Temperature indicators for packaging are tools capable of measuring and monitoring when minimum or maximum temperature limits are exceeded. Temperature control is very important during the transport and storage of a product.
Temperature variations inside packages can damage the products contained within, causing issues with the quality of the goods. Using a temperature indicator therefore helps to prevent and avoid product alterations.
Some goods require temperature-controlled shipping, and with indicators placed inside the packaging it is possible to know whether the set maximum temperature threshold has been reached.
In this article, we’ll see how temperature indicators work and for which types of shipments they are necessary to protect goods from thermal shocks.
How temperature indicators work
Temperature indicators (TI) for goods preservation are usually self-adhesive labels placed on packaging.
The indicators provided by Flexpack are based on color-change technology — the label applied to the package changes color when temperature limits are exceeded. These indicators are irreversible: the maximum temperature reached by the goods during handling remains visible at all times, allowing it to be recorded and reported when necessary.
High-quality temperature indicators must:
- react immediately to temperature fluctuations;
- indicate temperature accurately;
- be reliable and free from false readings;
- be tamper-proof and impossible to remove;
- withstand potential mechanical and physical stress.
For which shipments these indicators are necessary
As mentioned earlier, the quality, integrity, and safety of some goods are influenced by the temperature reached inside the packaging used for transport and storage.
When goods are transported by sea, the journey is long, and products are exposed to atmospheric agents for many hours. Goods may undergo thermal shocks, shifting from very low to very high temperatures. For this reason, equipping packaging with temperature indicators allows you to know the exact temperatures reached by the products and to take corrective action if necessary.
Another type of shipment where these tools are highly recommended is for fragile goods, which by definition are more delicate and require special care, including protection from possible temperature fluctuations during handling.
Finally, temperature indicators are also essential during the storage phase, when goods may be exposed to different thermal conditions throughout their time in the warehouse.
All monitoring systems for safe packaging
For fully secure packaging, it is advisable to use, in addition to temperature indicators, other monitoring systems that help track the condition and quality of goods:
- humidity indicators, to ensure there is no excessive humidity inside the packaging, used together with desiccant bags;
- tilt indicators, which detect whether the package has been tilted or overturned by at least 90°;
- shock indicators, which detect whether the goods have been mishandled.
For any information about temperature indicators for your packaging or other monitoring systems to ensure safe packaging, contact us.
