Glossary

Export Packaging Glossary of Terms

If you have encountered an export packaging industry term or word that you are not familiar with, you will find its definition here:

AAR	Association of American Railroads
A-frame	Type of blocking for containerization
Air freight	Cargo travelling on airplanes
Anti corrosion	Products that prevent carrion on bare metals
Barge	Flat-bottom freight-boat for canals, rivers and harbours
Barrels	Round wooden vessel for carrying liquids or granular material
Barrier material	Materials used to stop the ingress of moisture & contaminants
Barrier material	Cargo stowage area below the deck of a ship
Bill of lading	Document of shippers declaration for shipping cargo
Block & brace	Method for securing cargo in shipping container
Box frame	Type of blocking for containerization
Break bulk	Ship as single piece of cargo, usually not in shipping container
Bulletseal	Security seals for shipping containers
Cables	Steel ropes used to secure cargo
Capacity	Maximum weight allowable  for a mode of transportation
Cargo	Customers goods being shipped
Cartons	Light duty cardboard boxes
Case	Precision made plywood (or similar) box
Cleated box	Wooden box with supporting solid wood framework
Cleated plywood box	Plywood box with supported solid wood framework
Center of gravity	The balance point of a piece of cargo
Customs seal	Sealing device applied to door handle of shipping container
Clevis	Part of a lifting shackle
Certified wood packaging	Solid Wood Packaging in compliance with the IPPC
CFIA	Canadian Food Inspection Agency, administers the CWPCP
Chain marks	Label to show lifting points
Cleating	Solid wood frame that is part of box and crate construction
Climactic conditions	Misnomer for climatic conditions
Climatic conditions	Weather patterns that may affect determination of packaging
Consignee	The final receiver of the cargo
Consolidation	Bring individual cargos together to make one unified shipment
Container	Intermodal shipping container for cargo
Container ship	Cargo ship specially equipped for intermodal containers
Cradle	Structure on which to lay down irregular cargo
Crane	Lifting device
Crate	Open or skeleton style wooden packing
Crating	Packing method using open or skeleton crates
Cushioning	Material that protects against shock and vibration
CWPCP	Canadian Wood Packaging Certification Program, see IPPC
Dangerous goods	Hazardous cargo
Dew point	The temperature at which water vapour turns to liquid
Dimensions	Measurements of the cargo
Drums	Round vessel made from steel, plastic or cardboard
Dunnage	Material used to block & secure under or around cargo
Duty free	Cargo in transit to another country enters Topax without taxes or duty payment at the border
Emballage	“Packaging” in French or Spanish language
Emitter	Device that gives off anticorrosion substance
Environment	See Topax environment section
Ethafoam	Cushioning material with physical memory
Export documentation	See Topax Traffic Department
Export  Packaging	Packaging for overseas shipments and difficult destinations
Export  Packing	Packing for overseas shipments and difficult destinations
Export	Good sold to a customer in another country
Fortuitous losses	Unpreventable damage claim
Fragile	Breakable
Frame crate	Open style outer packing suitable for durable cargo
Fumigation	Chemical treatment to kill infestations of insects see Certified Packaging section
Handling device	Forklift, crane etc.
Handling labels	Universally recognized labels to convey handling instructions
Hardy built fastener	See Fasters section
Hazmat	Hazardous Materials
High cube	Type of shipping container
Hoist	Type of crane
Hood-box	Fully enclosed cover for top and sides of cargo
Humidity indicator	Device for indicating the presence of water vapour
HT56/30	Heat treat solid wood to 56C to meet requirements of IPPC
Impact	When cargo drops to the surface
Impact foam	Cushioning that protects cargo from impact
In gauge	Cargo size that can travel without special permits
In transit	Cargo that is in motion and in control of cargo company
IPPC	International Plant Protection Convention
IPPC stamp	Symbol of an IPPC registered facility
ISPM#15	Name of document that details requirements of IPPC
Keep dry	See anti corrosion
Lagging	Wood installed to protect contents of a reel
Lighter	Boat or barge used to unload ship at sea
