THE PACKAGING SPECIFICATION NOTEBOOK / NO. 01
Start with
the load.
Then build
the box.
A stronger brief connects the product, its support and the journey. Work through the details that a useful industrial packaging enquiry needs.
EXPLODED VIEW / QUESTIONS, NOT A RATING
WORKSHEET 01 / GEOMETRY
Find the starting space.
Keep the design questions.
An illustrative allowance helps describe space. A qualified supplier still needs to design the protection and structure.
Inside space begins with the item.
Enter the product’s maximum envelope and a trial gap on every face. Take the result into a supplier conversation, along with weight, support and handling details.
All entries are in inches. The worksheet adds the gap to both sides of each dimension. It does not select cushioning, calculate outside dimensions or approve a load.
Understand the three different envelopes ↗01 / THE PRODUCT CHANGES THE QUESTIONS
What is the box
being asked to protect?
Small footprint. Concentrated load.
A compact part can ask more of the bottom and internal supports than its size suggests.
APPLICATION / 02Long parts need a support story.
Lengths, exposed ends and balance can matter as much as the overall package size.
APPLICATION / 03Protect the finish as well as the shape.
An item that arrives intact can still be unusable if its finish has rubbed or marked.
02 / THE BOX IS ONE COMPONENT
Specify the whole system.
A wall count starts a question. ↗
Single, double and triple-wall descriptions identify construction families. They do not approve a package for your load.
The space inside is part of the design. ↗
Blocking, partitions and cushioning solve different problems. Describe the problem before choosing a material.
The base is more than a shipping accessory. ↗
A corrugated enclosure and a pallet need to be considered together when the load is handled as freight.
03 / THE LAST LIFT MATTERS
Follow the handoff.
The package changes hands before it arrives.
Write down the pickup, carrier and receiving conditions that the design must accommodate.
HANDOFF / 02The route includes time spent standing still.
Storage conditions and duration belong beside the transport plan.
HANDOFF / 03A return trip is a new use case.
Reusable packaging needs an operating routine, not just a stronger-looking outer box.