Packaging
Well packaged, perfectly delivered
The TNT Express
packaging solutions
TNT Express endeavours to deliver your
Good preparation is key
parcels in perfect condition and on time. But
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enter the transport process – so you can be
sure of a perfect delivery service within the
you yourself can also contribute to a perfect
Just to give you an idea: all goods shipped
agreed deadline. By adhering to these
delivery. Solid packaging for instance
with TNT Express are shipped together with
guidelines, you also help to safeguard the
contributes to how smooth a transport will
other clients’ parcels, in different kinds of
safety of our employees, planes, vehicles and
be. In this brochure we give you some helpful
vehicles, and are then going through an
other equipment.
practical packaging guidelines, so that your
automated sorting process in our depots.
documents and goods arrive safely and in
That is exactly why your goods need to be
perfect condition. You will also find a
well packaged and labelled correctly.
complete overview of the extensive TNT
Only then are we able to deliver your parcels
packaging range. That way, you have
in perfect condition. Just check the TNT
everything at hand to leave your shipments
packaging guidelines below, and make sure
with us, in the best possible way.
your goods are well protected before they
Packaging guidelines
for hassle-free delivery
By packaging your shipment correctly, you reduce the risk of damage during
transport. Below we give you some handy tips and guidelines for a fast and
hassle-free delivery.
DOCUMENTS
•You want to ship a CD or another digital data source? Put it in a protective envelope first.
•To avoid your documents tearing or bending during transport, use a piece of cardboard for
example for extra support, before putting them in a plastic TNT bag or a cardboard envelope,
for less risk of bending or tearing during transit.
•Avoid excess content or weight in the TNT Express bags or cardboard packaging material.
PARCELS
•TNT Express handles your shipments with the utmost care, as to deliver them timely and in
perfect condition at their destination. But you, as a client, can surely contribute to the quality of
the packaging used for your parcels. At TNT Express, your parcels go through an automated
sorting process. Equally important is to comply with standard maximum weight and dimensions
- so do check our website www.tntexpress.nl for more information.
•Make sure the packaging is of the right size. The space between the packaging and the content
has to be as little as possible. Is the packaging too big? Then use something to fill up the gaps
(Styrofoam, foam, rubber, cardboard). This is important, as boxes which are too big can collapse.
Also make sure the packaging is adapted to the weight and nature of the goods. A box cannot
be too small either, since then you run the risk of it tearing or bursting open. A box cannot
have any openings, holes and/or tears. Used or damaged boxes can lose up to 30% to 60% of
their strength.
•The outer boxes have to be made out of strong and tear-resistant material.
•Make sure the parcel does not have any sharp, protruding edges.
•When using the same packaging material more than once, reinforce it if needed and remove all
old labels, stickers and consignment notes.
•Are you shipping more than 1 piece at once? Then do wrap them separately. Make sure in the
box there is enough space between each article and fill up gaps at the sides, the top and
bottom of the box.
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•Fragile goods are best extra protected with extra strong packaging
material. Articles which could get damaged on the outside by
stickers or which can easily break during normal transport have to
be packed in a box.
•For parcels of 30 kg or more which are not placed on a pallet, a
Heavy Parcel Label needs to be provided. You can order these
labels through our Customer Service.
•Parcels weighing over 70 kg have to be placed on a pallet. Also
•Make sure the cardboard box is not (or has not been) wet.
•Use triple layer cardboard boxes for heavy/compact goods such as
screws, bolts and other metal objects.
•Wrap semi-liquid, greasy or strong smelling substances in grease
proof paper and seal the packaging with tape.
•Place sufficient protective material on the bottom of the box
(minimum 5 cm). For fragile shipments, also place protection on top
and/or at the sides. Wrap each part of the shipment in protective
parcels weighing between 30 kg and 70 kg are by preference placed
material and avoid them moving around by filling up gaps. Also
on a pallet.
cover the top before closing the box.
