Category: Uncategorized

Cut to Length Strapping

Posted on by teamA-GG

If you have ever had the opportunity to work with synthetic cord strapping, then you know all of the benefits versus steel. First and foremost, zero potential to lose an eye. Good start. It weighs much less than a steel coil, so it’s good for the old back. It’s cheaper, another tick in the win column. And synthetic strap is also more resilient than steel… I didn’t say stronger… but it is more resilient. The example that comes to mind is dropping a lift of lumber; steel strap cannot take the impact, there’s no give!

Even with all of these innovations, the one constant remains. It’s still strapping. It needs to be roughly measured out, fed through a fastener of some kind, and then tensioned around the product in question using a tool. But what if I told you that we could save you upwards of 10% by reducing waste?

We at Complete Packaging pride ourselves on understanding our customers’ pain points, challenges, and frustrations, then working diligently to alleviate them where possible. This is where our new Cut-to-Length Tex-Steel Cord Strapping program comes in.

We have worked with our production to offer our customers pre-cut lengths of strap. This means loaders will no longer have to cut dozens of straps from a larger coil, they would be cut to the exact length you need right out of the box. This not only saves you time and effort, but also reduces waste!

 

We understand the monotony that comes along with loading the same sized product, in the same containers day after day, and we wish to save your loaders valuable time by offering strapping that comes with the prep-work built in!

Railcar doorway straps, bundle straps, unitizing bands… if you find yourself cutting straps to the same length over and over again, we want to hear from you. Our solution saves you time and unnecessary effort.

If you’d like to trial a few coils of cut to length strap, please contact your Complete Sales Representative, and start getting more done, today!

 

We hope that you’ve found this blog post informative. If you have, we would encourage you to explore our other blogs, posted here: CPS Fortified Cargo Blogs

Complete Packaging Systems is a proud member of and contributor to the Association of American Railways, their website can be found here.

 

Thank you for reading!

Get Creative with Recycling: CYCLONE Dunnage Bags

Posted on by teamA-GG

Are you receiving a shipment with cargo secured by CYCLONE dunnage bags? If you are currently throwing away dunnage bags after receiving a shipment and are looking for a method of disposing of them that is a little more eco-friendly, try recycling our bags! Our CYCLONE dunnage bags are made up of recyclable materials. Just contact your local recycling facility to set up a recycling program with them and help shrink your company’s eco-footprint.

Can’t recycle the bags? Try reusing them at home! Simply cut one end of the bags and slide them over the things you want to cover, like patio furniture or your BBQ to keep them from getting damaged by the harsh outdoor weather. There are many ways you can replace regular tarps with used dunnage bags. In some cases, a used dunnage bag may even be more effective than a tarp because of their sewn sides, ensuring the item underneath is covered completely with no openings along the sides. If you have a camping trip coming up, use an old dunnage bag for storage or as a cover to keep your equipment and/or firewood dry. Don’t let the durability of our CYCLONE dunnage bags go to waste, find ways to reuse our dunnage bags for other applications.

Before using old dunnage bags at home, ensure you have received permission from your manager to take the bags home for personal use. Your company may already have a recycling or reuse program in place.

For more information about our CYCLONE dunnage bags and the sizes we offer, contact our knowledgeable sales team toll-free at 1-866-858-8800.

