Packaging Glossary

Industry terms and definitions from A to Z.

A

48 Foot Dry Van: Enclosed trailer measuring 48 feet in length, commonly used for regional freight where 53-foot trailers are restricted.
53 Foot Dry Van: Standard full-size enclosed trailer measuring 53 feet in length, the most common trailer type for long-haul freight in North America.
4-Panel Construction: Bulk bag (FIBC) design using four separate fabric panels sewn together at the corners, creating a square cross-section with excellent shape retention.

B

Broken: Pallets that are damaged beyond economical repair, typically with major structural failures in stringers, blocks, or deck boards.
Baffled FIBC: Bulk bag with internal fabric panels sewn at each corner that maintain the bag's square shape when filled, maximizing space utilization and pallet footprint.
Ball Valve: Valve with a rotating ball containing a bore hole to control liquid flow, providing full-open or full-closed operation with minimal pressure drop.
Bolt Ring: Metal closure mechanism using a bolt-tightened ring to secure drum lids, providing a tight seal for hazardous or sensitive materials.
Butterfly Valve: Valve with a rotating disc to regulate flow, offering precise flow control and compact design with lower cost than ball valves.
Bottom Style: The construction method for the bottom of a bulk bag (FIBC), determining how product is discharged and how well the bag sits on pallets.

C

Capacity: The maximum volume or weight a container can safely hold, typically measured in gallons for liquid containers or pounds for load-bearing capacity.
Condition: The overall state of a used packaging product, indicating wear level, structural integrity, and appearance compared to new.
Cores: Damaged or broken pallets that retain some usable lumber and are collected for recycling, repair parts, or biomass fuel.
Camlock: Quick-connect coupling system using cam arms that lock into grooves, allowing rapid connection and disconnection without tools.
Closed Head Drum: Drum with a fixed, non-removable top containing one or two bung openings for filling and venting, designed for liquid storage.
Companion Stringer: Additional stringer board attached alongside a damaged stringer to restore structural integrity without removing the original board.
Composite IBC: IBC tote combining a rigid HDPE plastic inner bottle with a galvanized steel outer cage and integrated pallet base.
Corner Seam Loops: FIBC lift loops sewn into the corner seams of the bag body, creating a teardrop shape when lifted.
Cross Corner Loops: FIBC lift loops sewn across the top corners of circular bulk bags, creating an arched structure that extends over each corner.

D

Dimensions: The physical size measurements of a product, typically expressed as Length x Width x Height in inches or millimeters.
Drop Trailer: Freight service where the carrier leaves a trailer at the shipper or receiver location for loading or unloading, returning later to retrieve it.

E

Entry Type: Indicates how many sides of a pallet allow forklift access, determining handling flexibility in warehouse operations.
Epoxy Lining: Interior coating applied to steel drums that provides chemical resistance and prevents product contamination from metal contact.

F

Fair: Condition grade for gaylord boxes and containers indicating moderate wear with some structural compromise but still functional for light-duty applications.
FDA Compliant: Materials and containers that meet FDA standards for direct or indirect food contact under 21 CFR regulations.

G

Good: Condition grade for gaylord boxes and containers indicating light wear with full structural integrity, suitable for multiple uses.

H

Heat Treated: Indicates whether a wood pallet or packaging has undergone heat treatment to meet international phytosanitary requirements.

L

Like New: Premium used condition indicating minimal to no visible wear, functionally equivalent to new with only minor cosmetic signs of previous use.
Lowboy: Specialized trailer with an extremely low deck height, designed for hauling tall or heavy equipment that exceeds standard height limits.

M

Material: The primary composition or construction material of a packaging product, affecting durability, compatibility, and cost.
Melon Grade A (1B): High-quality used pallets with minor discoloration and superficial damage but no metal plates, fasteners, or stringer repairs.
Mending Plate: Metal plate fastened across pallet stringers or deck boards to reinforce cracked or split wood and restore structural integrity.

