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Look around you. Chances are that there are at least five different composites around you. They are on your walls, in and on your cars, on your desk, and everywhere else. Our lives depend on these materials called composites. And we dedicate this piece to helping you understand these versatile materials.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• What composites are
• The classifications of composites
• Applications of composite materials
• Advantages of composites
• Composite materials FAQs, and
• How to ship liquid components used in composite production

What Are Composites?

Composites are materials that were made from the combination of two or more materials. These constituent materials often have varying physical and chemical properties. And combining them to make a composite material gives the produced material the strengths and properties of the constituent materials.

The history of composites goes as far back as the 3400 B.C, and they remain widely used even today. And the major reason behind our unrelenting use of composite materials is that the materials are usually more suited for applications where the constituent elements would have been less suitable. For instance, you can make a composite product stronger, more flexible and insulating, or even harder, depending on the application.

The Two Phases of Composite Constituents

The constituent elements of a composite material fall into two broad phases; the matrix phase and the dispersed phase. The matrix phase is often the core material that holds every other material together. It bears and transfers the bulk of the stress of the load on the material. While the dispersed material is chosen based on the final product in mind. It could be a metal (for its strength or stability), a polymer (for more elasticity or tensile strength), or a ceramic (for more fracture resistance).

Classifications of Composites

There are two major ways to classify composites. The first classification is according to the matrix phase, and the other is according to the dispersed or reinforcement phase.

Classification Based on the Matrix Material

A lot of constituent types fall into this category, with the most common ones being:

• Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs)
• Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs)
• Organic Matrix Composites (OMCs)

But what exactly do these composite types do?

1.     Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs)

Ceramics are characterized by their impressive corrosion resistance, high melting points and compressive strength, and their enduring stability under high temperatures. These properties make ceramic matrix composites some of the most turned to matrices for high-temperature areas of applications. The composites are usually made through the embedding of ceramic whiskers or fibers into the ceramic matrix. Some common reinforcing materials in ceramic matrix composites are silicon carbide, alumina, alumina-silica, and carbon. And common examples of ceramic matrix composites include carbon/carbon, silicon carbide/silicon carbide, carbon/silicon. The material before the “/” is the reinforcing materials while the material after is the matrix.

2.     Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs)

Metal matrix composites are popular for their strength, stiffness, and resistance to fracture. Because of the durability of metals in high temperatures and corrosive environments, MMCs are preferred to organic matrix composites. However, the reinforcing materials being used in combination with metal matrices must be just as non-reactive and as high-temperature-stable as the metal matrices themselves.

Although most metals and their alloys make good matrices, the most commonly used are titanium, magnesium, and aluminum. The common reinforcing materials used in combination with metal matrices are oxide and carbide ceramics, and other metals, such as molybdenum, lead, and tungsten.

3.     Organic Matrix Composites (OMCs)

Organic matrix composite comes in two subcategories; polymer matrix composites (PMCs) and carbon matrix composites. And of these two, polymer matrix composites are more popular.

The easy processability of polymers, their impressive mechanical properties, and their light weights make them suitable for various composite applications. Thermosets and thermoplastics are two main kinds of polymers that serve as matrix materials in composites. Reinforcing materials that go with these polymer matrices are carbon nanotubes, fibers, and graphene.

Classification Based on the Reinforcement Material

When you view the reinforcement material under the microscope, composites break into further subcategories, such as:

• Fiber-reinforced composites
• Laminar composites, and
• Particulate composites.

But what are they, and what are their applications?

1.     Fiber-reinforced composites

Fiber-reinforced composites contain just three categories of constituent materials. The first two are the fiber, which serves as the dispersed phase, and the matrix. Here, the composites are formed by embedding the fiber into the matrix. And the final category is called the interface, working at the interfaces between the matrices and the dispersed phases.

Examples of materials that are used for fiber reinforcement in composite materials are molybdenum, carbon, asbestos, polyester tantalum, quartz, and tungsten. Materials that pass for the matrices of fiber-reinforced composites are often resins. Resins are chosen because they have a wide range of uses. The relatively low cost of resins is also an advantage. Examples of these resin materials are phenolic, polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, and polyurethane.

Some non-resin materials can also be used as matrices for fiber-reinforced composites, but they aren’t as popular as their resin counterparts. And the common applications of these non-resin materials are in higher temperatures areas that require higher performance. Examples of these uncommon materials are magnesium, aluminum, silver, titanium, lead, and ceramics.

2.     Laminar Composites

Laminar composites contain constituent materials with varying fiber orientations. These materials are arranged in layers and glued together to get a final composite product that is stronger in different directions than the individual materials. Unlike the other categories of composites, laminar composites don’t always have matrix phase and dispersed phase constituents.

The most common example of laminar composite is plywood. The tires on vehicles are made by the laminar composition of carbon black and fabrics containing rubber. Snow skis form a laminar structure with a metal layer and a phenolic plastic layer. Another example is the windshield glass that has glass layers on either side of a transparent plastic sheet.

3.     Particulate Composites

Particulate composites make up the third category, which involves the dispersal of particles in the bulk of the matrix. These dispersed particles could be in the form of powder or flakes, and they don’t have to be in a specific shape or configuration. A common example of particulate composite is concrete.

Applications of Composite Materials

The following are the most common areas of application of composite materials:

1.    Aerospace

Materials used in modern aerospace would be significantly less efficient without composites. Various parts of an aircraft contain composites, including the tail, wings, rotors, and propellers. Examples of composites that are used here are fiberglass-reinforced aluminum and carbon fiber. These two materials make sure aircraft are strong enough to withstand the pressure bombardment in the sky, yet light enough to fly. These materials also have high resistance to rust and corrosion, making them suitable for aerospace.

2.    Construction and Building Materials

Various materials we use in constructions are composites. Thanks to their impressive strength-to-weight ratios and their relative inexpensiveness, composite materials are widely used in construction and building materials.

Examples of composite materials used in construction and building include fiber-reinforced cement shingles for long-lasting roofs. And the properties of fiber-reinforced panels that make them easy to clean and resistant to water put them on the top of the list of materials suitable for use as kitchen and bathroom walls.

3.    Sports

Manufacturers are beginning to adopt more and more composite materials to increase the efficiency of their products. For instance, a baseball bat may be made with a wood or metal composite that is light, yet hard to break. The flexibility of some composite materials also makes them suitable for use in skis and surfboards. Other sports gears that contain composite materials are bicycle frames, balloon fabrics, parachutes, and polymeric foams used in motorcycle helmets.

4.    Appliances

Most of the appliances you have and use in your home were made from composites. And many of them were not only chosen for their durability but also for their lightness and their design flexibility. Some common composites used in a lot of home appliances are fiberglass-reinforced composites, fiber-reinforced panels, and lumber. Examples of such appliances are power tools, handles, and trims. Others include equipment panels, dryers, refrigerators, ovens, knobs, kick plates, vent trims, and so many more.

