Product Packaging

Packaging Options for Desiccant Bags, Cartridges or Assemblies

Option 1 - Sealed Metal Drums:

The standard in the industry for desiccant shipping containers is a 55 gallon sealed drum. A 4 mill poly sack is inserted inside the drum to protect the desiccant bags from contamination and moisture. The desiccant bags are then bulk packed into the 4 mill poly sack inside the drum container. A recent trend has been to package 50 desiccant bags inside a 3 mill poly bag to allow easy removal and handling. The 3 mill bag is then placed inside the 55 gallon drum for shipment. Past experience shows using 55 gallon drums provides the best protection for the desiccant bags. Each 55 gallon drum will hold between 1000 and 1200 desiccant bags. It is also the most cost effective method to ship desiccant product.

Nylon/poly or foil sacks can be used inside the drum as opposed to poly sacks. Both nylon/poly and foil are superior to poly for moisture and puncture protection. These bags are useful when the product is removed from the drum for extended periods of time before the product is used and when puncture resistance is necessary. A typical nylon/poly bag is about 20 times more moisture resistant than a standard poly bag. A typical foil bag is 500 times more moisture resistant than a standard poly bag.

The desiccant bags inside a sealed metal drum have a one year shelf life if the seal has not been broken or tampered with. This proven package is available in 2 sizes. A large 55 gallon drum and a small 30 gallon drum. Large drums hold approximately 25 sacks with 40 desiccant bags each for approximately 800-1000 total parts. Small drums should hold approximately 12 sacks with 40 desiccant bags each for a total of 300-480 bags. Photo shows a large 55 gallon and a small 30 gallon drum.

Advantages:

• Large metal drums are least expensive because they are recycled from the raw material supplier
• Metal drums provide good sealing protection for transportation and storage

Disadvantages:

• Metal drums may be difficult to handle in certain facilities
• Metal drums may be difficult to dispose of
• Metal drums may be recycled, but are expensive to transport empty
• Metal drums must be banded on pallets and pallets must be disposed

Option 2 - Recyclable Sealed Plastic Drums

Heavy duty recyclable plastic drum is very secure for protecting desiccant product from moisture. Each drum holds approximately 50-250 bags, cartridges or assemblies. Drums are stackable 4 high per pallet. They can be stacked when empty and returned to reduce expense. This option is slightly more expensive than option #1 not including initial investment to begin program. Initial cost of tote is $20-$30 each.

Desiccant bags inside a plastic drum have a six month shelf life.

Advantages:

• Plastic drums provide good sealing capability and moisture protection
• Properly sized drum can be taken to the line for direct desiccant bag delivery

Disadvantages:

• Initial cost for plastic drums
• Must recycle and return drums and lids
• Must keep track of individual drums - administrative time

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Option 3 - Zytecs:

3a : Zytec with plastic poly or nylon bags

Zytec shipping containers can be used with clear polypropylene bags. Polypro or Nylon bags are a reliable way to ship product that turns frequently. Zytecs can be stacked neatly and safely up to 6 high for easy shipping and storage when full or folded down and shipped back as a returnable to reduce expense. Each Zytec will hold between 2500 and 5400 desiccant bags depending on gram weight.

Desiccant bags inside a poly or nylon bag have a three month shelf life.

3b : Zytec with heavy 4 mil foil sacs

3c: Zytec with carboard boxes

Zytec shipping containers can also be used with super heavy 4 mil foil sacks. Cardboard dividers can be added to support weight on bags on second level and reduce movement of bags. Cardboard dividers engineered by packaging specialist to hold 550 # of desiccant bags per layer. Each Zytec will hold between 2500 and 5400 desiccant bags depending on gram weight.

Parts can also be placed in a zytec inside cardboard boxes for easy stacking and storage. See Option 4.

Desiccant bags inside a sealed foil sack have a six month shelf life.

Advantages:

• Large container is economical to transport
• Easy to stack and holds a large volume of parts
• Individual sacks can be removed and delivered to the assembly line in small quantities

Disadvantages:

• May need another container at the assembly line
• Must fold down and recycle Zytecs
• Initial investment in Zytecs is required

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Option 4 - Corrugated Boxes and Polypro or Nylon Sacks:

Desiccant bags can be vacuum sealed inside poly or nylon plastic sacks to protect against moisture. In addition, a Humidity Indicator can be added to help indicate product in excess of shelf life. When the humidity indicator turns pink, moisture has exceeded 5%.

Advantages:

• No recyclables to return or invest in.
• Humidity indicator provides some visual indication of possible contamination.
• Vacuum sealing helps to protect product.
• Inexpensive method.
• Boxes and bags can be easily sized to deliver proper quantity to production line.

Disadvantages:

• Shorter shelf life.
• Must dispose of bags and boxes.

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Option 5 - Stackable Sealed Plastic Pails:

Sealed plastic pails provide a packaging option that is appealing to many customers. Sealed plastic pails can be provided in various sizes to supply various volumes and weights of product to the assembly line. Pails are sealed air-tight and do not require an inner lining of polypropylene or foil sacks. Once the lid is removed, the product must be used rapidly or moved to another container.

Advantages:

• Stackable, recyclable and no disposable bags or dunnage
• Easy to stack and hold various volumes of parts
• Carry handles provide easy transport by an individual

Disadvantages:

• Must keep track of lids to keep recyclable benefit
• May need another container at the assembly line
• Full pallets of pails are not easily stackable

*FOOTNOTE: M.V.T.R. stands for "Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate", a measure of the passage of gaseous H₂O through a barrier. It is also known as "W.V.T.R." or "Water Vapor Transmission Rate".

How is moisture resistance measured?

Moisture resistance for a material or a type of sack for packaging is measured in a special chamber, divided vertically by the substrate/barrier material. A dry atmosphere is in one chamber, and a moist atmosphere is in the other. A 24-hour test is run to see how much moisture passes through the substrate/barrier from the "wet" chamber to the "dry" chamber. Standard test procedures (TAPPI T-464, ASTM E96) can specify any one of five combinations of temperature and humidity in the "wet" chamber. The toughest conditions are 100°F / 90%RH (Relative Humidity), and these are the conditions under which we normally test Michelman barrier coatings. MVTR results reported without reference to the test conditions are largely meaningless.

The Table below shows how quickly desiccant bags gain moisture when left unprotected

Labeling Capabilities:

Flow Dry complies with all AIAG bar code labeling standards for packaging. Standard labeling includes 2 labels on the outside of each package placed according to AIAG standards and one moisture warning label. Master labels and additional labels for inner poly or foil sacks are available for an additional charge.

back to Capabilities

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