•Before closing up a box, we advise you to put a copy of the address
label in the box itself, with the name, address and telephone
number of both the sender and the addressee. In case the address
Packaging your parcels correctly and transportworthy
label does get lost during transport, we will still be able to deliver
ensures an easy sorting process, and a delivery on time and
your parcel at its correct destination. To be entirely sure, you can
in perfect condition. Goods which have been inadequately
also write the sender’s and addressee’s details on the outside of the
packaged can pose a danger to TNT employees and to other
box itself. That way, we can recognise your parcel when the
goods, will not enter the TNT network.
document on the box gets lost.
•Close the packaging with tape or straps, and always stick the tape
in an ‘H’ shape to properly seal overlaps and seams, both top and
bottom.
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BOTTLES
•When shipping liquids, the packaging needs to be sealed tightly.
Certainly do not use TNT Express plastic bags or cardboard
envelopes for liquids; a special assortment is available.
•Check whether the bottles are tightly closed and preferably put
them in a watertight plastic bag before packaging.
Which pallets should I use?
•To guarantee the safe transport of your pallet shipments, use pallets
made out of quality material.
•Wooden pallets have to be able to be lifted with a fork lift or pallet truck
(the struts and slats of the pallet cannot be damaged).
•Pallets made of woodchip, fibreboard or cardboard are better not used.
•Pallets with cone shaped struts are also not recommended.
•Boxes which hang over the edge of the pallet are extra prone to damage,
so avoid this way of stacking.
FREIGHT (+30 kg)
•For extra protection of the pallet, you can cover it with a protective wrap.
•Shipments weighing 30 kg or more are best placed on a pallet.
Weighing from 70 kg, your parcel by default has to be placed on a
NON-COMPATIBLE SHIPMENTS
pallet. Make sure the pallets are in good condition and easily stackable.
•Make sure the shipment (spare parts, machine parts...) is in good con-
For non-stackable pallets, we offer a customised solution – enquire
with your sales contact about our rates.
•When stacking boxes we advise you to ensure the boxes are placed
nicely on top of each other and stay within the surface dimensions
of the pallet (no bricklaying method, no pyramid shape).
•Use crates to protect your goods against damage and possible loss.
•Printed material and boxes (e.g. magazines, publications etc.) can,
dition.
•Package non-compatible freight shipments in such a way that the
­content is not visible and well- protected.
•Ensure the top is even, so that other boxes can be stacked on top, and
that no edges which could damage other shipments are sticking out.
•Non-compatible shipments weighing over 70 kg have to be placed
on a pallet for shipping.
when not correctly packed, move around during transport, resulting
in damaged or dirty goods. Tie the printed matter together per type
or fasten the boxes on the pallet with crimp foil. Fill up the bottom,
sides and top of the box when packing the printed material.
•Goods that are rolled up, such as rugs, textile or paper, have to be
packaged in plastic, with a copy of the address labels of both the
sender and addressee stuck to the outside layer. Then pack the
goods in bubble wrap or strong plastic before sliding them in a
cardboard tube.
•Drums with liquids can become very heavy, so make sure not to
exceed the weight capacity of the pallet. Place ribbed cardboard on
the pallet and place wood or strong cardboard between the drums.
Tie the drums together with steal strips.
•Long articles require to be packaged in a certain way to avoid
bending or folding during transport. Use aids for support and
reinforcement to avoid damage to vehicles, planes and other parcels.
You can check the strength by lifting the article whilst holding it in the
middle and see how much it bends. Also adhere to the length
restrictions of TNT Express.Your parcel is longer? Then contact our
Customer Services Desk for a customised solution.
•Reels and rolls could, by the nature of their shape, easily move
around during transport. They are also hard to lift without any
mechanical help. These goods have to therefore be transported in a
certain position (on their side or at the front) and have to be secured
at all times because of their weight and to ensure safety. Hence, reels
and rolls have to always be fastened on the pallet before transport.