5.    Electrical and Electronics Industry

Thermoset composites have a lot of uses in the electrical and electronics industry. The reason is that these composites are strong and resist heat well. In addition, they have impressive electrical insulation and a low thermal expansion. They are also useful in protecting the signals being transmitted by your electronics from interference.

Common applications of thermoset composites in the electrical industry include microwave antennas, server rooms, arc chutes, control system components, substation insulators, switchgear, lighting components, and printed wiring boards, to mention a few.

6.    Marine Industry

Whatever material that must be used in the marine industry must first be corrosion resistant because water encourages corrosion. Water also tends to soften materials that aren’t waterproof. Materials under constant exposure to water could also have their life spans shortened. As a result of these, preparing material for use in the marine industry can be quite tricky.

However, the availability of composites has provided us with a lot of options of materials for the marine industry. And just like in other applications, thermoset composites are some of the most common composite materials in marine application as well. Examples of marine products that contain these composites are railings, hulls, propellers, exhausts. Sonar domes, hatch covers, and bearings also have composites in them.

7.    Farm

Even products used on the farm have composites in them. These composites can withstand the ever-changing and endless assaults of the weather across all seasons. They are also resistant to chemical corrosion which could happen in the presence of agricultural chemicals. Some of these farm products include cabinets, substructures, firewalls, engine covers, harvesters, plow hitches, trailer components, and electrical insulating elements.

Advantages of Composites

Although you may already have ideas of what the advantages of composites are, here’s some more:

1.    High Strength

The high strength of composite materials makes them preferred materials for some applications over some commonly known strong materials like metal. Another advantage of composite materials over metals is that the strength of composite materials can be better controlled and modified. For instance, composites can be made to be strong in just one direction, while metals are always strong in all directions.

2.    Lightweight

Compared to most of the materials they replace, composites are often lighter. The lightness of composites gives them immense advantages, such as greater fuel efficiency and greater traveling speeds.

3.    Design Flexibility

It doesn’t cost much for manufacturers to mold composites into desired shapes and forms. Applications where aesthetics play huge roles often take advantage of this property. Examples of such applications are in skis, recreational boats, and surfboards. Fiberglass is a common composite used in these applications.

Similarly, there are so many constituent materials that can be combined into composites that are suitable for various purposes. As a result, there are a lot of composite options for manufacturers to design whatever they need.

4.    Durable

Composites can be light, but they don’t compromise durability. Under proper care and maintenance, these composites last for decades. And the best part is that they don’t even cost much to maintain.

5.    Cost-Effective

One property most individual materials possess before they are combined to form composites is relative inexpensiveness. And after we combine these constituents, what we have is a composite material that is relatively inexpensive, yet does the job effectively.

6.    Low Thermal Conductivity

Many composites are poor conductors of heat. So, they often remain stable under extreme heat conditions.

Composite Materials FAQs

As far as composite materials are concerned, these are some of the most frequently asked questions:

1.     What is a composite material?

A composite material comprises two or more materials that combine to offer superior properties than the individual constituents to the resulting composite.

2.     What are the types of composites?

The most common types of composite materials are:

• Fiber-reinforced composites
• Carbon matrix composites
• Polymer matrix composites
• Ceramic matrix composites
• Metal matrix composites
• Particulate composites, and
• Laminar composites

3.     How are composites different from alloys?

Although both are a mixture of at least two components, the difference between them is that alloys must have at least one metal in the mix. Composites, on the other hand, don’t need to have metals.

Composite Material Shipping

Although composites are mostly solids, a lot of liquid components go into the production processes of these materials. To keep up with the eternally high demand for composites, these liquid components must not be in short supply. And one of the best ways to ensure their steady supply is to hand over the supply chain of these liquid components to expert logistics companies. Not only will the company ship these products in bulk, but they would also play a crucial role in ensuring that you never run out of supply.

And this is where we come in.

Bulk Shipping of Liquid Components in Composites with Total Connection

Total Connection is a third-party logistics company that can stand as your company’s logistics department. We are experts at the bulk shipping of every industrial liquid material, including the liquid products needed for the production of composite materials. Our experience in this field spans over two decades, and we still keep getting better.

When you reach out to us through the quote form below, our experts will get in touch with you to offer you solutions that are best for your business needs and budget. And at the same time, we will never compromise on delivering a high-quality service.

Fruits and vegetables are part of our everyday lives. They are in everything we eat. You can buy them fresh at grocery stores, or eat them in one processed form or the other. Our survival depends on these products from farms from all across the face of the earth. 

As much as our survival depends on these fruits and vegetables, these produce products also owe their survival to the transportation procedures they are subjected to. Only when your business transports them properly from farms to their destinations can we have them in their freshness, full nutrients, and perfectly edible conditions. 

So today, we discuss how to safely transport vegetables and fruits in refrigerated trailers and containers called reefers. First, we show you the challenges of shipping vegetables and fruits. Then we take you through the basics of packaging fruits and vegetables for shipping, before finally describing in detail how to ship fruits and vegetables in reefers. 

Challenges of Shipping Vegetables and Fruits

The shipping of vegetables and fruits is unlike the shipping of other kinds of products. This form of shipping is often a race against time and it is fraught with challenges. 

Some ‌challenges of shipping fruits and vegetables are:

1. Timely processing and shipping

Fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables don’t just go straight from the farmland to the trucks moving them. Instead, the farmer must have processed them to get them ready, first for consumption, then for transport. And the farmer has to do this within the limited time in which the produce are in season. 

Processing fruits and vegetables is always one of the first challenges of shipping them.  And when the farmer is not quick enough, they may end up with large quantities of unfresh produce that sell for less than their fresh counterparts.

2. Natural delays

Regardless of how meticulous we are in our planning, the weather still never ceases to catch us off guard occasionally. So, if a hurricane catches the shipper off-guard while fruits and vegetables are in transit, the delay poses risks to the freshness of these produce. So, there’s always the pressure on the shipper to try to weather the storm until it is absolutely impossible to do so anymore.

3. Shelf life

Another challenge with shipping fresh produce is that many of them have short shelf lives. And the Logistics Bureaus has it that fresh produce spends about half of its shelf life in transit from the supplier to the retailer. 

Shelf life, by the way, is the duration that the fruits and vegetables can remain stored without spoiling or becoming unsafe for eating or selling.

So melons, for instance, that have a shelf life of up to 28 days only have two weeks of freshness to spare after they have spent the other half of their shelf life in transit. 

This makes fruit and vegetable shipping a race against time. A race well run only preserves half of the shelf life of the fresh produce, while any delay could easily cause the produce to exceed their shelf lives in transit. 

4. Communication

A break in communication could easily cause delays, wastage, or shortage. So any communication difficulties on the parts of the shipper, the shipping company, and the consignee must be addressed on time. 

Packaging Fruits and Vegetables For Shipping

After harvesting, the next thing to do is to prepare the vegetables and fruits for shipping through thorough packaging. 

