Load Safety

The Sliding Stopped

Article in intelligent verpacken 04.2009,
by Anette von der Heide

Load safety begins before shipping – if this advice was always followed, there would be fewer accidents and cases of damage. Once a unit of load is on the move there is often no stopping it. Slip-inhibiting materials supplement the security measures as they work like a brake.

When lorries are involved in accidents, badly secured cargo can have serious consequences. Every year, around 7.400 lorries are involved in accidents in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany alone; that is more than 600 accidents per month or 20 per day. Often, slipped pallets or twisted safety belts are deficiencies found on inspection.
»Every ninth accident is caused by insufficient load securing, and counting, « Josef Lahme, occupational safety expert of Arnsberg district government, stated at an event on load safety held in Arnsberg in February. Radio reports about lost cargo range from aluminium ladders to single bricks. »In spite of all excuses on the part of the drivers, the legal rules are clear. Clause 22 of German traffic regulations states that even during emergency braking, the cargo is not allowed to shift, « says Lahme.

Pallet secured – cargo shifting
Friction is a deciding factor in the shifting of cargo units. Using DIN 12195-1 (German Industrial Standard), the coefficient of friction for different combinations of materials in goods transport can be determined. That is why there should be application-specific testing under operating conditions for every slip-inhibiting material.

»The most important device for slip inhibiting is the broom, « says the product manager of Multi-Cargo at Nordpack GmbH, Isernhagen. »Dirt like sand or grit reduces bond strength and makes the cargo slide. « That also applies when anti-slip mats are used.
Under the brand Multi-Cargo and the name »Safetygrip«, the company offers anti-slip papers, cardboard or corrugated board that is coated on both sides. The anti-slip mats are thus recyclable and can be disposed of as waste paper. The products were developed specifically for load and pallet securing and are available as intermediate or base layers. The coefficient of sliding friction depends on the combination of materials.

Specifically for drums, a corrugated mat is available that prevents slipping up to an angle of 28 degrees and more even without stretching or strapping. Slip-inhibiting base or intermediate layers also keep boxes and other products together on the pallet. »Stretch film holds the cartons together but does not really hold down the goods in case of emergency. «

Application of anti-slip mats
• The contact area has to be swept clean and free of ice, grease and oil.
• The load surface of the lorry and the loaded cargo should be dry. Wetness can impact on the coefficient of sliding friction.
• When using slip-inhibiting materials, it must be ensured that there is no contact between cargo and load surface.

The coefficients of sliding friction for anti-slip mats must only be used for the calculation of load safety if the anti-slip mat has been tested and approved for the combination of materials. The maximum surface pressure and tensile strength of the anti-slip mats must not be exceeded. Slip-inhibiting material is always to be used in combination with additional measures of form- and friction-fit load securing. Films can do very little, especially for drums and kegs.

Customised Packaging Solutions
Nordpack supplements a broad range of paper and cardboard packaging solutions for final or transport packaging by packaging consulting and rapid service. The independent and owner-managed family company pursues a strategy of long-term reliable development based on sustainability and partnership.

The system solution Multi-Cargo includes a series of intelligent standard boxes with the protected quick acting closure »Quicklock« and automatic or interlocking base.