Edited by: Stephanie Irvine

Damage Prevention before Loading Roll Paper

Posted on by teamA-GG

Our cargo securement products help prevent damage to the goods in your load during transit, but did you know there are steps that should be taken even before you start loading a railcar? Upon receiving a railcar, many people simply open the door, sweep out any debris, and start loading in their product. However, upon receiving a railcar, a thorough examination of the exterior and interior of the car should be completed. After ensuring the car doors are in working condition, the railcar should be inspected for water leaks, holes, large protrusions, bowing sidewalls, or excessive rust indicating a leak. If there are rough surfaces, or small protrusions in the railcar, they can be covered with something such as fiberboard, as suggested in section two of the AAR’s publication Best Practices for Loading Roll Paper, to ensure they won’t cause damage to your product. If a sidewall is slightly bowed, fill the bowed area with the proper cargo securement equipment described in section two of the AAR’s publication Best Practices for Loading Roll Paper, so it’s flush again before loading your product. If you need to use any wall anchors in the railcar, make sure they are fully intact before loading product. By taking the time to do an inspection of the railcar before loading, you can prevent your product from being damaged by water leaks or ripped by sharp objects in the railcar. It is the shipper’s responsibility to reject the railcar and inform the railcar provider of any damage in the railcar. Once the damage is brought to the railcar company’s attention, they can determine if the car needs repairs or needs to be replaced.  Reporting damaged railcars will help remove them from the tracks until they are restored, preventing further product damage. Implementing a railcar inspection procedure and using cargo securement products when shipping via rail can help ensure your products get delivered safely to their destination.

For more information about what should be included in your railcar inspection procedure or load consultation services, contact our knowledgeable sales team toll-free at 1-866-858-8800.

 

Edited by: Stephanie Irvine

The Importance of a Load Plan

Posted on by teamA-GG

Have you ever wondered how such large, heavy paper rolls can shift so much during transit? Throughout their journey from point A to point B by rail, constant forces are being applied to the paper rolls. As described in the AAR’s publication “Best Practices for Roll Paper”, these forces come from a series of shocks, vibrations, or a combination of both. The force created by shock is caused by the train periodically switching tracks or a buildup of slack between railcars, which can lead to slight tugs on the railcars when removed. Force distributed to the rolls caused by vibrations is typically created at the wheels of the railcar when travelling across the tracks and any non-uniformities in the tracks or wheels.  Force placed on the railcar caused by vibrations and shock is then distributed to each roll within the car. The force travels throughout the paper rolls in different patterns, dependent on how the load plan is laid out. If the rolls are lined up in a lengthwise alignment, then the force will travel lengthwise down the railcar and across the rolls. If the rolls are placed in an offset pattern, the force will be distributed throughout each roll, continuing to travel either lengthwise down the railcar or towards the sidewalls of the railcar. This is demonstrated in the picture below. If a poor load plan is used for a load of roll paper with large open voids in the container, a roll could have the potential to shift into the open void. In turn, the rolls around the shifting roll would then also shift. The slow shifting of rolls during transit could cause unsafe unloading as the rolls can end up leaning against doorways or have the potential to fall over. Movement during transit can also cause damage to the rolls. It is important that railcars do not contain large open voids which the rolls can move into during transit and that certified load plans are in place. The paper rolls should be secured in place by certified cargo securement equipment.  Many factors need to be considered when creating a load plan for paper rolls to ensure they get to their destination safely.

Find more information on the importance of a load plan, load plan assistance, or rail regulations by reading the AAR’s publication “Best Practices for Roll Paper”, or by contacting our knowledgeable sales team toll-free at 1-866-858-8800.

The picture below shows the different  forces applied to paper rolls during transit and how the force is distributed throughout the railcar depending on the load plan. This image can be found in the AAR’S publication, “Best Practices for Roll Paper”.

 

 

Edited by: Stephanie Irvine

Railcar Doorway Securement

Posted on by teamA-GG

At the beginning of the year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Damage Prevention & Freight Claim Committee made changes to Rule 7 in their Doorway Protection, Circular No. 42-K. Rule 7 of AAR’s Circular No. 42-K previously stated that when the cargo within a container has the potential to move towards the doorway or make contact with the sliding or plug type doors of a container, the doorway must be secured with equipment that has sufficient strength to withhold the weight of the cargo. Rule 7 now presents the same statement, but also expresses that lumber wedging is no longer an acceptable method of securing the doorways of cargo containers.

If you previously used lumber wedging as a mode of securing doorways and are now in need of an alternative method, you can use synthetic strapping. Non-metallic strapping may be the preferred method as it’s a safer and more cost effective solution to steel strapping. Approved and recommended by the AAR, our Tex-Steel Cord Strapping™ is an excellent way to replace steel strapping and lumber wedging used for doorway protection in railcars.