Many times, cartons made from fibreboard blanks would be your go-to packing material for fruits and vegetables. The cartons should have well-aligned holes around them for proper ventilation. Also, ventilation is best applied from the bottom of the carton, so there should be holes in the bottom and on the top as well.

Also, always label our packages according to the labeling requirements put in place by the appropriate regulatory bodies for easy identification

Shipping Vegetables and Fruits in Reefers

One of the major contributors to the spoilage of fresh produce is temperature. Too warm or too cold, and the fruits and vegetables ‌lose their freshness.

Temperature change is also a villain in the preservation of the freshness of fruits and vegetables. Moisture, ventilation, and excessive light are other factors that can contribute to the spoilage of your fresh vegetables and fruits.

It is easy to control the temperature, moisture, and light exposure of these products on a farm or anywhere else where there is machinery and equipment for this. But what about during transportation? How do you maintain the temperature, light exposure, and moisture level of vegetables or fruits during transit? This is a job for reefers.

What is A Reefer?

A reefer refers to refrigerated containers or trailers. A reefer truck or container is equipped with components that help lower or maintain the temperature of its inside. 

Reefers are used in the shipping and transportation of items that are temperature sensitive. Examples of such items include chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and of course, fruits and vegetables.

Why do you need reefers for transporting fruits and vegetables?

Transporting fruits and vegetables in reefers help to ensure that consignees receive their produce in the best conditions possible. Reefers are built to let in fresh air while getting rid of other kinds of gas, such as carbon dioxide that are responsible for the premature spoilage of the produce in transit. 

Reefers can handle this exchange of gasses while maintaining the temperature inside them because of these components:

• Condenser: The fresh air that comes into the reefer needs to circulate to the fruits and vegetables. This is the job the condenser does with the help of a fan and a condenser coil.
• Fans: The fan in the reefer does the same thing that fans everywhere do: they help to circulate air. 
• Fresh air vent: The fresh produce need fresh air to keep them fresh for as long as possible. Only in this way can the rate of spoiling be reduced. 
• Unit evaporator: This unit maintains the levels of humidity and moisture in the reefer. 
• Control Unit: All those units we mentioned don’t just work non-stop and without control. It is the ability to control the internal humidity, ventilation, and temperature that makes the reefer able to do its job of transporting various kinds of fruits and vegetables. And the control unit controls all these other units.

The vegetables and fruits depend on ‌these components to remain fresh and safe for consumption in transit for as long as they can last. 

Ideal reefer temperatures for vegetables and fruits

Now, let’s get a little more specific. Remember how the control unit controls every other component in the reefer? Well, we need this functionality because there are various fruits and vegetables that require different temperature, humidity, and ventilation ranges to remain fresh in transit. 

The table below shows fruits and vegetables and their ideal transit temperatures, humidity levels, and shelf lives. But before we get to that, note that reefers only maintain the temperatures of products‌. They are not great at lowering or increasing the temperature of the products. 

