The pairing of engineered polymers with IoT is enabling logistics professionals to develop zero-damage supply chains, significantly reduce emissions and enhance overall efficiency.
In today’s fast-paced world, a zero-damage supply chain is an ongoing challenge for logistics professionals. On a typical route, a carrier is likely to encounter rough roads, temperature fluctuations and other supply chain risks that threaten a shipment. To successfully move a load from its starting point to its end destination presents a host of obstacles. These challenges demand innovative solutions.
Whether on the ground, in the air or across the sea, logistics professionals need to account for various factors to ensure items reach their destination intact. Fortunately, innovations in engineered polymers and the Internet of Things (IoT) are making it easier to protect items in transit. These technologies have made a zero-damage supply chain not just possible, but well within reach.
Exploring the functionality of engineered polymers
Understanding the synergy between engineered polymers and IoT requires an understanding of both. The first and primary protective measure is the use of engineered polymers, which transform typical packaging from a standard box into an active protection system.
To turn typical packaging into something far more advanced, engineered polymers target and protect against the base causes of in-transit damage, such as vibration, compression, shock, contamination and other variables. Engineered polymers achieve this in a few different ways.
Energy-absorbing foams, such as PE and PU, are widely used in protective applications due to their high energy-absorption capabilities. The use of these foams already goes a significant way toward reducing damage, but there are additional measures that also help. Custom-moulded dunnage can effectively nest an item and immobilise it during transport, preventing rattle.
Engineered polymers also assist in the preservation of items in similar ways. For example, to prevent movement during braking and turns, logistics professionals can employ edge protectors, corner boards, anti-slip sheets and PET strapping. High-performance stretch and shrink films, like metallocene LLDPE and multilayer films, can provide consistent containment to prevent load shift and tip-over.
As mentioned earlier, engineered polymers also have utility in contamination control. By combining the right material properties, design and sealing systems, these polymers can effectively block or reduce the transfer of unwanted particles, chemicals and moisture. For example, nonporous polymers can resist moisture uptake, ensuring product integrity.
That said, the use of engineered polymers is not necessarily new. Certain auto parts already depend on foam inserts and other fillers for vibration dampening. It is the combination of engineered polymers with IoT that is moving the logistics industry closer to a zero-damage supply chain.
Examining Pfizer’s partnership with Softbox
The implementation of IoT across industries has had far-reaching effects. In logistics, IoT has decreased waste and improved sustainability efforts to reduce supply chain emissions, provided end-to-end visibility, and offered better accuracy in inventory and asset management.
Among the many applications of IoT in logistics, its combined use with engineered polymers deserves greater attention. When these two technologies are paired, logistics professionals can take significant strides toward achieving a zero-damage operation.
For example, Pfizer’s process for distributing COVID-19 vaccinations used both engineered polymers and IoT to keep its sensitive shipments safe from temperature fluctuations. Softbox engineered passive temperature-control shippers with high-performance insulation and polymer barrier laminates, as well as moulded components and seals.
In conjunction with this, GPS-enabled thermal sensors allowed logistics teams to intervene if necessary, allowing them to replenish dry ice or reroute to avoid losses. In addition to preventing losses along the route, they could ensure the safe delivery of each shipment.
Improved insulation performance also allows for less active cooling. Condition-based re-icing enables professionals to avoid overcooling and dry ice waste. Sensors can be an effective method for preventing unnecessary energy waste.
Additional applications for engineered polymers and IoT in the supply chain
Outside of Softbox’s application of IoT and engineered polymers for the shipment of vaccines, these two technologies have moved the industry toward a zero-damage supply chain in other ways. Continuing to look at medical devices, IoT and engineered polymers have helped to mitigate shock, tilt and impacts.
Custom EPP, EPE and TPU foam can nest inside a polymer tote, with shock or tilt loggers seated in sensor pockets. The foam keeps transmitted G-loads below fragility limits, and IoT has the capacity to flag rough handling at specific handoffs. Logistics companies can then use that data to determine better lanes or change carriers.
That aside, the applications for improving sustainability and reducing supply chain emissions are considerable. The use of RFID service verification has the potential to reduce truck rolls and fuel consumption, with RFID also having broader applications. RFID can optimise transport and lead to fewer empty miles through tagged pallets, signalling availability and location. Dock-door reads can assist in ensuring appointment adherence and lower idling and dwell times.
When paired with engineered polymers, the benefits of RFID for a zero-damage supply chain are multiplied. For example, engineered polymers can be used for the prevention of load shift, edge crush and other forms of damage, while RFID adds an additional layer of accountability at docks by verifying the correct bill of materials. A noncompliant load could result in rework before the shipment moves.
RFID can also add FEFO picking and lane-level traceability to assist in minimising dwell time. This, in combination with cold-chain packaging such as multilayer films and insulated shippers, can help prevent spoilage and condensation damage.
When engineered polymer assets are moulded to include RFID, either through recessed windows, snap-in plates or other means, the results can be significant.
Moving towards a zero-damage supply chain
With numerous factors at play, achieving a zero-damage supply chain can seem like a daunting task. Supply chain risks like changing temperatures, uneven roads and other unpredictable conditions are consistent possibilities that threaten shipments along their course.
That said, the combination of engineered polymers and IoT technology is changing the way logistics professionals approach their profession. As evidenced by Softbox and other innovators paving the way, a zero-damage supply chain is not only possible but within reach for many logistics companies that are open to new systems and software. By embracing engineered polymers and IoT, professionals can make the most of each shipment.
In addition to their business benefits, these tools offer a way to reduce emissions within the industry and move logistics toward a greener, more efficient future. The synergy of engineered polymers and IoT holds considerable potential for the safe and timely arrival of goods and the preservation and continued health of the planet.
