The standard for steel coil packaging is a standardized packaging system developed by GNEE STEEL based on 20 years of steel coil export experience, combined with the core needs of marine transportation, land transshipment and warehousing. Its core purpose is to resist three major damages: moisture, salt spray and collision, ensuring that steel coils (especially Galvalume steel coils and galvanized steel coils) have no surface rust, no coating damage and no coil deformation during long-distance transportation (including sea voyages of more than 40 days) and long-term warehousing.
This standard strictly complies with GB/T 24490-2020 "General Specifications for Steel Coil Packaging, Marking and Quality Certificate", adapts to the transportation environment of more than 80 countries around the world, and controls the damage rate below 0.03%, which is the core line of defense to ensure the quality of steel coils.
I. All-Round Protection for Steel Coils from Inside to Outside
The "three-layer protection" packaging for steel coils takes "isolating harmful media, buffering external impact and fixing the shape of steel coils" as the core. The three-layer structure cooperates with each other and progresses layer by layer, which not only balances protection and sealing, but also ensures the convenience of loading and unloading. Each layer has clear material standards and construction specifications, rejecting cut corners, and the whole process is traceable and inspectable.
II. First Layer of Protection: Inner Moisture-Proof and Rust-Proof Layer
(Core: Isolate Moisture and Eliminate Rust Hidden Dangers)
The inner layer protection is the first key barrier for steel coil rust prevention. Its core function is to isolate harmful media such as air, moisture and salt spray, prevent the steel coil surface from oxidation and white rust, and is especially suitable for the high humidity and high salt spray environment of marine transportation.
Material Standard: Adopt food-grade waterproof kraft paper + VCI vapor phase anti-rust paper double-layer composite material. VCI anti-rust paper contains volatile anti-rust factors, which can form an invisible protective film on the surface of steel coils with a validity period of up to 6 months. Even if the packaging is slightly damaged, it can continue to play an anti-rust role; the grammage of waterproof kraft paper is ≥80g/㎡, and the tear strength is ≥20N, which can effectively block moisture penetration.
Construction Specifications: After the surface of the steel coil is completely dry (moisture content ≤0.1%), first wrap 1 layer of waterproof kraft paper, then tightly wrap 2 layers of VCI anti-rust paper, overlap the interface by ≥5cm, and seal with waterproof tape to ensure no wrinkles and gaps, avoiding moisture infiltration from the interface; seal both ends of the steel coil with circular anti-rust end caps to cover all exposed surfaces and eliminate end rust.
Core Advantages: It can effectively isolate 99% of moisture and salt spray. Combined with surface passivation treatment, it can ensure that the steel coil is completely free of white rust during sea voyages of more than 40 days, meeting the strict rust prevention requirements of export to Europe, America, Southeast Asia and other regions.
III. Second Layer of Protection: Middle Sealing and Waterproof Layer
(Core: Lock in Dryness and Enhance Isolation Effect)
The middle layer protection is the key to connecting the inner layer and the outer layer. Its core function is to further strengthen the sealing, prevent seawater, rainwater and dew from seeping into the inner layer, and at the same time buffer slight collisions, protect the inner anti-rust paper from damage, and build a "dry and airtight space" for the steel coil.
Material Standard: Adopt high-toughness PE waterproof film with thickness ≥0.12mm, tensile strength ≥15MPa, elongation at break ≥300%, puncture resistance, low temperature resistance (-40℃ without brittleness), aging resistance, which can adapt to the high and low temperature and strong ultraviolet environment at sea; the film surface has no pinholes and no damage, and the waterproof grade reaches IP67.
Construction Specifications: After the inner anti-rust paper is wrapped, fully wrap the steel coil with PE waterproof film, pull it tight without slack when wrapping, heat-seal the interface (sealing strength ≥5N/15mm), extend both ends beyond the steel coil end by ≥10cm, closely fit with the end anti-rust end cap, and then wrap and reinforce with waterproof tape to ensure complete sealing and form a "waterproof isolation cabin".
Data Support: Tests show that this layer of waterproof film can withstand level 8 sea wind erosion and continuous 72-hour rain without any water seepage, and can effectively cope with severe weather during marine transportation.
IV. Third Layer of Protection: Outer Anti-Collision Protection Layer
(Core: Resist Impact and Fix Steel Coil Shape)
The outer layer protection is the "hard shell barrier" of the steel coil. Its core function is to resist collision, extrusion and scratch during loading, unloading and transshipment, prevent the middle waterproof film from damage and the steel coil from deformation, and at the same time facilitate hoisting and fixing, adapting to various transportation methods such as containers and bulk carriers.
