Paper in Railcars to see the full guidelines and restrictions for the use of T-Loading methods. For more information about securing T-Loaded railcars or to find out if T-Loading can be used when shipping your pulpboard rolls, contact us toll-free at 866-858-8800.

T-Loading AAR PulpboardT-Loading Pulpboard AAR

 

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What Are Contour Buffer Pads?

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When shipping roll paper, it can be difficult to find a product that fills voids between paper rolls due to the curved, rounded shape of the rolls. Contour buffer pads are designed to help stabilize dunnage bags and other cargo securement products used to fill voids within roll paper shipments. Contour buffer pads contain one side that lines the shape of the roll paper while the side adjacent to the roll is a flat surface for dunnage bags or void filler to easily be applied to. The flat surface of the contour buffer pad helps prevent the dunnage bag or honeycomb being used to fill the void from curving to one side and shifting around the roll. The diagrams from the AAR’s Closed Car Loading Guide – Loading Roll Paper in Rail Cars below show how the contour buffer pads create a flat surface for the void fillers or dunnage bags to rest on.

 

Contour buffer pads allow you to get more surface area contact between the paper rolls and the void fillers/dunnage bags you are using. However, contour buffer pads are not considered as void fillers in a load plan. This means that any contour buffer pads used will not be counted towards the maximum number of void fillers and dunnage bags you can use within a load space. Although contour buffer pads can increase the effectiveness of dunnage bags, the loader is still required to find the center line of the two rolls they are trying to secure and ensure that the bags and contour pads are properly positioned. Failure to do so can still result in the bag being jettisoned out of the void post-impact. For more information about contour buffer pads and how they can be used in your load plan, contact us toll free at 1-866-858-8800.

 

 

Edited by: Stephanie Irvine

Images above from AAR’s Closed Car Loading Guide – Loading Roll Paper in Rail Cars

2019 AAR Damage Prevention & Freight Claim Conference

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As in previous years, Complete Packaging Systems was delighted to attend the Annual AAR Damage Prevention and Freight Claim Conference held last month. This year’s 127th Annual AAR DP & FC Conference was held in Omaha, Nebraska from July 8th-11th 2019. The three-day conference covered a variety of industry updates, trends and developments that occurred over the past year.

The conference began with an overview of the Paper, Automotive and Food & Beverage Industry. The overviews included manufacturing outputs, sales and consumer trends. Union Pacific’s Mexico Franchise and Union Pacific’s Cold Connect operations were also discussed.

The bulk of this year’s conference focused on three major “breakout” rail shipments in the industry: Paper, Open-Top and Automotive. The Paper Breakout portion of the conference provided a 101 session for Roll Paper Load Plan Creations covering load plan software, shipment trials and obtaining AAR Approvals. The Open-top Breakout portion of the conference covered topics such as pipe shipments, required railcar clearance updates, the development of new securement products in open-top shipments, military vehicle shipments and how drones have become useful for rail safety/monitoring. Finally, the Automotive breakout session of the conference discussed updates to quality and training sessions, vehicle inspections and how the changes in modern car designs is changing the way cars need to be shipped.

The conference ended with an overview of railcar fleet trends, rail industry updates, factors affecting and creating changes in our industry, the effects of spring deflection on center of gravity height, intermodal distribution and a preview of changes for 2020.

The amount of industry updates and knowledge that Complete Packaging Systems was able to acquire at this years AAR DP & FC Conference was outstanding. Every year there are new technology and safety developments that help improve the rail industry. A full breakdown of this year’s AAR DP & FC Conference and some of the presentations can be found at the AAR’s webpage. For any questions regarding cargo securement and your load plan, contact one of our knowledgeable technical sales and service representatives by calling 866-858-8800.

Woven Vs. Composite Strap

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Two of the most popular types of strap used in the cargo securement industry are polywoven and composite. Both are great products to use when securing your cargo, but there are differences between the two that make each one more suitable for certain load applications.

Polywoven strap is made up of polyester fibers that are woven together. Its strength comes from the way the fibers are woven in a multi-directional pattern, weaving both horizontally and vertically. The composition of polywoven strap allows it to have flexibility while providing good tension on rigid loads. The woven material provides slight elongation of the strap, helping it absorb some of the shock and impact during transit while still maintaining its position.

Composite strap is made up of strands of polyester fibers, all traveling vertically and coated together by clear polypropylene. The polypropylene coating increases its resistance to abrasion, yet still allows for slight elongation during transit. Due to its polypropylene coating, composite strap is much stiffer than polywoven strap. The stiffness of composite strap makes it easy to feed underneath pallets.

Both woven and composite strap have different wire buckles that are intended to be used with each type of strap. The difference is the finish on the buckles. For woven strap, you should use phosphate coated wire buckles. The phosphate coating on the buckle allows for more friction against the woven material. If composite strap were used with the phosphate coated wire buckles, the strap would become worn from the friction between the buckle and strap. Instead, for composite strap you should use galvanized wire buckles. The smooth finish of the galvanized buckle allows the composite strap to thread effortlessly on the buckle and stays in place because of the stiffness of the strap. If woven strap were used with the galvanized buckles, the strap could slip off the buckle as there would be no friction between the buckle and strap to hold the strap in place.