Use steal strips rather than plastic wrap.
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The consignment note:
crucial source of information
Whatever packaging material you are using, there always has to
be sufficient space to attach the consignment note. Please do
take note of the following guidelines:
•Sufficient space is needed on the outer packaging layer to attach
the TNT Express shipping label, without interfering with the parcel’s
content. If this is not the case, the content needs to be packaged in
a bigger box.
•Remove all old shipping or address labels and barcodes.
•Fill out the consignment note as detailed as possible. Make sure to
keep a signed sender’s copy with you. Do not ever hand over
goods without a consignment note.
•It has to be clear which documents (consignment note, invoice...)
belong to which parcel. Make sure the barcode has not been
written on or scratched. Tape over the consignment note might
impair scanning the barcode. The barcode number has to remain
uncovered. To facilitate scanning, avoid using scrunched up consignment notes.
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TNT packaging:
an overview
Order in a fast and secure way through
www.tnt-onlinestore.com
Do you have a TNT Express account number? Then you can also order your
packaging material online through our webshop. It’s very easy! The TNT Online
Store offers you an overview of all TNT packaging, with the corresponding rates.
1. Bags/envelopes
TNT Express offers you an array of selfadhesive plastic bags and cardboard
Doc 1:
Cardboard envelope
313 x 243 mm
(small)
Doc 2:
Cardboard envelope
339 x 302 mm
(large)
envelopes. These will not only keep your
documents, envelopes and small articles tidy,
but also visible during transport.
You can, without any problem, use your own
packaging material. As long as you adhere to
the rules. You rather play it safe? Then choose
from the vast, professional assortment of
packaging material TNT Express has to offer:
cardboard envelopes and plastic bags for all
Doc 3:
317 x 260 x 37 mm
Cardboard box
your documents, standard boxes to pack
goods from 2 kg to 12 kg, cardboard bottle
boxes and specially designed medical packs
for dry ice and other clinical goods. That way
you can always be sure your shipment
complies with all packaging guidelines and
that your goods are well protected. What is
more, we offer a large number of these
packaging materials free of charge or at very
interesting prices. You can check the rates
through our webshop on
Bag 1:
400 x 300 mm
(outer dimensions)
395 x 290 mm
(inner dimensions)
Plastic bag
(small)
Bag 2:
475 x 380 mm
(outer dimensions)
470 x 370 mm
(inner dimensions)
Plastic bag
(large)
www.tnt-onlinestore.com.
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2. Bottle boxes
Sending wine or champagne as an end-of-year gift or as a gift for a professional contact? To ship your bottles safely,
TNT Express has designed a special packaging line: the Bottlepak. These TNT bottle boxes are:
•sturdy, because made in high quality material
•very shock resistant, so they can withstand
some knocks
•available in several sizes (for 1 to 3 bottles)
Bottlepak 1:
Cardboard box for
328 x 102 x 102 mm
1 bottle
Bottlepak 2:
Cardboard box for
328 x 204 x 102 mm
2 bottles
Bottlepak 3:
Cardboard box for
345 x 306 x 102 mm
3 bottles
Pouche
Plastic pouch
•easy to assemble
Including anti-leakage plastic bag
and inner packaging
3. Pouches
This plastic pouch keeps consignment notes perfectly readable in all (weather) c­ onditions;
essential for a correct delivery.
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4. Boxes
TNT Express offers several standard boxes to package goods
from 2 kg to 12 kg.
Box 1
360 x 300 x 90 mm
Box 2
330 x 290 x 120 mm
Box 3
360 x 330 x 220 mm
Box 4
420 x 255 x 340 mm
Goods up to 2 kg
Goods up to 5 kg
Goods up to 8 kg
Goods up to 12 kg
5. Medical packaging
For the transport of medication, scientific instruments, organs or temperature sensitive samples,
TNT Express developed special certified packaging: MedPak.