Fruits And Vegetables	Ideal Temperature	Relative Humidity (%)	Shelf Life (Days)
°F	°C
Amaranth Leaves	34	1.1	75	10 – 14
Apples	30 – 40	-1 – 4	90 – 95	30 – 360
Apricots	31 – 32	-0.5 – 0	90 – 95	7 – 21
Artichokes	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95	5 -7
Asparagus	32 – 36	0 – 1.7	95 – 100	14 – 21
Avocados (ripe)	38 – 45	3 – 7.5	85 – 95	14 – 21
Avocados (unripe)	45 – 50	7 – 10	85 – 95	21 – 28
Bananas	56 – 58	16 – 21	85 – 95	7 – 28
Basil	52 – 59	11 – 15	90 – 95	10
Beans (Lima, Shelled)	37 – 41	2 – 5	95	7 – 10
Beans (Lima, Unshelled)	41 – 43	5 – 6	90	7 – 10
Beans (Green or Snap)	38 – 40	3 – 4	95	10 – 14
Beans (Winged)	50	10	90	28
Beets	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95	14 – 21
Beets, bunched	32	0	98 – 100	10 – 14
Beets, topped	32	0	98 – 100	120 – 180
Belgian Endive	34 – 36	1 – 2	90 – 100	7 – 14
Blackberries	32 – 33	0 – 0.5	90 – 95	2 – 3
Blueberries	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95	7 – 14
Bok Choy	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95	30 – 60
Broccoli	32	0	95 – 100	7 – 14
Brussels Sprouts	32	0	90 – 95	21 – 35
Cabbage (Chinese)	32 – 36	0 – 2	95	30 – 60
Cabbage (Green, Early)	32 – 36	0 – 2	90 – 95	21 – 42
Cabbage (Green, Late)	32 – 36	0 – 2	90 – 95	90 – 180
Cabbage (Red, Early)	32 – 36	0 – 2	90 – 95	21 – 42
Cabbage (Red, Late)	32 – 36	0 – 2	95	90 – 180
Cactus Stems	41 – 50	5 – 10	90 – 95	41 – 50
Calabaza	50	10	50 – 70	60 – 90
Cantaloupe	37 – 41	2 – 3	90 – 95	12 – 21
Carambola (Star fruit)	41 to 45	5 – 7	90
Carrots (Bunched)	32	0	95 – 100	14
Carrots (immature)	32	0	98 – 100	120 – 180
Carrots (Mature)	32	0	98 – 100	210 – 270
Cauliflower	32	0	95 – 98	21
Celery	32	0	98 – 100	35 – 49
Chard	34	0	95 – 100	10 – 14
Chayote	45	7	90	28 – 42
Chicory	33 – 34	0 – 1.7	90 – 95	14 – 28
Chives	33 – 34	0.5 – 1	95 – 100	14 – 21
Collards	33 – 34	0	95 – 100	10 – 14
Corn (Sweet)	33 – 34	0	85 – 100	7
Cranberries	38 – 42	3 – 5	90 – 95	21 – 28
Cucumbers	50 – 55	10 – 13	95	10 – 14
Daikon	34	1	95 – 100	60 – 120
Eggplant	50 – 54	7 – 12	90 – 95	10 – 14
Elderberries	31 – 32	-0.5 – 0	90 – 95	5 – 14
Escarole	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95	14 – 21
Figs	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95	7 – 14
Garlic	32	0	65 – 70	90 – 210
Ginger Root	60 – 65	15 – 18	65 – 70
Gooseberries	31 – 32	-0.5 – 0	90 – 95	14 – 28
Grapefruit	55 – 60	12 – 16	90 – 95	28 – 42
Grapes	31 – 32	-0.5 – 0	85	56 – 180
Green beans	40 – 45	4 – 7	90 – 95	5 – 7
Guavas	45 – 50	7 – 10	90 – 95	14 – 21
Herbs.	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95
Horseradish.	30 – 32	-1 – 0	98 – 100	300 – 351
Jackfruit	56	13	85 – 90	14 – 21
Jicama	55 – 65	12 – 19	65 – 70	30 – 60
Jujubes	38 – 50	3 ~ 10	90	60 – 90
Kale	32	0	95 – 100	10 – 14
Kiwi (ripe)	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95
Kiwi (unripe)	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95
Kohlrabi	32	0	98 – 100	60 – 90
Leeks	32	0	95 – 100	60 – 90
Lemons	52 – 55	11 – 12	90 – 95	30 – 180
Lettuce	32	0	98 – 100	14 – 21
Limes	48 – 55	8 – 12	90 – 95	42 – 56
Longan	36 – 41	2 – 5	90 – 95	14 – 28
Loquat	33	0.5	90 – 95	14 – 28
Lychees	40 – 45	4 – 7	90 – 95	21 – 35
Malanga (Cocoyam)	50	10	85 – 90	42
Manioc (Cassava)	41	5	80 – 85	21 – 35
Mangos	50 – 55	10 – 12	85 – 95	14 – 21
Mangosteens	56	13	85 – 90	14 – 28
Melons	50 – 55	10 – 12	85 – 90	14 – 28
Mushrooms	32	0	95	12 – 17
Napa	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95
Nectarines	31 – 32	-0.6 – 0	90 – 95	14 – 28
Okra	45 – 50	7 – 10	90 – 95	7 – 14
Olives (fresh green)	41 – 45	5 ~ 7	85 – 90	28 – 42
Onions (dry)	33 – 34	0.6 ~ 1	65 – 75	30 – 270
Onions (green)	33	0.6	95 – 100	21 – 28
Oranges	40 – 45	4 – 7	90 – 95	21 – 90
Papayas	50 – 55	10 – 12	85 – 95	7 – 21
Parsley	32	0	95 – 100	30 – 60
Parsnips	32	0	98 – 100	120 – 150
Passion fruit	45 ~ 50	7 ~ 10	90 – 95	14 – 21
Peaches	31 – 32	-0.5 – 0	90 – 95	14 – 28
Pears	29 – 31	-1 – -0.5	90 – 95	60 – 210
Peas (Green)	32	0	95 – 98	7 – 14
Peas (Southern)	40 – 41	4 – 5	95	6 – 8
Peppers (Hot Chili)	32 – 50	0 – 10	60 – 70	14 – 21
Peppers (Sweet)	45 – 55	7 – 12	90 – 95	14 – 21
Persimmons	32	0	90 – 95	30 – 90
Pineapples	45 ~ 50	7 ~ 10	85 to 95	3 – 5
Plantains	48 ~ 59	8 ~ 15	85 – 90	10 – 35
Plums	31 – 32	-0.5 – 0	90 – 95	7 – 56
Pomegranates	31 – 32	5 – 10	90 – 95	60 – 90
Potatoes (Early)	55	12	85 – 90	21 – 35
Potatoes (Late)	45	7	95	150
Potatoes (Sweet)	55 – 60	1.3	80 – 95	90 – 180
Precut Fruit	32 – 36	0 – 2	90 – 95
Precut Vegetables	32 – 36	0 – 2	90 – 95
Prunes	31 – 32	-0.5 – 0	90 – 95	14 – 28
Pumpkins	50 – 55	10 – 12	65 – 70	60 – 180
Quinces	31 – 32	-0.5 – 0	90	60 – 90
Radicchio	34	1.1	90 – 100	14 – 21
Radishes (Spring)	32	0	95 – 100	21 – 28
Radishes (Winter)	32	0	95 – 100	60 – 120
Rambutan	50 ~ 54	10 ~ 12	85 – 90	7 – 21
Raspberries	31 – 32	-0.5 – 0	90 – 95	2 – 3
Rhubarb	32	0	95 – 100	14 – 21
Rutabagas	32	0	98-100	60 – 120
Salad mixes	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95	7 – 10
Salsify	32	0	95 – 98	60 – 120
Shallots	32	0	60 – 70	21 – 28
Spinach	32	0	95 – 100	10 – 14
Sprouts	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95	42
Squashes (Summer)	41 – 50	5 – 10	95	10 – 14
Squashes (Winter)	50	10	50 – 70	60 – 180
Strawberries	32	0	90 – 95	5 – 10
Swiss Chard	33 ~ 34	0.6 – 1	95	30 – 60
Tamarillos	37 ~ 39	2 ~ 4	90 – 95	3 – 70
Tamarinds	45	7	85 – 90	21 – 28
Tangerines	32 – 35	0 – 1.7	90 – 95	14 – 42
Tomatoes (Mature Green)	55 – 70	12 – 21	90 – 95	14 – 21
Tomatoes (Ripe)	55 – 70	12 – 21	90 – 95	10 – 14
Turnip Greens	32	0	95 – 100	10 – 14
Turnip	32	0	95	120 – 150
Ugli Fruit	40	4	90 – 95	14 – 21
Watercress	32	0	95 – 100	14 – 21
Watermelon	55 – 70	12 – 21	85 – 95	14 – 21

Tips on Shipping Fruits and Vegetables With Reefers

These are some more tips that will help to maintain the freshness of your fruits and vegetables using reefers.

1. Spend time on packaging

You can’t just pour your fresh produce into the reefer without packaging it. And‌ poor packaging would have about as much effect as no packaging would. Your fruits and vegetables could end up with freezer burns, loss of nutrients, and even unwanted odor.

The material you use for packaging should be able to keep moisture and odor out. Also, do your research on the best packaging requirements for your specific produce. 

Finally, protect your packaging by keeping condensation out of your reefer at all costs. Condensation happens when you don’t precool your produce before placing them in the reefer. It could also happen when hot, humid air gets into the container during loading. 

2. Don’t overload your reefer

This goes without saying. Overloading your reefer only reduces the chances of proper air circulation. Ensure that you don’t go beyond the maximum load line. 

3. Loading patterns vary

Loading patterns help to control the finer details of transporting your fruits and vegetables. And there are various loading patterns, depending on the fresh produce you’re shipping. For instance, an airflow loading pattern is best for repairing products such as beets because it encourages the circulation of air.

Rely on Total Connection for the Shipping Of Your Fruits and Vegetables 

The proper shipping of fruits and vegetables is important to your business as well as your health. You may be forced to sell at a discount if your fruits and vegetables arrive late and close to their shelf lives. So, it is only a smart business decision on your part to rely on the best for your fruit and vegetable shipping. And this is where Total Connection comes in.

Total Connection is a third-party logistics company that specializes in all kinds of bulk transportation, including the bulk transportation of vegetables and fruits. Our state-of-the-art reefers are marshaled by experienced drivers so that your cargo is always fresh, safe, and they arrive at your destination quickly. 

Fill out the brief quote form below to contact us. Our dedicated team of experts is waiting to reply to you in no time.

We rely on pharmaceutical products so much that they are crucial to our survival. But just as important as the pharmaceutical products themselves is the logistics process that gets the products from their manufacturers to the stores and hospitals. 