Load bearer	Beam calculated to hold specific amount of weight
Logistics	Management of cargo and its movement
Machinery moving	Having special skills for moving or setting up machinery
Marks & numbers	Necessary information for outside of package
Marshalling	Assembling cargo from many sources for a large consolidation
Marshalling yard	Outdoor area to hold marshaled cargo
Military packaging	Specialized packaging for military, usually with written specifications. Manual for setting packaging standards
Moisture barrier	Envelope that prevents the entry of liquid and vapour
Moisture protection	Moisture barriers and anticorrosion products used to prevent moisture damage
Net weight	Weight of cargo before packaging
NPPO	National Plant Protection Organization, for Canada see CFIA
Nuclear packaging	Specialized packaging for the nuclear industry
On deck	Cargo shipped on top of the ship and subjected to the weather
Open top	Type of intermodal container with tarpaulin
Out of gauge	Large cargo requiring permits and special handling
Over height	Cargo requiring  drop deck trucks and permits
Overseas	Cargo travelling to destinations via sea
Pack for the toughest leg of the journey	Protect cargo to withstand all of the hazards
Packing	Outer layer of packaging
Packing slip	List of contents attached to package
Packing list	List of contents attached to package
Pallet	Low cost skid conveyance for cargo
Pallet box	Box superstructure for pallet
Plywood box	Box made with plywood
Plywood crate	Misnomer
Poly-foam	Cushioning material with physical memory
Preservation packaging	Prevents moisture and corrosion damage
Preventable	80% of cargo claims by using professional packaging
Project management	Administer inventory and shipping information
Project marks	Special labels particular to a project
Pulling cables	Topax innovation for removing cargo from containers
Quality assurance	Program for continuous improvement
Quality control	Prevention of defects
Quality system	TQM
Reel	Packaging for cable, tubing etc.
Registered facility	CWPCP 00003
Regulated pests	Harmful insects that appear on the IPPC list
Resilient mounts	Cushioning system
Reusable fastener	Clip system for making demountable or reusable boxes
Risk reduction	Professional packaging by Topax reduces risk
Ro-Ro	Roll on Roll off
Saddle	Structure on which to lay down irregular cargo
Scales	40 tonne capacity device for measuring cargo weight at Topax
Sea port	Port of call for cargo ships
Shackles	Item of lifting equipment
Sheathing	Outer layer of packing, usually attached to wooden cleats
Ship	Large boat for conveying cargo by sea
Shipping marks	Information on package to ensure delivery to destination
Ships tackle	Ship with it’s own cranes
Shock indicator	Device to show if package has been subjected to impact or vibration
Shock protection	Cushioning
Shock watch	Device to show if package has been subjected to impact or vibration
Shrink wrapping	Heat shrinked, outer plastic barrier
Shunting	Bumping of rail cars while coupling or maneuvering
Shunt truck	Truck for moving containers around Topax yard
Skid base	Heavy duty pallet or skid designed to take a specific cargo load
Skidding	Beams of wood or steel, on which to lay down cargo
Skidrunner	Part of Skid Base
Slings	Lifting tackle
Sling slot	Part of box or crate designed to facilitate slings
Spreader	Lifting beam prevents cargo damage from cables or slings
Spreader frame	Interior structure to prevent crushing of packaging box
Spreader bar	Lifting beam prevents cargo damage from cables or slings
Stevedore	Worker at sea port
Stowage	Put cargo in the hold of a ship
Stretch wrapping	Plastic wrapping material for unitizing a small load
Stringer	Large beams in a skid base
Successful delivery	What happens when Topax packages your cargo
SWP	Solid Wood Packaging
Tarp	See tarpaulin
Tarpaulin	Heavy duty cargo cover
Tie-down	Device for securing cargo
Tip’n’tell	Indicator that shows tipping of cargo
Trade show cases	See reusable packaging
Warehousing	Holding of cargo in a building
Weight distribution	See technical packaging
Wood box	Outer packing with cleated frame and solid wood sheathing
Wooden box	Outer packing with cleated frame and solid wood sheathing
Wooden crate	Open or skeleton style wooden packing

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