Minimizing air in parcels requires innovative solutions – this is how PostNord TPL does it!
Minimizing air in parcels affects contact points along the entire delivery chain. It increases the resource efficiency, customer experience and reduces the environmental impact.
PostNord TPL has implemented multiple technical initiatives and is continuously optimizing processes in those areas that research and the industry in general believe should be prioritized to minimize the volume of air in parcels. In this article, we highlight some of these prioritized areas and how we can reduce the volume of air in these steps in the delivery chain.
The product
Once an order has been picked, the product's data and requirements specification, as well as the customer's requirements specification and instructions, determine the protective packaging the order will have. Based on these parameters, the products’ placement in the packaging is optimized and the smallest possible packaging is selected. PostNord TPL, together with SKRYM, initiated a collaboration that optimize the choice of standardized boxes in a manual packing process.
Packaging equipment
If the process is linked to an automated packaging system, minimizing the volume of air is normally one of the variables taken into account. Some automated packaging systems have a fixed footprint - where the x and y axes are locked for the package’s dimensions and are folded down depending on the z-axis. Other automated packaging systems take the x, y, and z axes into account and optimize based on all of these. Postnord TPL has extensive experience in automation and with many different types of automated packaging systems. Read more about how automation streamlines the warehouse flow.
Sorting equipment
Once an order is packed and ready for dispatch, it normally needs to be sorted onto pallets. Using the order's data, PostNord TPL has a number of initiatives for meeting each customer's needs. To minimize occupational injuries, pallets for instore picking can be sorted based on how the lightest is picked and on which package is heaviest.
Minimizing the volume of air in individual orders can result in packages being different sizes, which can make placement on a pallet more difficult. To optimize the pallets, PostNord TPL collaborates with SiB Solution, which uses its technology to calculate where each order should be placed in order to optimize a pallet.
Transportation
When a pallet is ready for dispatch, it is important to make sure that each pallet is systematically included in the transport, which can be anything from emission-free trucks to trains. Our Transport Management department guarantees that all the customer's needs are met.
Labelling
Labeling is an important process for ensuring that an order arrives at the correct destination. Today, labels can be printed and affixed on a package, which means that the label is dependent on the size of the package. Technology for printing data directly on the packaging, and thus reducing the use of labels, also needs to take into account the size of the package.
We predict that there will be a greater use of barcodes, QR codes and digital product passports in the future.
In summary, it is clear that individual actors can come up with parts of the solutions needed to reduce the volume of air in the delivery chain, but in order to succeed, collaborations are needed. Together with our suppliers and partners, PostNord TPL is eager to take the lead and drive the development of an optimized logistics flow.
