As a manufacturing business, we deal with many variables that can impact the integrity of our product. We have procedures in place to assist our team with the quality and consistency of our product. One variable that can only be partially controlled by Huston Patterson is shipping our products to our clients. The majority of our litho labels and top sheets are delivered through common carriers & direct truck lines but throughout the Midwest, we can utilize our own Huston Patterson half size trailer truck. As we all know in the Midwest, our winter weather can cause many delays and shut down the trucking lines. Beside the weather, there are many other factors which can impact our finished sheets in the shipping process. I will outline the steps Huston Patterson takes to make sure everything is done on our end to make sure our clients’ sheets arrive to them in the same condition as they left our building.
All litho labels and top sheets are delivered to clients on a skid that can easily be moved by a forklift or hand truck. All sheets are kraft wrapped in qty’s of 500 to maintain the moisture content which protect against the humidity in our environment. Each package has a label identifying the job so that it does not have to be opened until the job is ready to run. As many know, very high and low humidity have a major impact on integrity of paper. Once the job has been kraft wrapped on the skid, our normal banding process consists of drilling holes in the skid near the product and banding a minimum of two straps in each direction to help secure sheets. For additional protection, we add full length corner protectors for all sides of skid, a piece of plywood is placed on top of skid for protection from banding and apply stretch wrap around the entire skid. We only load one job per skid unless client permission is given. Packing lists will include required information per the client’s request. Should our client not specify information we will include Item #, PO #, Job #, quantity, manufacturing date, and item description. There will be a packing list attached to the load for identification.
Not every client has the same shipping/delivery requirements, so Huston Patterson maintains internal special instructions for all clients. Through our initial conversations with new clients, we learn what their specific requirements may be and document them with our shipping team. Many clients ask for pull sheets to be placed in a tube attached to the skid as well as having a printed sheet laid on top to identify the job. If LAB readings are required, these will be written on the pull sheets. Shipping/Receiving hours are included in our library for each client. We will do our best to accommodate any special request.
Our shipping team is an integral part of our process in delivering high quality litho labels and top sheets to all our clients. Our current shipping procedures significantly reduce our products exposure to the environment and the unforeseen issues of the road.
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