Michel Prins
Accountmanager Safety & Security
Michel Prins is Account Manager at Faes and a specialist in Safety & Security. Thanks to his background at the Ministry of Defense and years of experience in the sector, he advises organizations on reliable packaging solutions for critical applications. He combines practical knowledge with technical expertise to package sensitive equipment safely and efficiently.
More articles by Michel PrinsIt can be stored, sold, returned to the manufacturer or destroyed. In many cases, this choice is established in the Defense Disposal Plan (DAP) at the time the new equipment and essential items are purchased. However, the role of packaging in the disposal process often remains underexposed. In this article, we outline why that is a missed opportunity.
When acquiring new equipment, the Ministry of Defense studies the total life cycle of this equipment in order to guarantee maximum deployability and to accurately calculate the total cost for the total life cycle. Consideration is given to required spare parts, training, maintenance and disposal of the equipment.
For each part, one determines what the best option is: store, sell, return or destroy. Of course, this assessment is done with the knowledge of today; in the future, the options and demand for these parts may change.
Take the F16, which is now being replaced by the F35. One part of the F16 is stored for its own use, as a spare part, another essential part is refurbished and resold to another country, still other parts go back to Lockheed Martin, the OEM. Only the parts whose value is zero are destroyed.
You have carefully considered the best destination for each component before purchasing. Then, of course, you want each part to reach its final destination in the right condition. It’s no good if a part turns out to be unusable after a year in storage, during logistics transport or if your sold equipment arrives damaged at the new user. And that is exactly where the right packaging can help you.
When you store equipment or parts, you want to use them at a later date. That means you need packaging that best protects your product from the conditions in which you store and transport it. The following considerations apply when choosing the right packaging:
Non-strategic goods and goods with a certain scatter value are sold by the Domains. The sale of strategic movable goods, which are specifically developed for military purposes, is handled almost entirely by the Department of Defense itself. In the negotiation, of course, packaging must also be discussed. What does the buyer expect in this? It is tempting to negotiate on price alone. But even more important, of course, is the functionality of the packaging. And perhaps the buyer is willing to pay a bit more for a durable and presentable packaging, so be sure to include these aspects in the negotiation.
To determine which packaging offers the right functionality and protection, consider the following:
Carefully map out the route the product will take and the risks involved. What impact resistance does the packaging need to protect the product, what closures should the packaging have? Whether you are transporting Leopards or radar systems by ship to Finland is quite a difference. A Leopard is so robust that it needs little protection, a radar system is hypersensitive to vibrations and must be optimally protected from them during transport.
If you send parts back to the manufacturer, the key question is in what condition the manufacturer wants to receive them. Will the manufacturer remelt the products before reusing the residual material? Then protection during transport is less important. Still, even then you should think carefully about the packaging, among other things to protect the environment.
Is the value of parts zero and will they be destroyed? Even then it is important not to lose sight of the environmental aspects when choosing packaging. So even when returning or destroying residual material, take the time to find the right packaging.
Choosing the right packaging for defense equipment to be divested is no easy task. So ask packaging specialists for advice, they can work with you to determine for each item the packaging that will provide the best protection after disposal. With the right packaging, the equipment will last longer after disposal, thus guaranteeing optimal service life.
Let us know what we can help you with regarding defense equipment disposal. Fill out the form below or contact us directly. One of our packaging experts will be happy to assist you.
