Tips on Safely Shipping Pre-assembled Devices and Machines
24 April 2015
When shipping advanced electronics such as robotics and medical devices, the importance of delivering equipment preassembled is driven by the customer’s need for simplicity. Destinations for such orders range from doctor’s offices and clinics to trade shows and laboratories. Whatever the location, the top priorities from a customer’s perspective are that the product arrives in working condition and that it works with little or no assembly. How you design your crates or ATA cases for shipping makes a large difference in accomplishing this. We suggest the best way to guarantee safe delivery of preassembled products, especially when shipping sensitive and expensive technologies, is to develop a relationship with and work closely with the company designated to crate and ship your product.
» Read More Tips for Shipping Your Hi-Tech and Robotic Equipment
Issues you want to consider discussing with your packaging partner include:
-
Reviewing your product’s shape and design. Will unconventional crating or perhaps a tailored transit case be required to accomodate the product’s unique conformation?
-
Pointing out monitors, sensors or delicate mechanisms. Allow your packaging designer to determine if extra measures will be required to insure their integrity during transit.
-
Planning for loading, unloading and ‘type of ride issues.’ Ramps help cart based devices and mobile robotics to load and unload. Casters may need to be off the deck. Odd shapes need to be considered for custom rails, blocking, foam bolsters and support
-
Taking note of accessories. Are there hoses or other attachments that require special attention in the packaging design?
When choosing a shipping company, be sure to work with a team that is flexible and willing to listen to your concerns. If you are shipping medical devices or shipping robotics, “vanilla” shipping solutions may be insufficient. For instance, shipping medical devices may require:
-
Employing a range of different materials. Be sure you know all the options available before deciding what will work best.
-
Exploring a range of possible designs. Your product may require an “out of the box” solution for crating.
-
Setting new expectations. You know what your customer expects. Select a shipping company that respects your desire to meet your customer’s needs.
» Read More Best Practices for Medical Equipment Packaging and Shipping
Create 3D Solutions
Your product engineers work with 3D models. Choose a packaging company that can think in more than one dimension. When shipping preassembled devices and machines, provide product models to your packaging partner. If they can’t design a prototype based on a computer rendering of your product, there’s a good chance they’re not sophisticated enough to provide the kind of solutions you need. Working with the right partner, a packaging and shipping solution can be created that meets your need for precision and is sure to please your customers.
{{cta(’54b2a2c7-20b7-40ac-accb-09f60ddc1cc8′)}}