In order to get the maximum effectiveness from your cargo securement products, it is important the correct products are used together. To find out more about the products you should be using in your load plan contact us toll free at 866-858-8800.

Dunnage Bag Performance Levels

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Are you using the proper dunnage bags in your load plan? When using dunnage bags to secure your product during transit, certain dunnage bags should be used depending on your load plan, the product being shipped, how the product is being shipped, and the weight of shipment. There are six types of dunnage bags; Over-the-Road (OTR) bags and bags leveled 1 through 5. All dunnage bags come in a variety of sizes to fit your load plan. Over-the-road dunnage bags are intended for use in truckload shipments only. Whereas, Level 1 dunnage bags to Level 5 bags are intended for rail and intermodal shipments. The performance level of each bag can be seen in the chart below from the AAR’s publication Closed Car Loading Guide – Minimum Loading Standards for Freight in General Purpose Boxcars:

The chart shown above should be used by loaders as a reference for the minimum requirements each type of dunnage bag meets. In some cases, higher precautions should be taken, exceeding the minimum requirements. For example, Complete Packaging Systems suggests using Level 5 bags in horizontal applications with cylindrical voids, instead of Level 4 bags, regardless of the shipment weight. Complete Packaging Systems suggests using Level 5 bags in cylindrical voids with horizontal applications because the bags will have pockets they can expand into. The higher pressure building in these pockets can cause the Level 4 bag to decrease in strength by 50%, compared to when positioned in flat wall voids. The contour of the bags that causes these pressure pockets can be seen in the diagram below. In addition to the minimum guidelines in the chart above, each dunnage bag has different PSI requirements and the user should follow the manufacture guidelines printed on the dunnage bags. In section 6.7.18 of their publication Closed Car Loading Guide – Minimum Loading Standards for Freight in General Purpose Boxcars, the AAR also recommends leaving the railcar open after loading the shipment and checking the dunnage bag PSI after 30 minutes for leakage. Finally, the size of the dunnage bag you are using should cover at least two thirds of the adjacent product around the bag. In conclusion, there are many factors that can affect which bag is the right fit for your load plan, so let us help; to find out more about the use of dunnage bags in cargo securement and how they should be applied in your load plan, contact us toll free at 866-858-8800. 

 

 

New Valve Technology

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Here at Complete Packaging Systems we strive to provide innovative products to our customers. That’s why we are pleased to announce the launch of a new valve technology for our lightweight Over-the-road and Level 1 dunnage bags called the Striker Valve. The Striker Valve and its corresponding inflators make the inflation of dunnage bags easier for the user. This new inflation technology simply clips over the striker valve from any angle with little pressure applied, no aligning or struggling required. Once the inflator is attached to the valve, it can be easily rotated around the valve, so you can achieve the perfect angle needed for inflation without having to worry that the inflator will come loose from the valve or that the bag will twist. The Striker Valve inflator also has a low-profile head that fits into tight spaces. Once you are ready to remove the inflator from the valve, it is as simple as pinching the inflator head. The Striker Valve inflation tools are also available in a variety of styles. Whether you want a manual inflator or a digital inflation system for an accurate PSI reading, both styles are available. Both the inflator options are similar to the inflators we currently carry, so they will be comfortable/familiar in your hand when you make the switch. Like our current inflators they allow for fast inflation, filling at a speed of 235 liters/minute with the striker inflator and 500 liters/minute with the digital inflator. To make the inflation process even more comfortable and easy for you, we are offering a range of hose lengths that can be used with the Striker Valve. The hoses connecting the handle of the inflator to the inflator head are available in lengths of 4”, 15” and 10 feet so you can have the perfect distance and reach that you require for your load plan. Deflation of the Striker Valve bags is just as easy as inflation. The Striker Valve has a deflation cap attached. Simply clip the deflation cap over the valve and the dunnage bag will start to deflate. For more information about the Striker Valve dunnage bags and their inflation technology, contact us toll free at 866-858-8800.

Edited by: Stephanie Irvine

 

2018 AAR Damage Prevention & Freight Claim Conference

Posted on by teamA-GG

Earlier this month, Complete Packaging Systems had the pleasure of attending the 126th AAR Damage Prevention & Freight Claim Annual Conference in Nashville, TN. This year’s conference presentations reminded us just how much the industry has advanced over the past few years. Each year the industry seems to flourish in technology developments and safety enhancements. With safety being our main concern, Complete Packaging Systems is eager to attend this conference every year.

This year’s conference covered topics ranging from North American Trade and its impact on railroads to autonomous trucking. Throughout the entire industry, technology changes are being made to make the industry safer and more automated. Autonomous trucking, Positive Train Control, rail trip optimizers, smart sensors, delivery drones and more are all being researched to discover a more efficient way to deliver products safely within a supply chain. Even the testing for rail cars and securement products has advanced. Simulators used to test securement products and modes of transportation have become life-like and can pick up on the smallest vibration or shock that could affect the cargo within.