MedPak Sleeve A:
33 0 x 410 mm
MedPak Frozen 5:
308 x 308 x 310 mm
(outer dimensions)
190 x 190 x 174 mm
(inner dimensions)
Plastic sleeve to better
protect the Medpak
Ambient boxes
Goods in this dry ice
packaging remain frozen
for 72 hours
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MedPak Frozen 10:
390 x 385 x 395 mm
(outer dimensions)
228 x 228 x 226 mm
(inner dimensions)
Goods in this dry ice packaging remain frozen
for 96 hours
MedPak Frozen 17:
470 x 460 x 480 mm
(outer dimensions)
320 x 320 x 320 mm
(inner dimensions)
Goods in this dry ice packaging remain frozen
for > 96 hours
MedPak Ambient:
191 x 145 x 102 mm
(outer dimensions)
Goods remain at a constant ambient temperature
72 x 137 x 98 mm
(inner dimensions)
MedPak Thermo 13:
475 x 440 x 365 mm
(outer dimensions)
250 x 214 x 130 mm
(inner dimensions)
Goods remain at the same cool temperature
for 72 hours, options 2-8°C and 10-25°C
MedPak Thermo 20:
555 x 505 x 420 mm
(outer dimensions)
344 x 264 x 153 mm
(inner dimensions)
Goods remain at the same cool temperature
for 96 hours, options 2-8°C and 10-25°C
MedPak Thermo 28:
632 x 532 x 505 mm
(outer dimensions)
385 x 285 x 250 mm
(inner dimensions)
Goods remain at the same cool temperature
for > 96 hours, options 2-8°C and 10-25°C
Monitors during the whole transport the inside
Temptale4 USB 16K
­temperature of the packaging.
This product also reports the measurements in full detail.
Easy to read with a USB interface (-30°C t/m +70°C)
Temptale4 USB
Dry Ice Monitor
Tag Alert
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For temperatures between -80°C to +30°C
Indicates when a product has been exposed to
temperatures which are not between 2°C and 8°C
Your own packaging?
You would rather use your own packaging? Then bear the maximum weight and dimensions of the parcel in mind, as
well as the volumetric weight. Please check the calculation method below.
•For certain destinations, weight restrictions apply. If you are in doubt, please contact the Customer Services Desk
on 0800-1234.
•In case the volumetric weight is higher than the actual weight, the volumetric weight will be used for the pricing of
the transport.
•That price is calculated based on the ratio weight/volume.
•Calculate the volume of your parcel in cubic meter, by multiplying length with depth and height.
For example: length 0.9 m x width 0.4 m x height 0.3 m = 0.108 m3 and the weight is 5 kg.
Multiply this result with the correct conversion factor below. This will give you the following result:
0.9 x 0.4 x 0.3 = 0.108 x 200 = 21.6 kg. In this example, you will pay the volumetric weight, since this is higher than
the actual weight.
Conversion factor
9:00 Express, 10:00 Express, 12:00 Express, Express, Economy Express ROW = 200 kg/m³
12:00 Economy Express, Economy Express, Express Domestic = 250 kg/m³
Please note: A parcel’s volumetric weight is calculated based on the dimensions of the smallest rectangular share or
cube fitting in the parcel (or the box which fits best around the goods). Each ‘protruding’ part can is used to calculate
the volumetric weight.
Extra reassurance
In case you require extra security for shipping valuable goods, we offer an insurance against and/or loss. Check our
electronic ‘Hassle-free shipping’ brochure on our website www.tntexpress.nl.
How to order?
You can order packaging material
through our webshop on
www.tnt-onlinestore.com.
Any questions?
Call our Customer Service on
0800-1234. Our experts will be
happy to help you.
TNT Express Benelux B.V.
TNT Centre, Taurusavenue 111
2132 LS Hoofddorp, Nederland
Tel.: 0800-1234
www.tntexpress.nl
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