And if you’re looking to ship pharmaceutical products to anywhere in the world but don’t know how to go about it, you’re in the right place. In this piece, we show you everything you need to know about shipping pharmaceuticals.

But first, what is pharmaceutical logistics?

Pharmaceutical logistics is everything that involves the proper shipping of pharmaceutical products. These logistics processes help to maintain the products in the right conditions while in transit from the manufacturer to the final destination.

So, what are those things you need to know about shipping pharmaceuticals?

1. Pharmaceutical Shipping Regulations

The first things you should know are pharmaceutical shipping regulations. Since the proper shipping of pharmaceuticals has direct effects on the health of the people, especially in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic and afterward, it is important that the shipping regulations are followed to the letter.

Rules and regulations become even more important if you’re shipping pharmaceuticals internationally. That means you have to know about the pharmaceutical shipping regulations of each country you are shipping through. 

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a sub-department, Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP), which oversees the proper shipping of pharmaceuticals in the country. The CGMP guidelines were first established in 1969, and they catered to everything from manufacturing, shipping, and distribution of food and drugs in the nation. 

Some of these requirements specified by the guidelines were aimed at:

• Vehicle Equipment: These guidelines ensure that vehicles shipping pharmaceutical products have the proper equipment to preserve the quality of the products.
• Personnel Training: To the end that each person handling any level of pharmaceutical shipping is trained to the point of competence for the job.

Other aspects that the guidelines touch on are the proper record keeping of all documents involving shipping pharmaceuticals. And, of course, the monitoring of the transportation environments of the pharmaceutical, such as the warehousing.

Other regulations you have to keep in mind include:

• DOT hazmat regulations for the shipping of pharmaceuticals that happen to be hazardous products.
• DEA regulations for the shipping of controlled substances, such as benzodiazepines and opiates.

2. Packaging Pharmaceuticals for Shipping

The proper packaging of the pharmaceuticals prepares the products for safe shipping and quality preservation. This alone could be the difference between a complete loss of pharmaceutical products and a happy shipper.

The first step is to use palletized packaging because shipping pharmaceuticals in pallets helps limit movement during transit. And this is very much important for the shipping of fragile pharmaceutical products. 

The next step is using thermal pallet covers, which give extra protection against fluctuations in temperature. While thermal pallet covers aren’t the only materials that can be used, they are the most preferred because of their durability and relative inexpensiveness. 

3. The Importance Of Cold Chain Logistics To Pharmaceutical Logistics

Pharmaceutical products often have tight shelf lives. But there are some conditions where the already tight shelf life can be shortened some more. These conditions can be triggered by fluctuations in:

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Ventilation

Of them all, fluctuation in temperature is the most troublesome. In fact, some pharmaceutical products may get damaged if they experience as much as a 2-degree change in temperature. Fortunately, the logistics world has an answer to this challenge, and it is called Cold Chain Logistics.

Cold Chain Logistics is the transportation of temperature-sensitive products through a supply chain that is designed to maintain the products at their preferred temperatures. 

This supply chain includes everything from the manufacturing and supply of the products; to the vehicles for transportation; the warehouses of temporary storage; and the stores or hospitals where the products will be used or prescribed.

Insulated and refrigerated containers and trailers, which are also called reefers, come into play here. 

Reefers are containers and trailers that are equipped to maintain the temperature of whatever is kept in them, while also shielding the products from the outside. 

So, any pharmaceutical product that is transported in a reefer is protected from external temperature, humidity, and ventilation conditions. 

4. Warehousing and Temporary Storage

The warehousing and temporary storage of medicines is also a huge part of pharmaceutical logistics. Pharmaceutical logistics often involve the shipping of products in large quantities across various shipping channels. And in between shipping channels, there’s the need for temporary storage, such as warehouses.

But in keeping with the concept of cold chain logistics, even warehouses that must hold pharmaceutical products must be equipped to maintain the temperature of the products for as long as needed. The warehouse must also protect the products from exposure to humidity.

The Risks of Shipping Pharmaceuticals

There are risks to the shipping of pharmaceuticals. In fact, pharmaceutical shipment logistics is heavily regulated to ensure that the products are in good condition for use, as much as it is for the risks that products may pose to the environment.

Some of the risks of shipping pharmaceuticals include:

• Hazmat: Some pharmaceutical products contain hazardous materials. As such, they must be shipped under the rules that guide Hamat logistics in the United States. 
• Theft of controlled substances: Controlled substances, such as benzodiazepines and opiates, are often targets of theft. So, unless there are measures to protect pharmaceuticals that contain these substances, they run the risk of being stolen at some point during the supply chain.

5. The Importance of Competent Carriers to Pharmaceutical Shipping

We’ve mentioned how packaging, shipping regulations, cold chain logistics, and proper warehousing equipment all contribute to the effective and efficient shipping of pharmaceuticals. But the real custodians of ‌these responsibilities are the carriers. 

Choosing the wrong logistic partner for your pharmaceutical shipment can bring unkind consequences to your business and the bodies of whoever uses your products. Therefore, the carriers you choose for your pharmaceutical shipping must be competent and experienced.

Of course, equipment for cold chain logistics, such as reefers, are not just necessary; they are compulsory. But beyond that, the carrier has to have trained workers who know their onions and can handle pharmaceutical shipping. 

And in addition to that, the way the carrier does business is also important for the proper shipping of pharmaceuticals. The sluggishness of a carrier, for instance, could cost you your shipment. 

Logistics is a wide subject. There are many participants in the system, and there are so many ways to get things done. However, not all the ways are efficient.

For instance, handling the logistics of your bulk liquid shipment may be quite tricky. And for many shippers, it’s something they don’t want to do. Fortunately, that’s one reason there are liquid bulk freight brokers.

In this article, we describe what liquid bulk freight brokers are, their responsibilities, and why you may need them as a shipper.

What is a Liquid Bulk Freight Broker?

Before we jump into what a liquid freight broker is, let’s take a brief detour into what a freight broker is.

The freight broker is a property broker or company that uses its network of carriers to help shippers get the best efficient shipment logistics deals.

Imagine you need to ship freight from halfway across the world. Instead of handling the complex logistics on your own, you only need to contact a freight broker, and they’ll handle it for you. The freight broker already has a network of carriers they know and work with. So it should be easier for them to secure the safest, efficient, and effective way to get your carrier to you.

A liquid bulk freight broker is also a freight broker who uses their network of carriers and experience in logistics to orchestrate freights shipments, only that the freights are liquid and in bulk. 

The Difference Between A liquid Bulk Freight Broker and Any Other Freight Broker

Although they have the same definitions, a liquid bulk freight brokerage is a different ball game from just any kind of freight brokerage. The reason is due to the complexities involved in shipping bulk liquids.

