Transparent transportation
Cargo is subject to a variety of external influences during transportation, which can cause damage. The MSR data loggers provide complete information about the transportation circumstances of a consignment of goods. The recordings of the miniaturized measuring devices are not only used to determine any damage, but also form the basis for design improvements to the exported goods themselves.
China: A grinding machine worth around 1.5 million Swiss francs reaches its destination after a flight across the ocean. The fir wood crate in which the valuable freight was packed in Attikon (ZH) appears undamaged. However, when the parcel is opened, it turns out that the machine itself is badly damaged: the screw securing it during transportation has probably been knocked off by a mechanical load and the moving part of the apparatus has broken off. "We suspect that a forklift truck or a crane set the crate down too quickly," says Marc Wegmüller, Managing Director of packaging specialist Wegmüller AG, Attikon. Where and how this damage actually occurred remains unclear, as the sanding machine was not equipped with an MSR data logger, which would have quickly uncovered the mystery surrounding the circumstances of the damage.
Prevention is better than cure
To save their business partners such trouble and to make the transport circumstances more transparent, the packaging service providers at Wegmüller AG rely on the use of MSR165 data loggers. With 1600 shock measurements per second, the air pressure and humidity sensor and the temperature measurement, the small all-rounders detect every unplanned process. The sensitive light sensor also provides complete proof of when a package was opened. The MSR165 documents even the smallest change with an exact time. Together with the carrier's report, the cause is usually found quickly. And the damage costs or at least the excess can be passed on to the party responsible.
Test use in overseas transportation: MSR165 as a freight companion for Soudronic AG
Wegmüller AG was able to determine interesting results in cooperation with its test customer Soudronic AG, the world's leading manufacturer of machines and systems for the metal packaging industry. The parent company in Bergdietikon ships its systems in the wooden packaging of the Attikon-based export packaging company as standard. Transport by road, but also sea freight and air freight, can place a heavy burden on products and their packaging during transportation. Soudronic has therefore used the MSR165 data logger in a trial shipment to the USA. Three-axis acceleration (shock, vibration), temperature, air pressure and relative humidity were recorded to monitor and analyze the transport loads. The evaluation of this measurement data has provided a valuable basis which must be taken into account both in the machine design and in the transport packaging.
Small logger, big impact
"We have now extensively tested the new data logger in drop tests and long-distance applications and are delighted. It's amazing that the MSR165 only costs around a third of conventional transport monitors despite being 'Swiss Made'," says Wegmüller. "We have three devices in use, which we rent out to our customers on request," Wegmüller continues. The logger is attached to the packaging or, even better, to the device itself and goes on its journey together with the freight. On the way, the measured variables requested by the customer are recorded, saved for follow-up checks and later evaluated like a transport diary. Evaluations that are not only of great benefit to the customer. Insurance companies would also benefit from the use of such a measuring device: "In the event of a claim, the insurer could quickly get a comprehensive picture of the transport circumstances." The measured values from the data loggers would reveal a great deal of information that would be of crucial importance in investigating claims.