The AAR Approved markings on our strapping are visible and can be easily referenced when needed. When using Complete Packaging Systems Tex-Steel Cord Strapping™ to replace other doorway securement practices, be sure to use the appropriate application methods and buckles. It is also important that our customers use the proper conversion when replacing steel with synthetic strap. When threading the buckles, our customers can refer to our online resource videos for step by step instructions. Furthermore, to tighten the strap, confirm that the correct tensioner is used with the appropriate strapping.

We have a variety of different widths, lengths, and break strengths of strapping for other cargo securement purposes and applications. To find out more about the variety of strapping we offer, visit our websites Tex-Steel Cord Strapping™ page.

Complete Packaging Systems always recommends our customers follow and try to exceed the standards set out by the AAR when securing their cargo containers. For more information about the use of Tex-Steel Cord Strapping™ in doorways, please contact our load consultation services by calling toll-free at 1-866-858-8800. To review the details about Rule 7 in Doorway Protection, Circular No. 42-K, please visit AAR’s website.

 

Edited by: Stephanie Irvine

New Report! Railroad Employees’ Use of Personal Electronic Devices and Safety Implications [Research Study]

Posted on by teamA-GG

A recent report, published in June 2014 by the U.S. Department of Transportation, discusses the impact of distraction from personal (and company-issued) electronic devices (PED) on safety-critical railroad employees. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Office of Research and Development and Office of Railroad Safety conducted two studies to assess the potential distractions caused by PEDs in response to the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. This report examines these two studies, which together shed light on how personal electronic devices, such as cell phones, affect railroad safety. The findings provide a baseline for outreach and education programs intended to reduce this kind of distraction.

The Studies

The first study began in 2010, and involved interviews with railroad employees coupled with analyses of railroad efficiency and accident databases. Study II began in 2012, and used focus groups and individual interviews to build upon the findings of Study I. Through data gathered from locomotive engineers, conductors, dispatchers, and car inspectors, the study discovered more information about employees’ use of PED and their attitudes about their impact on safety.

The Outcome

The results of these studies indicate that if the federal rule on PEDs is expanded, it should be customized to specific crafts. Some good news is that neither study found substantial evidence of frequent inappropriate use of PEDs while on the job, although the researchers recommend further study into this area.

Why This Is So Important

Although the study did not find significant evidence of PED distraction, it is still an issue that railroad employees must be extremely vigilant about. We have seen too many cases of distracted employees causing catastrophic accidents to ignore this important safety issue, including the incidents in Chatsworth, CA and Spain. It is great that the government acknowledges the impact PEDs have on railroad safety, and that they’re taking action. These studies may lead to better legislation that protects everyone. However, the people who absolutely must be aware of the danger of PEDs and take appropriate action are the railroad employees themselves. Only the front line employee can make the decision to not engage in this dangerous behaviour while on the job.

PDF Download the free report: “Safety of Railroad Employees’ Use of Personal Electronic Devices”. >> Complete Packaging Systems works closely with all rail carriers and shippers to ensure compliance standards are met on a consistent basis. Should you wish for one of our securement specialists to review your loading practices, please do not hesitate to contact us. More from Complete Packaging Systems:

 

One Year Ago: The Lac-Mégantic Train Derailment

Posted on by teamA-GG

This July, we mark the passage of one year since the tragic train derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec in Canada. On July 6th, a 74 car freight train carrying crude oil went off the tracks, leading to the explosion of several tank cars.It became the fourth deadliest rail accident in Canadian history when the explosions destroyed over 30 buildings in Lac-Mégantic and killed 42 people (with another 5 missing and presumed dead).

Regulations in Canada were changed in 2011, two years prior to this incident, to require that tank cars have a thicker shell. This safety standard was changed because of the “high incidence of tank failures during accidents” of the older models. Unfortunately, the older tank car models were still allowed to operate and were therefore still in use on many trains in 2013 – including the train involved in this accident. According to news reports of the incident, the derailed tank cars created a ball of fire that was around 3 times the height of the downtown buildings, rupturing and causing 4 to 6 initial explosions that could be felt up to 2km away from the site.