O

Open Head Drum: Drum with a completely removable lid secured by a lever-lock or bolt ring, allowing full access to the interior for filling and cleaning.
Octagonal Gaylord: Eight-sided bulk container design that provides superior stacking strength through better load distribution across eight contact points.

P

Premium Grade A (1A): Highest quality recycled pallets with "good-as-new" appearance, bright colors, and minimal superficial damage with absolutely no repairs.
Premium Grade B (#2 High): Used pallets with visible wear and up to one stringer repair per forklift cavity, maintaining full structural integrity.
Phenolic Lining: Heat-cured interior coating applied to steel drums that provides excellent chemical resistance to solvents, acids, and alkalis.
Pickup Truck: Light-duty vehicle with open bed, typically with payload capacity of 1,000-3,000 lbs, used for small local deliveries.
Poor: Lowest usable condition grade for gaylord boxes indicating significant damage, heavy wear, or structural weakness but still functional for single use.
Previous Contents: The product or material that was previously stored in a used container, affecting its suitability for future applications.

R

Rebottled: Condition for IBC totes where the inner plastic bottle has been replaced with a new bottle while retaining the original cage and pallet assembly.
Reefer: Refrigerated trailer or container with built-in cooling system for transporting temperature-sensitive cargo.
Refrigerated Trailer: Temperature-controlled trailer with integrated refrigeration unit capable of maintaining specific temperatures during transit.
Repaired Grade A: Used pallets meeting Grade A structural standards but showing visible repairs such as replaced boards, mending plates, or companion stringers.
Repaired Grade B: Used pallets meeting Grade B structural standards with visible repairs including replaced deck boards, stringer repairs, or reinforcement hardware.
Regular Grade A (1R): Used pallets in good condition that may have minor repairs including metal mending plates, fasteners, or staples but no companion stringers.

S

Safety Factor 5:1: The ratio of a bulk bag's ultimate breaking strength to its safe working load, indicating the bag can withstand 5 times its rated capacity before failure.
Shape: The physical form factor of a packaging product, affecting storage efficiency, handling, and compatibility with different applications.
Sprinter Van: Compact commercial cargo van typically with 300-500 cubic feet capacity, used for expedited small shipments and last-mile delivery.
Step Deck: Flatbed trailer with two deck levels - a higher front section near the cab and a lower main deck, allowing transport of taller cargo within legal height limits.
Safety Factor 6:1: FIBC design specification where the bag can safely hold 6 times its rated working load before failure, required for multi-trip reusable applications.
Standard Grade B (#2 Regular): Used pallets with visible wear and two or more stringer repairs per forklift cavity, representing the lowest standard GMA grade.
Steel Gauge: Measurement of steel sheet thickness where lower numbers indicate thicker material (16 gauge is thicker than 20 gauge).

T

Top Style: The construction method for the top opening of a bulk bag (FIBC), determining how product is loaded and how the bag is sealed.
Tunnel Loops: Sleeve-style FIBC lift mechanism made from body fabric that creates a pass-through channel for forklift tines or lifting bars.
Type: The construction style or structural design category of a packaging product, affecting strength, cost, and application suitability.
Type A FIBC: Basic bulk bag made from plain woven polypropylene without any static protection features, suitable only for non-flammable products.
Type B FIBC: Bulk bag made from fabric with low breakdown voltage that prevents highly energetic brush discharges but does not dissipate static charge.
Type C FIBC: Conductive bulk bag with interwoven conductive threads that must be electrically grounded during filling and discharge operations.
Type D FIBC: Static dissipative bulk bag that safely dissipates static electricity through low-energy corona discharge without requiring grounding.

U

U-Panel Construction: FIBC design using a U-shaped fabric body with two additional side panels sewn on, combining economy with good structural integrity.
Units Per Box: The number of smaller items contained within a larger shipping container or gaylord box for bulk handling.
Units Per Pallet: The number of items that fit on a single pallet for shipping and storage, determined by product dimensions and pallet size.