Transit Cases 101

By definition, a transit case is a reusable and hard sided container intended for protecting contents from harm during transportation. (Syn.) Shipping Container, Shipping Case, Road Case, etc.

The outside of the transit case provides protection against the environment and a first level of protection against mechanical damage such as shock. Generally, the interior of a transit case is filled with foam cushioning which has cavities molded or cut into it that equipment specifically fits into. The interior foam or other forms of cushioning provides protection against shock, vibration and some protection against rapid temperature changes.

Types of Packaging

Packaging may be looked at in several different facets:

• Transport or Distribution Packaging: (What we do) Shipping container used to ship, store, and handle the product or inner packages.
• Consumer Packaging: One time use packaging, directed toward a consumer or household. The initial wrap, not suitable to protect during shipping, covers environmental issues. Ex: cardboard boxes, peanuts, etc.

MIL SPEC Packaging

Conformity to military packaging performance standards. We distribute several lines of transit and shipping containers which conform to MILSPEC requirements such as MIL-STD 810: A Case that is Waterproof, Airtight / Watertight, Has been tested for corrosion or the effect of sea salt spray, and Drop tested.

• Manufacturers Include: Hardigg, Pelican™, SKB and other plastic cases in addition to Cases2Go, ZARGES and ZERO aluminum containers.

ATA Spec 300 Packaging

A specification that establishes the airline transport industry's requirements for the design, development and procurement of effective packaging of supplies and equipment shipped to a customer airline. These requirements also serve as the standards for shipping and transit cases acceptable for air transport.

• Manufacturers Include: Anvil, Calzone, Hardigg, Pelican™, SKB

The tests involved with becoming ATA 300 compliant are conducted to ascertain if a shipping case will withstand the rigors of being shipped a minimum of 100 times. ATA 300 also specifies that the case will have recessed handles that will not break