A brief excursus on vermiculite
The most traditional cushioning and absorbing material is vermiculite. It is mineral-based: thanks to its chemical characteristics, it can absorb any liquid that may leak and most of the shocks caused by the inevitable displacement of the packaging during transportation.
Despite the wide use of this material in combination with the UN-certified 4GV boxes, vermiculite also presents some disadvantages: we are talking, for example, of the dust that is produced by the rubbing between the grains and with inner packaging, making the products dirty. Vermiculite is also quite heavy, which makes transport costs (especially by air) increase. Finally, because it is difficult to handle, vermiculite slows down the packaging process and increases labour costs, too.
UN-certified 4GV Safe & Clean boxes (with an explanation of materials)
That is why to avoid such inconveniences, Serpac has conceived a system that guarantees the same performance as vermiculite through the use of two complementary materials: SR foam, a material capable of absorbing vibrations and shocks, and absorbent cloths, suitable for acidic, caustic, and corrosive substances, chemical agents and liquids of unknown nature. They are then put together in practical ready-to-assemble kits.
An innovative solution, that not only allows you to quickly absorb even large volumes of liquid and to enjoy excellent resistance to deformation under load, but also guarantees cleanliness and safety both for the people who handle it and for the inner packaging that is transported. This is shown by two elements that characterize this new solution for the UN-certified 4GV boxes: cleanliness and safety of goods, people, and the environment.
Cleanliness
The absence of peeled-off material avoids the generation of dust: SR foam and absorbent cloths remain compact and do not involve the use of PPE such as masks, gloves, and protective goggles for those who need to handle them, even for a long time every day. Actually, PPEs are not expressly requested to use vermiculite but are strongly recommended: in fact, many customers decide to use them to avoid any problem.
The absence of dust is a feature that guarantees cleanliness. Both the operators in charge of the packaging and also of the environment in which the closing and opening of the packaging take place remain clean: the maintenance of spaces (especially warehouses) and all materials contained becomes, therefore, easier.
What about the transported goods? They will arrive at their destination free of impurities, allowing the recipient to enjoy clean and beautiful external packaging, especially if valuable. This adds value to the sender’s job.
Safety
Security in the workplace is always extremely important. Some type of vermiculite used in the market contains asbestos, so there is an effective risk for health if the dust produced by the rubbing of the granules is inhaled. It is highly carcinogenic and can cause irreversible damage to people's health. However, it should be noted that not all vermiculite on the market carries this risk. To avoid this danger, Serpac only supplies certified 100% asbestos-free vermiculite.
Safety also affects the goods that are transported: foam and absorbent cloths do not risk damaging or contaminating the internal packaging in any way.
