Packing print jobs so they arrive like new

A perfect print job that arrives with crushed corners or damp edges is a failed job. Packing takes minutes and decides how the customer remembers the order.

Wrap and protect

• Shrink-wrap or band stacks in useful quantities, for example packs of 50 or 100, so the customer can hand them out without counting.
• Use corner guards or board on both faces for cards, flyers and anything with a sharp edge.
• Fill empty space in the carton so stacks cannot slide.
• Pack boxes and folded packaging flat and tight, so they do not bow.

Moisture and heat

Paper takes in moisture and curls. In humid weather, wrap stacks in plastic before they go into the carton and keep cartons off the floor. Do not leave finished work in a hot vehicle: some laminates and inks can stick together under heat and pressure.

Count before sealing

Count or weigh each stack and write the quantity on the pack. A short count discovered by the customer is much worse than an honest note that one pack has a few extras or a few less.

Label every carton

• The job or order reference and the customer name.
• What is inside and how many, for example "Flyers A5, 4 packs of 250".
• Carton number, such as 2 of 5, so nothing is left behind.
• An arrow for "this way up" when the contents could be damaged by stacking.

Take a photo of the packed cartons before they leave. It takes seconds and settles most delivery questions.

Delivery notes and handover

Send a delivery note with every order: what was shipped, how many cartons, and who to contact if something looks wrong. Ask whoever receives the goods to check the carton count and sign. If a carton arrives damaged, a photo at handover makes the next step quick and fair for everyone.