Robert Verboven
Sales Manager
Robert Verboven is Sales Manager at Faes and advises customers on smart packaging solutions within the industry. He translates complex packaging needs into practical solutions that contribute to a more efficient supply chain.
More articles by Robert VerbovenWe all know the feeling; you touch the door handle, a metal cabinet or a car door and you get a slight electric shock. That's electrostatic discharge, or ESD (Electro Static Discharge). This occurs due to friction of certain materials, with humidity and temperature also playing a role. Now you may be thinking; okay annoying, but what does this have to do with packaging? Well, in certain cases a lot!
Electrostatic discharge can have a huge impact on electronic equipment. It can damage them or even render them completely unusable when ESD occurs. This means, for example, that your customer receives a defective device or in the worst case; that the device falters at the wrong moment and brings down an entire system. Not the intention, of course, and fortunately easily preventable by choosing the right packaging.
The challenge is mainly in using the right materials. Which materials (combos) can cause discharge when friction occurs? Here we look at the outside: the hinges, the handles, the corners and even the print. But we also look at the properties of the materials on the inside: the foam we use for the interior, for example. Each component affects static properties, so for us the task is to look at them carefully. Together with my colleagues from engineering, I discuss the possibilities per situation and application.
It is very important to know the critical properties of the materials used. Critical for ESD-safe cases are the insulating and conductive properties. The end user will have to specify in their requirements what the desired behavior of the case is, insulating or conducting. When a customer requests or orders a case, we therefore first go through the analysis or package-of-requirements phase, where our engineers include all these characteristics in the initial design. This way, a well-functioning solution is created in the concept phase. I always recommend making a prototype in crucial situations like this so that we can test it for ESD safety, as well as various other functionalities.
Prevent damage to your image through faulty deliveries to your customers, stalled processes due to suddenly faltering equipment and the high costs involved in repairing or redelivering this. Make sure your packaging is ESD-safe in all situations and get well-informed about the risks and possibilities. I and my experienced fellow packaging experts at Faes are happy to help you with this.
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