Our thoughts are with the people of Lac-Mégantic, a town of only 6,000, who are grieving for those lost in this tragic accident last July. They have dealt with the aftermath of this event all year round, banding together as a community to work toward recovery. One of the responses to this event has been an investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. The organization requested a review of the Canadian Rail Operating Rules from Transport Canada, as well as special securing instructions for railways.

This accident drives home the importance of safety first when transporting goods – regardless of what those goods are. Of course, crude oil classifies as “dangerous goods”, but all rail transport has a responsibility to maintain safe procedures and proper securement at all times. We hope incidents like this can be prevented in the future.

>> Complete Packaging Systems works closely with all rail carriers and shippers to ensure compliance standards are met on a consistent basis. Should you wish for one of our securement specialists to review your loading practices, please do not hesitate to contact us. More from Complete Packaging Systems:

 

Complete Packaging Systems Volunteers at Camp for Children with Cancer

Posted on by teamA-GG

Here at Complete Packaging Systems, we firmly believe in giving back and doing our part for the community.

That’s why on June 13th, we closed up shop and our entire staff spent the day volunteering at Camp Oochigeas!

Camp Oochigeas is a volunteer-based organization for kids with cancer. The camp gives these children a place to just be kids and enjoy the fun of summer camp, despite their illness. What makes Camp Ooch (for short) so amazing is the medical care it provides for the kids while they’re on-site.

Camp Ooch is partnered with the Hospital for Sick Children, with a paediatric oncologist and three oncology nurses available 24/7 while the kids are at camp. This way, they can receive the expert medical attention they need in the “Med Shed”, without having to forgo the experience of summer camp.

Right now, Camp Ooch is the only camp in Canada to offer IV chemotherapy, and blood and platelet transfusions on-site.

We feel that Camp Ooch’s cause is important, and that children with cancer should be able to get the fun, exciting, summer camp experience that most of us remember so fondly from our own childhoods. On June 13th, we helped prepare the camp for the incoming onslaught of kids by painting, cleaning, fixing up fishing equipment, getting the stations ready, and more!

It was a great experience and we are glad to have been able to play a small part in helping kids with cancer have a fun-filled summer to remember. Complete Packaging Systems is committed to helping Camp Ooch prepare for the summer every year, and we look forward to going back next spring!

If you’re interested in donating to Camp Ooch, click here! It’s a worthy cause. They also provide information for people who’d like to volunteer. >> Learn more about Complete Packaging Systems here, or contact us today. Recent Posts from Complete Packaging Systems:

Announcement: Dunnage Bag AAR Compliance

Posted on by teamA-GG

As we recently discussed in a previous blog post, making sure your dunnage bags are AAR compliant and up-to-date with their AAR safety verification is absolutely essential. Otherwise, you face significant risks to personal and public safety, as well as potential damage to your cargo.

Complete Packaging Systems is proud to announce our Cyclone Dunnage Airbags are listed in the Association of American Railroads PPPPD Verification Listing.

Attached you will find the most up-to-date AAR table/chart, which illustrates all manufacturers/distributors having achieved successful product verification. The document displays the verification date, by dunnage bag level, type of proprietary valve system, and the materials used to produce the dunnage bag.

PDF Click here for the latest AAR Verification List.

This list is the latest version of the AAR Verification List, which you will notice has been updated since our last post on this topic.

Remember, to determine whether you are using a “verified” dunnage bag, and meeting compliance with the AAR and all Class 1 railroads associated, review the verification date published, then evaluate whether today’s date is in excess of 3 years. All dunnage bag manufacturers are required to submit products, by level and material substrate every 3 years for “re-verification”.

If you are using a product deemed not to be “verified” by AAR, you could be positioning your company to be non-compliant and potentially liable for all costs related to matters proven to be the fault of a failed dunnage bag.

Complete Packaging Systems is an industry leader in the securement of forest products, and other “high density” shipments, and we take great pride in providing the best technical resources to our valued customers. We provide on-site technical training to our customers, as well as rail shippers in general.  CPS representatives are diligent to ensure best practices are deployed, ensuring a safe and efficient workplace for all.

>> Please contact us at any time, should you wish to review your compliance requirements.  We would be happy to provide guidance focusing on development of comprehensive SOP’s (Standard Operating Practices) in your shipping department.

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