Material Standard: The outer layer adopts cold-rolled thin steel plate (thickness ≥0.8mm), the surface is anti-rust treated, and the tensile strength is ≥345MPa, which can effectively resist external impact; the bottom adopts fumigated solid wood pallet (complying with ISPM 15 international standard), the pallet load-bearing is ≥3 tons, no moth-eaten, no deformation, strong moisture resistance, avoiding the steel coil directly contacting the ground to absorb moisture.
Construction Specifications: Outside the middle waterproof film, wrap and form with cold-rolled thin steel plate, fix the interface with rivets to ensure firmness without loosening; place the steel coil on the solid wood pallet, wrap and fix it with high-strength galvanized iron belt (width ≥25mm, thickness ≥1.2mm), wrap at least 4 times per coil, pad rubber pads at the contact points between the iron belt and the steel coil and pallet to prevent scratching the coating; add anti-slip pads at the bottom of the pallet to avoid steel coil sliding during transportation.
Safety Guarantee: The outer layer protection can resist impact force ≤50kg, the steel coil has no deformation and no displacement during hoisting, and the transportation damage rate is less than 0.03%, which is far lower than the industry average damage rate of 0.5%.
V. Core Advantages and Application Scenarios
The "three-layer protection" packaging for steel coils of GNEE STEEL is not a simple superposition of materials, but a standardized system optimized through numerous transportation tests, which balances protection, convenience and economy with prominent core advantages:
All-round Protection: Covering moisture-proof, rust-proof, collision-proof and waterproof, it is suitable for various scenarios such as marine transportation, land transshipment and long-term warehousing, especially for long-distance marine transportation of more than 40 days.
Standardization and Traceability: Each batch of steel coil packaging is constructed in accordance with uniform specifications, equipped with packaging inspection reports, and the materials and processes are traceable, complying with international export standards.
High Adaptability: It can be flexibly adjusted according to steel coil specifications (thickness 0.12–6.0mm, weight 3–15 tons) and transportation methods (containers, bulk carriers), adapting to various products such as Galvalume steel coils, galvanized steel coils and cold-rolled steel coils.
Controllable Cost: On the premise of ensuring the protection effect, optimize material matching to reduce packaging costs, and at the same time reduce additional costs such as rework and claim settlement caused by steel coil damage, reducing the comprehensive cost for customers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How long can the "three-layer protection" packaging resist sea voyage?
A: With the steel coil surface passivation and anti-fingerprint treatment, the "three-layer protection" packaging can ensure that the steel coil is completely free of white rust and damage during 40–60 days of sea voyage, meeting the transportation needs of various regions around the world.
Q2: Can the materials of the three-layer protection be customized?
A: Yes. According to the customer's transportation distance, destination environment (such as high salt spray, high temperature and high humidity areas) and steel coil type, we can customize the specifications of the inner VCI anti-rust paper, the thickness of the middle waterproof film and the material of the outer protective steel plate to further enhance the protection effect.
Q3: What is the inspection standard for the three-layer protection packaging?
A: It strictly follows GB/T 24490-2020 standard and GNEE STEEL internal inspection specifications. The inspection items include: packaging tightness, material thickness, interface firmness, anti-rust paper coverage, and steel coil fixing. 100% inspection is carried out for each batch, and unqualified products are reworked immediately.
Q4: Will the three-layer protection packaging increase transportation costs?
A: No. By optimizing the material matching and packaging process, we control the packaging weight without increasing the transportation volume and freight while ensuring the protection effect; on the contrary, it can reduce the steel coil damage rate, reduce additional costs such as rework and claim settlement, and overall reduce the customer's comprehensive cost.
Q5: Does the solid wood pallet meet international export quarantine standards?
A: Yes. The outer pallet adopts fumigated solid wood pallet, which is strictly processed in accordance with ISPM 15 international wood packaging quarantine standards, and provides a fumigation certificate, which can be directly exported to all countries and regions such as the EU, the United States and Japan without additional quarantine treatment.
GNEE STEEL always puts the protection of steel coil quality in the first place. The "three-layer protection" packaging standard has been applied to all exported steel coils. With strict process specifications, high-quality material selection and perfect inspection procedures, it has won the recognition of customers around the world. Whether your steel coils need long-distance marine transportation, land transshipment or long-term warehousing, we can provide an adapted standardized packaging solution to ensure that every steel coil arrives at the destination safely. Contact us to get an exclusive steel coil packaging and transportation solution!