For instance, dry and prepackaged freights aren’t often picky about what tanks or trailers they want to be shipped in. Liquids, on the other hand, are. There’s the world of kosher certified carriers with their kosher-washed trailers for food-grade bulk liquids. There is also the world of shipping liquid hazmat materials that need special kinds of trailers. Most corrosive liquids, for instance, must be shipped in stainless steel trailers. In addition, there are also those bulk liquid shipments that must be transported in temperature-controlled in-transit heat trailers.

These complexities, and many more, make a liquid bulk freight broker different from other kinds of freight brokers. Liquid bulk freight brokers have to have a wide array of bulk liquid carriers with expertise in various niches before they can satisfy various shipper clients. 

This is why we recommend that you contact a liquid bulk freight broker, and not just any kind of freight broker, for your bulk liquid shipments. 

Responsibilities Of A Liquid Bulk Freight Broker

To help you understand what you might expect from a liquid bulk freight broker, here are some of their responsibilities:

1. Curating a network of reliable carriers

This is perhaps the most important role of a liquid bulk freight carrier. This is because they aren’t only looking to curate a network of just any kind of carriers. Instead, they are looking to have carriers that specialize in as many bulk liquid transit niches as possible. 

In other words, they are looking for the best liquid bulk hazmat carrier, the best kosher carriers, the best food-grade carriers, and so on.

In addition to that, they have to know which carrier they would go to for the lowest cost, or for the fastest shipping time. In fact, it is not unheard of that bulk liquid carriers focus on some niches and leave out the rest.

It is this curated network of reliable carriers the bulk liquid freight broker then uses to ship your bulk liquid freights.

2. Plan Shipment Logistics

When you contact a liquid bulk freight broker to help you ship freight, all you have to do is to connect the company to the supplier of your freight. The bulk liquid freight broker handles it from there.

The freight broker reaches out to its network of carriers to get the best deal for you. Here, the best deal means the most reasonable price, the fastest shipment time, and the highest safety guarantee.

And in the case that your freight has to go through more than one carrier, the freight liquid bulk carrier organizes how one carrier delivers your freight to the next carrier. 

Simply put, the liquid bulk freight broker lays out a plan of how your bulk liquid freight is going get to you.

3. Tracking freight

After your freight gets on the way, it is the freight broker’s responsibility to track your shipment.

4. Updating shippers about freight

It is not enough that the freight broker plans your logistics and tracks your freight. It has to keep you updated on every shipping detail about your freight. This way, you too can know where your freight is at every point in time, and be able to make adequate preparation for its reception.

The freight broker also has to notify you when there may be a delay or when your shipment would arrive earlier than expected. And if you have any inquiries about your shipment, you can direct them to your freight broker and it should be able to provide you with answers.

5. Freight Safety and Security

This is another important role that your liquid bulk freight broker must pay. Your freight broker must only ship your shipment with the safest carrier. The carrier and your liquid bulk freight broker must both agree on the safest routes to pass a

Advantages of Liquid Bulk Freight Brokers

Freight brokers are not just middlemen for the sake of it. They offer your business some immense advantages. Some are:

1. Scale

Liquid bulk freight brokers make it easy for you to scale your business. This is because the bigger your business grows, the less you get to worry about growing your logistics department with it. Your liquid bulk freight broker can handle the scale while you concentrate on other important aspects of your business. 

2. Cost Reduction

Liquid bulk freight brokers often know where to go to get you the best deals. They know what carrier to contact out of their wide array of carriers. They often have relationships and agreements with these carriers as well, which earn them discounts.

3. Efficiency and Quality

There is so much you or your company can do by yourself. For most shippers, there’s a limit to what they know about the ins and outs of logistics. As a result, they may not be able to guarantee the efficiency and quality of the logistics they orchestrated themselves. But you can guarantee yourself a higher efficiency on your shipment when you hand its logistics over to a liquid bulk freight broker.

Partnering With The Right Liquid Bulk Freight Broker

Take one more look at those advantages up there. Shipping your freight through the wrong liquid bulk freight broker could easily flip those advantages for you. You would then end up with unnecessarily high shipping costs, and reduced efficiency and quality. Your freight broker then ends up harming your business rather than helping you to grow.

If you must do business with a liquid bulk freight broker, make sure it’s with an experienced one with a good record of reliability and a high success rate. Total Connection is an example of such a company.

Total Connection is a third-party logistics company that offers various logistics solutions, including bulk liquid freight brokerage. We have an extensive network of company-owned carriers that ship bulk liquid freight from anywhere to anywhere. This way, we have more control over the freights we broker, and we can guarantee safety, cost reduction, and efficiency.

You may reach out to us through the quote form below to secure the best liquid bulk freight broker services for your precious freight. Our experts will get back to you in no time. 

The paints and coatings you see on your walls and other painted surfaces around you aren’t just mere paints or coatings. They have had other chemicals in them that boost their inherent properties and/or provide them with new ones. We call these chemicals additives.

Paints and coatings are never without additives. And in this piece, you’ll learn:

• What paint and coating additives are
• The importance of additives in paints and coatings
• The types of coating and paint additives, and
• How to ship paint and coating additives

What Are Paint and Coating Additives?

We add additives to paints and coatings to make them suitable for specific applications by modifying or adding to their physical and chemical properties. There are over 20 paint additives, including wetting agents, coupling agents, and thickeners.

While non-industrial coatings might not have a lot of responsibilities beyond aesthetics, industrial coatings are often purpose-driven. And before a coating is chosen for an industrial application, it must possess characteristics that qualify it for such application. Most of the time, however, the coatings that come closest to meeting the requirements for their potential applications still end up lacking some crucial characteristics. But thanks to additives, we can optimize these paints and coatings to suit our desired applications and even more.

For instance, water-based corrosion inhibitors are additives that help marine coatings protect metals from corrosion. And thanks to the various coating additives, we have coatings that are more durable, algae resistant, rapid drying, or antifungal paints.

The Importance of Additives in Paints and Coatings

Here are some reasons additives in paints and coatings are so important:

●      Stain Resistance

Stains on paints are one way a painted surface loses its attraction. And the reason some painted walls easily get stained is that the paints or coatings contain some microscopic pores that stain particles can fill up, making it hard for them to come off. However, some additives seal up the pores paints might have. This way, the stain particles have nowhere to hang on to, and they are easy to clean off.

●      Leveling

The leveling of a coating is crucial to its longevity on the target surface. This is because the materials in coatings often have irregular shapes, and are liable to make the coated surface look rough after you apply them. This happens when the paint surface doesn’t flow well or dries too quickly. And it may also lead to the formation of bubbles or fish eyes on the surface.

A solution to this is the use of paint leveling additives to cause the coating to flow more smoothly and more slowly. This way, no surface is covered too thinly and the effects of uneven leveling are kept at bay.

●      Hardness

The hardness of a paint or coating makes it resistant to scratches and marking. These kinds of coatings are mostly needed in areas of applications where the painted objects are prone to abuse. The addition of hardening additives to these paints makes them able to withstand the assault of abuse in these areas of application.

