Paperboard slip sheets are an efficient, eco-friendly solution growing in popularity across various industries. However, not all shippers are aware of their value and versatility.
Paperboard slip sheets, such as those supplied by Southern Packaging, are lightweight pallet pads made from recycled materials. Designed to be placed on top of pallets, they serve as a protective layer between the pallet and your product. They are not pallet replacements but are instead meant to safeguard your goods from surface damage, moisture, and movement during transit.
Below we break down the answers to questions like “What are slip sheets” and “What are slip sheets used for.” We will also explore the various types of slip sheets and explain why we recommend paperboard slip sheets over the others.
What Are Paperboard Slip Sheets?
When they were first introduced, corrugated cardboard slip sheets were the norm. However, they proved difficult to store in large quantities and were also quite costly to ship. Learn more about why not to use corrugated slip sheets.
Corrugated cardboard slip sheets have largely been supplanted by those made from paperboard, which are just as strong but easier to work with. Compared to corrugated slip sheets, paperboard is much more affordable to ship and store in bulk, making it easy to always have slip sheets on hand.
Today, the most common slip sheets are thin, flat layers of sturdy paperboard that are designed to provide an extra layer of protection between products and the pallets they rest on.
Southern Packaging sells slip sheets made from 100% recycled paperboard, making them an environmentally conscious choice that can help your business reduce its waste output. There are several varieties of paperboard slip sheets. One of the most popular is a rounded corner slip sheet. This variety provides extra support for plastic-wrapped, palletized goods and has a reduced risk of tearing.
How Are Paperboard Slip Sheets Used?
With the basics out of the way, let’s tackle that second question: What are slip sheets used for? 3PLs can incorporate slip sheets into logistics processes in a variety of ways.
Paperboard slip sheets are particularly useful for protecting items from damage. The material prevents direct contact between the rough surfaces or sharp edges of the pallet and your products.
Preventing product damage is critical for the long-term financial health of your business, as replacing a damaged item can cost your business up to 17 times the original shipping costs.
Slip sheets can also provide a buffer between the pallet surface and employees, contractors, and even your customers. During a five-year study of non-work-related pallet injuries, researchers found that incidents involving pallets resulted in over 30,000 emergency room visits. Roughly 14% of the incidents occurred in big-box stores that use pallets to display products.
Protruding pallet nails often lead to puncture injuries. Other accidents can occur when someone accidentally steps between the boards of a pallet. While slip sheets don’t completely eliminate these hazards, they reduce them substantially.
Slip sheets are also valuable for creating a moisture barrier, protecting goods from potential water damage. In the event of a building flood, if your goods sit directly on a pallet exposed to water, they may absorb moisture from the pallet, leading to mold, mildew, or degradation of packaging materials.
Finally, slip sheets can be used to add stability during shipping. Even minor shifting during transit can result in product damage or put workers at risk for injury.
Paperboard vs. Push-Pull Slip Sheets
Paperboard slip sheets are sometimes confused with push-pull slip sheets. While both are useful for logistics, they are not one and the same.
Paperboard slip sheets are designed to be used in conjunction with pallets, to provide stability and protect goods from damage. They do not replace pallets.
Push-pull slip sheets, on the other hand, can be used in lieu of pallets. In order to use push-pull sheets in this manner, a special forklift attachment is required.
Many businesses find paperboard slip sheets to be the better option for their logistics needs. The material allows them to take advantage of the durability and versatility of pallets while also achieving extra protection and better stability.
Common Industries
Numerous industries use paperboard slip sheets for inventory management. Sectors that ship high volumes of products will find slip sheets particularly beneficial.
A few of the most common industries that use slip sheets include the following:
- Food and beverage
- Pharmaceuticals
- Manufacturing
- Consumer goods
Each of these sectors favors paperboard slip sheets for slightly different reasons. Manufacturing businesses, for instance, often use them to protect finished products from scratches and promote stability when palletizing goods. Food and beverage companies often use slip sheets to create a moisture barrier to protect consumables from moisture and spoilage.
Why Choose Southern Packaging?
Southern Packaging is your trusted partner for paperboard slip sheets and all your other industrial packaging needs. We offer a vast inventory of packaging materials and solutions in stock for quick shipment, and our experienced team is dedicated to providing expert guidance and ensuring you receive the highest quality products and services.
Our package design services allow you to customize your packaging to meet your requirements perfectly, and our inventory management services can help you save money and streamline your operations. From small-scale operations to large-scale industries, Southern Packaging is dedicated to delivering reliable packaging solutions.
Connect with our team to learn more. Contact us today!
.svg){kind=small}
