Moisture Control Q&A with Bas Lenssen

Bas Lenssen is Cordstrap’s Moisture Control expert. Here he discusses: the increasing and changing risks industries face and the simple steps they can take to protect both cargo and brand reputation; advice for customers who don’t see moisture damage as a problem; the reasons why Cordstrap’s Moisture Control is unique; the ways we have helped customers save money with this market-leading product; and the latest threats to cargo which shippers need to be aware of.           

 

Why is moisture damage such a hot topic? What exactly are the risks to cargo and what sort of shipments are most at risk?

From our extensive studies monitoring cargo data and reports from our customers, we know that moisture is becoming an increasingly important issue for many cargos.

Moisture damage impacts multiple cargo types across all industries. High moisture levels can affect cargo in the following ways: packaging which can deform, or even collapse; labels can peel and degrade; corroded drums; caking of powders; electrical components; rusted cargo; mold and mildew to products and packaging; cargo emit stench and compromise their scent.

The data from our cargo monitoring studies reveal precisely what conditions will lead to different types of moisture damage. For example, mold damage happens when the container environment is exposed to certain conditions. What we call “mold initiation” occurs only when exposure time, relative humidity and temperature meet specific levels. Our Cargo Monitoring data gives us a unique understanding of where shipments are likely to meet certain conditions, and this allows us to forecast the risk to cargo with real precision on different routes around the world and deploy exactly the right Moisture Control strategy for specific shipments.

Our experience tells us that moisture issues are increasing due to a number of factors including the deployment of new supply routes, ongoing changes to the climate and delays to shipments leading to increased exposure to fluctuating humidity levels. Extreme temperature changes can cause something known as “container rain” where water condenses on the ceiling of a container then falls like rain on the contents. The resulting damage is often devastating so it is crucial to know where this is a threat to your cargo.

Food and beverage and chemical shipments are particularly susceptible to moisture damage and the costs go far beyond the expense of replacement and reshipping. It can lead to the breakdown of business relationships, especially if it is a recurrent problem or it delays production processes.

 

What would you say to customers that haven’t experienced serious moisture damage problems and don’t see it as a problem?

Many businesses are not aware that moisture damage is occurring because their customers are not reporting damage until it becomes chronic by which time the damage to relationships has been done. This is why it so critical to monitor the risks on an ongoing basis and address moisture issues before they occur.

Interestingly, we have found that many businesses who have experienced problems with moisture-damaged cargo already use desiccants in their packaging but have found these to be inadequate for new challenges facing their shipments. This reinforces the need for a precision approach to ensure that you are using exactly the right kind of desiccants in precisely the right quantities for specific conditions.

Seasonality can make a huge difference too. Shipments sent safely at one time of year can be at vastly higher risk when temperatures shift, and it is important to take this into account when formulating and planning effective moisture control strategies.

During the time we spent researching the awareness of the risks and damage caused by moisture, I have talked to businesses who believe that they can rely on plastic wrapping to protect their shipments. It was clear they did not realize that, in many conditions, this can actually increase the risk of moisture damage.

New routes such as the Silk Road – China’s $9 billion “belt and road” initiative – can offer huge advantages for shippers but, surprisingly, it comes with significantly  increased risks of moisture damage compared to traditional sea routes. Being forewarned about these, is critical to mitigating them.

You have to remember that a container is a black box and, once it is packed, there are a host of external factors, over which you have no control, and which can massively impact the risk of moisture damage. These factors are increasing as climate change means that many shipments are now facing unprecedented conditions, so it is imperative that you get expert guidance from specialists who are monitoring these changes globally.

Compared to the costs of a damaged and rejected shipment, the costs of protecting yourself against that risk are relatively low and fully understanding the threats to a specific cargo is critical in developing cost-effective moisture control solutions.

 

What makes Cordstrap’s moisture control solutions unique in the market?

Our products deliver market-leading moisture control performance delivering absorption rates of over 320% of their own weight. Our calcium chloride and starch technologies are best in class, our high-performance Tyvek© technology guarantees against leakage or sweat and, of course they are fully CTU code compliant.

However, the thing that really marks us out is our ability to apply these products in the most optimal ways. Our unrivalled depth of knowledge and expertise is based on detailed analysis of a vast bank of data that allows us to take a forensic approach and predict risks more accurately and address them more precisely than anyone else. It means we can deploy exactly the right product in exactly the right quantity, maximizing protection and minimizing wastage.

 

Have you any examples where Cordstrap’s moisture control has helped businesses reduce their costs?

We worked with one food manufacturer who was experiencing moisture damage to 25% of their shipments despite the fact they were already using desiccants.  With complaints reaching peak values of €1500, they knew they needed to take action and they called us in to help.

We took the same unique four step approach that we employ with all of our moisture control customers. By assessing and fully understanding the exact nature of the problem, we can develop a tailored solution based on every element, including cargo type, route, packaging and loading. Only by taking everything into consideration, can we devise the optimal, bespoke, solution. In this case our solution actually enabled the customer to reduce the quantity of desiccants they were using. And that’s the beauty of this precise approach which ensures that you only pay for the desiccants you need.

We operate on the principle that prevention is better than cure. And many of our customers have found that it’s also significantly cheaper than cure.

 

Are there any new risks of moisture damage that you have encountered recently?

There are always new risks and we are always keen to keep ahead of them so we can adjust moisture control techniques to protect customers’ cargo. I guess the most recent threat has been the delays brought about by the COVID 19 crisis. Many customers are reporting delays and bottlenecks around the world as storage facilities reach full capacity while businesses wait for the market to recover after lockdown. As a result, many containers are standing unloaded on land for extended periods and, of course, the longer a container is left standing, the greater the risks of moisture damage. While stored on board ship, containers experience relatively low temperature variations but on land these fluctuations can be much more extreme greatly increasing the risk of moisture damage and container rain.  Recognizing this kind of additional risk means that we can advise customers how to modify their moisture control solutions to maintain optimal protection for their cargo for prolonged periods.