●      Gloss

Depending on the application, manufacturers can make paints more or less glossy. They do this with the help of some paint and coating additives.

●      Corrosion Resistance

Coatings to be used on surfaces that are at risk of corrosion often have corrosion inhibiting additives in them to protect their substrates. Some of these substrates include metals used to build marine products.

The reasons we use additives in coatings and paints are as many as the types of coating additives we have. And this brings us to the various types of coating additives:

Types of Coating Additives

The types of coating additives are numerous because there are just too many potential applications, but no perfect paint or coating that meets all requirements. And that is why we need just as many coating additives to help us enhance the properties of the coatings we have to suit specific applications. Here are some of the most common types of paint and coating additives we use in the industry:

1.    Wetting and Dispersing Agents

A wetting agent is a surface-acting agent (surfactant) that reduces the surface tension of water so that its molecules are more adhesive. These additives are especially important in pigmented paints. Pigments are solids that have to first be dissolved in liquid phases of solvents and binders before application. When wetting agents are added to this mixture, it encourages the liquid phase to mix better with solid particles of the pigment, leading to a more stable and high-performance paint.

Dispersing agents are not so far away from wetting agents. In fact, they are both used in the same process. Only that dispersing agents help the particles of the pigment to remain scattered in the liquid phase without re-agglomerating.

Examples of wetting and dispersing agents used in paints include aromatic ethoxylates, polyether amines, aromatic ethoxylates, soya lecithin and derivatives, block copolymers, sulfonates, and many more.

2.    Coupling Agent

Coupling agents encourage the adhesion within the materials of a paint or a coating through the formation of chemical bonds. This is usually within organic and inorganic material. A common example of a coupling agent used in paints is the silane coupling agent.

Adding a silane coupling agent to a primer causes silicon atoms to form covalent bonds that make the primer more stable and aid the dispersion of fillers. Coupling agents may also help make the coating more UV resistant.

3.    Rheology Modifier

Rheology modifiers are also known as rheology control additives or thickeners. Their purpose is to regulate the rheological properties of the coating by making it more viscous. The higher the viscosity, the more likely it is for the coating to resist sagging due to gravity during application. Other uses of rheology modifiers in coatings are that they encourage leveling and make application easier.

Common examples of rheology modifiers in paints and coatings are Hydrophobically modified ethoxylated urethanes (HEUR), Hydrophobically modified alkali-swellable emulsions (HASE), cellulosics, fumed silicas, and organoclays.

4.    Defoamer

As the name suggests, defoamers remove foams from paints and coatings immediately after their application. These foams are due to the incorporation of air into coating during its production, handling. While the bigger air bubbles are quick to escape, the very small ones can remain underneath the surface of the coating even after application. And if the air does not leave the coating, it causes bubble marks to show on the painted surface, leading to further defects down the line.

So, the defoamer has to bring the air bubbles to the surface where they get to escape. Examples of defoaming additives used in coatings include silicone-based defoamers, oil-based defoamers, and non-silicone defoamers.

5.    Anti-settling Agent

Anti-settling agents have their application in water-based paints where the settling of components is likely to happen during storage or application. Three popular types of anti-settling agents used as additives in paints and coatings include polyolefin particles, fumed silica, and organic bentonite.

6.    Anti-skinning agent

Paints are produced in bulk, and so storing them for long periods is unavoidable. However, when large quantities of coating remain in storage for a long time, they tend to form skins on the surface. This happens when the drying additive that should only take effect after application takes effect during storage. The downside to this is that skinning causes the coating film to dry and become harder to apply. But thanks to anti-skinning agents, we can store coatings for a long duration without skin formation. An example of skinning agents is methyl ethyl ketoxime.

7.    Anti-sagging agent

The most common area of application of anti-sagging agents is in dense coatings. During and after application, these dense coatings are likely to sag in response to gravity, thereby leaving room for defects. Anti-sagging agents help to prevent this from happening.

8.    Leveling agents

The surface of paints and coatings would bear brush marks, holes, and little craters during and after application. These lead to uneven leveling which leaves the door open for more defects later on. Leveling agents, however, seal the surface of the paint to make it look smooth and glossy.

In addition to that, thinner coatings can benefit from the use of leveling agents because they are most liable to retain marks during application. Examples of paint leveling agents are silicone-based leveling agents, fluorosurfactants, and polyacrylates.

9.    Ultraviolet absorber

The effects of UV rays on coatings and paints are often detrimental. Ultimately, UV rays hurt the durability of the coating, and may even penetrate the surface to continue its degradation process. But the presence of UV absorbers in the coatings keeps UV degradation bay. UV absorbers absorb the UV rays incident on the coating and release them in the form of non-harmful heat. Apart from their use in coatings, UV absorbers are used as polymer additives.

10.                   Antistatic agents

Some coatings tend to accumulate static electrical charges that are capable of inducing electric shocks. While these electric shocks may not be dangerous to adults, the same cannot be said for kids. That is why we use antistatic agents, or conductivity agents, as additives in these coatings.

As the name suggests, antistatic agents prevent the coatings from accumulating electric charges. Aliphatic amines, ethylene glycols, quaternary ammonium salts, and phosphate esters are common examples of antistatic agents.

11.                   Anti-scratch agent

Scratching is an issue for paints and coatings long after they have been applied. Apart from ruining the attractive look of the painted surface, scratches can open up weak spaces for bigger issues like corrosion to attack. In the end, the coating loses its durability.

But with scratch and mar-resistant agents, the surfaces of the coatings are tougher against scratches. Examples of scratch and mar-resistant additives in paints and coatings are waxes, such as petroleum, natural, mineral hydrocarbon, and synthetic waxes. Other examples are polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), colloidal silica, and aluminum oxides, and silicon oxides.

12.                   Matting agent

Matting gives a coated surface a clean and smooth finish with a minimum gloss. The reasons for using matt finishes are both aesthetic and functional. On the aesthetic side, the matting effect helps reduce glare by scattering the light rays incident on the coated surface. And on the functional end, the matting is a good way to hide imperfections on the surface of the coated substance. The additives that produce this matting effect in coatings are called matting agents. Examples are waxes, fillers, and silica.

13.                   Paint Preservatives

The majority of the paints we have now are water-based. This is an improvement from the solvent-containing paints that were around over 30 years ago, which had high harmful VOC emissions. The switch to water-based paints has helped with this, but it is not without its disadvantages. One of which is its proneness to microbial attacks that cause the paint to degrade. And that is why we use biocides as preservatives in paints; to keep them from spoiling even after long storage.

14.                   Anti-mold agent

Surfaces in humid areas are prone to the formation of mold. And mold not only destroys the look of the surface, but it also destroys the coating, leaving the surface prone to other issues. In addition, molds are health hazards.

Although one could manually clean up molds from surfaces before they get too much, coatings that have anti-mold agents or mold inhibitors in them do not need this. Anti-mold additives make it hard for molds to stick to, or grow on coated surfaces.

