In recent years, the growing number of companies involved in alternative energy generation has prompted the packaging industry to adapt its design procedures and methodologies to meet the new product protection requirements of the energy sector.

Parts and products for these activities are particularly vulnerable to damage during the distribution cycle, due to their size, weight and fragility. This is particularly noticeable when it comes to intermodal transport with maritime transit, as the diversity and intensity of the associated risks are significant and affect these products considerably, especially vibrations, shocks and high temperatures. Lithium-ion batteries, for example, are particularly sensitive to high temperatures and shocks, which can cause fires or explosions. Solar panels are also fragile and can be easily damaged if not packaged correctly.

ITENE has worked on projects for the design and development of protective packaging systems for products such as solar panels, wind turbines and lithium-ion batteries, applying design methodologies based on the characterisation and quantification of the risks of the distribution routes, in order to incorporate this variable as a key requirement in the briefing stage and use the data that define the characterised routes for the development of test protocols that simulate the reality of the company’s distribution.
The result of all this is efficient packaging designs that protect the products with the minimum amount of material necessary throughout the distribution cycle – thereby complying with current environmental regulations – and, in the case of batteries, the validation of the packaging is reinforced in accordance with ADR guidelines, considering their classification as hazardous material.

It is important to note that the UNE EN 38.3 standard establishes complex and specific tests to validate batteries in the distribution cycle. These tests require very specific equipment and severity levels for this type of product and its operation.