Furthermore, the AAR has published numerous General Information Series over the past year, helping to continuously improve freight standards and guidelines for shipments passing through rail. Along with the new GISs, new securement products have been developed and tested to ensure product arrives safely to its destination; ranging from products designed to hold down barrels during transit to products that prevent cars and automotive from shifting during transit.

A lot of developments and changes were discussed at the AAR Conference regarding what we can look forward to in the next generation in the industry, filled with technology advancements and automation. Participating in the annual AAR Damage Prevention & Freight Claim conference keeps us up-to-date with the newest industry regulations and developments. For more information about the conference, contact us toll free at 866-858-8800.

 

Edited by: Stephanie Irvine

Centerline Guidance Mark

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If you are currently using our Level 4 or 5 Cyclone dunnage bags, you may start to notice a small black line on either side of some of our bags. Complete Packaging Systems is currently in the process of applying a small black line on the sides of our new L4 and L5 Cyclone bags ranging from 96” to 108” in length, so you can easily reference where the center of the bag is. Having the centerline marked on the dunnage bags during a horizontal application will allow you to easily line up the markings on the bag with the lengthwise centerline of a rail car, ensuring the bag is evenly distributed across the rail car. It is important to have the center of the dunnage bag lined up to the lengthwise centerline of a rail car so the weight of the paper rolls will be evenly distributed across the bag during transit. If there is uneven distribution of weight on the dunnage bag, the load will not meet industry regulations and can become unstable, causing the rolls adjacent to the bag to spin out and make the load unsafe. Also, when there is too much pressure on one side of the bag it can cause one side of the dunnage bag to be pinched while the other side expands to hold in all the air.

By applying a centerline guidance mark to our Cyclone L4 and L5 bags ranging from 96” to 108” in length it will help our customer’s line up the dunnage bag evenly across the lengthwise centerline of rail car when used in a horizontal application. This is just one example of the way Complete Packaging Systems strives to make load planning in cargo securement easier for our customers. Please note, this guidance mark is being applied to all to our new productions of L4 and L5 Cyclone bags ranging from 96” to 108” in length and the bags you currently receive may not obtain the mark yet. We thank you for your patience, as we make this beneficial transition. For more ways Complete Packaging Systems can assist you with your companies load plan, contact us toll-free at 866-858-8800.

Edited by: Stephanie Irvine

T-Strap Hangers Vs. Tape

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When shipping paper rolls, many load plans require strap to be placed around the rolls to help unitize the rolls. It is important the cargo strap stays in place on the rolls and doesn’t fall to the floor during transit or the strap becomes useless for securement. Some shippers use tape to hold up the strap, but using tape can have its disadvantages. Tape can come loose from your paper rolls during transit and fall to the floor. This is mainly due to two reasons. First, during transit the strap shifts from side to side around the rolls. As the strap shifts, the tape is pulled with the strap causing the tape to slowly be pulled away from the rolls. Second, the weight of the strap pulls down on the tape throughout the entire shipment, forcing apart the tape adhesive and the surface of the paper roll.  Once the tape is completely pulled away from the paper roll, there is nothing to hold the strap in place, causing it to slip down the rolls and onto the floor. So, what’s the superior solution for holding up your cargo strap during transit? T-Strap Hangers. T-Strap Hangers are die cut pieces of thick, high quality cardboard that have a strong adhesive on the back. T-Strap Hangers are specifically designed to hold the cargo strap used around your paper rolls in place and prevent it from falling. The upside down “T” shaped cut of the T-Strap Hanger allows the strap to rest in two cut grooves during transit. By having the strap rest in these grooves, it allows the strap to slide from side-to-side as the unitized rolls shift slightly during transit, but it doesn’t allow the strap to fall downward because the grooves will act as hooks for the strap. T-Strap Hangers are also incredibly easy to install. Simply, peel the covering off the adhesive located on the back of the T-Strap Hanger, stick the T-Strap Hanger onto a paper roll, and put the strap into the cut-out grooves. The strong adhesive on the hangers will keep it secured to your paper rolls while the design of the hangers will allow the strap to shift with the rolls and keep it at the required height from the trailer floor. Overall, T-Strap Hangers are the simple and superior way of keeping the cargo strap around your paper rolls in place during transit.

For more information regarding T-Strap Hangers and how they could be used in your load plan, contact us toll free at 866-858-8800.

 

Edited by: Stephanie Irvine

Now Offering Core Plugs, Splicing Tape & Kraft Tape!

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In case you didn’t hear, Complete Packaging Systems has added new items to our product offering! Along with our LoadSecure™ friction mats, CYCLONE airbags, Tex-Steel Strapping™, and other high quality products, we now offer core plugs and tape!

We are offering both wooden and plastic core plugs in a variety of sizes, for a variety of cargo securement needs. In addition, our new splicing and kraft tape is fully pulpable, making it the perfect solution for connecting paper rolls. Simply add these items to your next order and receive them with your next shipment of quality product from Complete Packaging Systems.

For more information about our core plugs and/or tape, please speak with one of our knowledgeable team members by calling toll free at 1-866-858-8800. We’ll be able to help you determine how these new products can be added to your load plan to help get your products delivered safely and damage free!

Edited By: Stephanie Irvine