15.                   Flame retardant

Flame retardant additives in coatings help prevent ignition or slow the spread of fire. Coatings containing these additives are common in areas of application where there is high human traffic, such as an office building. The flame retardants in the coatings on the walls of an office building, for instance, force the fire to spread more sluggishly than it normally would, buying more time for the humans in the area to evacuate. Flame retardants are also used in polymers.

16.                   Corrosion Inhibiting Additives

Corrosion has always been a major challenge for metals and other substrates that can corrode, and this threat will continue to loom as long as there is oxygen in the air and water molecules around. Corrosion hugely impacts the durability of substrates and makes them unable to perform their purposes effectively. And this is why the use of corrosion inhibiting agents in coatings used in corrosion-prone environments is non-negotiable. Some of the most common components in most of the corrosion inhibitors we have around are zinc and sodium nitrite.

17.                   Driers and Catalysts

Without driers in paints and coatings, these chemicals would take months to dry up after application. Driers are, therefore, additives that speed up the drying rate of paints after application by speeding up the autoxidation process. Thanks to driers, we have paints that dry up within hours after application. And a common example is cobalt. Other examples include zinc, bismuth, calcium, zirconium, lithium, and manganese.

Paint and Coating Additives Shipping

Like other industrial chemicals, paint and coatings need to be shipped in bulk to ensure that the production process of paints goes smoothly and uninterrupted. And there is no better way to do this than to have experts who understand the best shipping methods and the challenges to expect during the process. Examples of such challenges include:

●      The Hazardous Nature of Some Paint and Coating Additives

Many additives are toxic or hazardous, and extra precautions have to be taken when shipping them. These hazardous chemicals must only be handled by professionals who understand the extent of repercussions that the mishandling of such chemicals can bear on lives and properties. These professionals must also know how to handle the additives without risking any hazards.

●      Bans and Regulations

As you might expect, the shipping of chemicals that can be as potentially dangerous when mishandled as coating additives is fraught with regulations and even bans. Some of these additives have been banned in the US, while some are only shipped under scrutiny from regulatory bodies. It takes an up-to-date expert to keep up with these regulations.

●      Shipping Conditions

The shipping conditions of the additives may also pose a challenge for shippers who don’t have the right equipment for it. Although tankers are generally the best shipping vehicles, some tankers need to be customized for the shipping of specific chemicals. For instance, some additive chemicals prefer not to be too agitated, which could be hard to achieve during transit. As a result, only tankers that perfectly fit the volume of the chemical with little space for agitation are best for these chemicals.

Shipping Your Bulk Paint and Coating Additives in Bulk with Total Connection

Total Connection is a third-party logistics company that has been in the business of shipping industrial chemicals for almost three decades. In that time, we have built up an enviable amount of expertise and experience that makes us stand out among others.

Our services are flexible and effective, and efficient. We offer you solutions that are best for your needs and your budgets. And by filling out the quote form below, you can partner with us and take your paint and coating additives shipping to the next level.

Fireworks light up the celebration, literally and figuratively. Maybe that’s why we invest so much in it, with the sales of fireworks being north of $1 billion annually for the past few years. But, Can you ship fireworks if they need to be somewhere else other than where they are.

If your business deals with the sales of this billion-dollar market, you may want to know how to ship the fireworks by truckloads safely, securely, and legally. You want to satisfy the explosive needs of your customers. And that is why we are here.

In this brief piece, we show you how to ship fireworks. 

Let’s take to the skies, shall we?

What You Need To Ship Fireworks

Knowledge of the state laws covering fireworks, an understanding of hazmat laws, and proper documentation are the three most important things you need to ship fireworks in the US. Here’s how these three come into play:

1. Understanding of the Laws Concerning Fireworks

While fireworks can bring life to occasions, they can also take the life out of their users. 

Fireworks can be dangerous. There have been deaths because of these pyrotechnics. And state governments all have their regulations concerning the use of these explosives in their jurisdictions. Breaking any of these rules can attract fines in thousands of dollars. So it makes sense for you to understand the laws concerning fireworks in your jurisdiction.

For instance, Massachusetts bans everything consumer fireworks within its borders. The citizens can’t own fireworks. Carriers can’t drive fireworks to or through the state. 

Apart from not having any specifically permitted fireworks, the state takes the extra effort to specifically prohibit fireworks, such as firecrackers, sparklers, torpedoes, flares, wheels, skyrockets, bombs, candles, and some others. That’s how serious the state is about fireworks.

So, if you’re in Massachusetts, kindly ignore the rest of this article and check out some other items you may be interested in shipping. Thank you!😀

Although no other states have as strict rules concerning fireworks, Ohio, Vermont, and Illinois only allow sparklers or other novelties. Other states allow more or all kinds of consumer fireworks. 

So save yourself a lot of stress and cost. Before you do any fireworks shipping, know the fireworks your state permits. 

2. Understanding of Hazmat Laws

Fireworks are considered hazardous materials. Hazmat for short. These are potentially dangerous materials. Other examples of hazmat, apart from fireworks, are flammable gases, radioactive substances, and toxic substances. The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) classifies hazardous materials into 9 categories:

• Class 1: Explosives (which fireworks mostly belong to)
• Class 2: Gases
• Class 3: Flammable and Combustible Liquids
• Class 4: Flammable Solids
• Class 5: Oxidizing Substances, Organic Peroxides
• Class 6: Toxic Substances and Infectious Substances
• Class 7: Radioactive Materials
• Class 8: Corrosives
• Class 9: Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials

It is even possible that one material falls into more than one of these categories. And because of the inherent dangers of these materials, many special rules and regulations surround their purchase, shipping, and storage — three activities your business can’t do without concerning fireworks.

While your carrier has its part to play, you and your employees also have your responsibilities. For instance, you must all learn to properly store and handle hazardous materials. You must also label any package containing your fireworks appropriately. 

3. Important Documentation

Proper documentation is another indispensable part of fireworks shipping, starting from licensing. Your business has to be licensed to purchase and store fireworks. Besides that, your Bill of Lading must be accurate and it must contain every necessary information about your hazmat firework. 

Shipping Your Fireworks With Total Connection

Fireworks can be dangerous items to ship in the hands of an inexperienced or incompetent carrier. Losing your firework shipment is not even the worst that could happen. Accidents involving truckloads of fireworks will be disastrously explosive if not well managed. 

Safety and security are two things we always keep in our mind when we ship fireworks at Total Connection. This is why we have an astoundingly high success rate when shipping fireworks or any other shipment for that matter. 

With the shipping of fireworks being bombarded with a lot of rules and responsibilities, Total Connection offers you something other carriers won’t. We not only fulfill our part of the responsibilities, but we also make it easy for you to play your part. Our experts offer you useful ideas on how to store and handle your fireworks properly. This way, you are less exposed to accidents and protected from breaking regulations you probably didn’t even know about.

Contacting us is as simple as filling out the brief quote form below. Our experts are on the other end waiting to attend to you.