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 Packaging Materials

Definition

Packaging materials are intended to enclose or hold together the materials that are to be packed. In other words, the material that is to be packed can be packed into or onto the packaging material. The packaging material can be a load carrier. The most important packaging materials include crates, boxes, containers, wire baskets, and pallets.

Use

You have to maintain the material master data for each packaging material you want to use. When creating material master records for packaging materials, enter either material type VERP (packaging) or a customer-specific material type that you have already set in Customizing. Material type VERP contains additional packing-relevant fields ( Sales: General/Plant Data screen). You can use the field selection to make the additional fields available for input for all of the material types.

The gross weight and the volume that you enter in the material master have special significance for packing. When you create a handling unit (HU), the system automatically copies the packaging material’s master data and uses the gross weight and volume as the packaging material‘s tare weight and tare volume.

Note Note

The tare weight and tare volume refer to the gross weight and gross volume of the packaging material. In the case of a container, the tare weight is the weight of the unloaded container (the total weight less the weight of the goods and packaging materials that are packed in the container).

End of the note.

Structure

If you choose the Sales: General/Plant Data view in the material master data of the packaging material, you can maintain the following data on the Packaging material data section of the screen:

  • Packaging material type

The packaging material type is a grouping of packaging materials with several control parameters, which is defined in Customizing for packing and which controls the following:

  • Sorting in the handling unit display, so that the packaging materials can be displayed in order of size, for example.

  • An output determination procedure in which handling unit outputs can be defined

  • A packaging material category, which subdivides the packaging materials For example, in handling units with a packaging material category of means of transport, it dictates that additional fields, such as Driver and Alternate driver are available for input.

  • A plant determination rule that defines, in delivery processing, the plant from which the packaging material is to be debited if delivery items are created from handling units in the delivery.

  • Whether delivery items are to be generated for the packaging material and if so, under which conditions

  • Number assignment for handling units

  • Whether the packaging material’s tare weight is variable

Note Note

If this indicator is blank, it means that when the total weight of a handling unit changes, the loading weight of the handling unit is determined by taking the total weight less the packaging material’s tare weight.

If this indicator is selected, it means that when the total weight of a handling unit changes, the tare weight of the handling unit is determined by taking the total weight less the loading weight.

End of the note.

  • Material group packaging-material

The material group packaging material is a grouping parameter that can be used to group materials that need similar packaging materials. For example, material group 005 can group small parts that are to be packed in small packages.

Note Note

You can maintain the material group packaging material for all materials that you want to pack. In other words, this field can be maintained for all materials. All other fields given here can only be maintained for packing materials (material type VERP).

End of the note.

  • Allowed packing weight

In this field, you can enter a maximum total weight for a handling unit. If the allowed weight for packing is reached, a system message to this effect appears and further packing operations are carried out using a new handling unit, if necessary.

  • Allowed packing volume

In this field, you can enter a maximum loading volume for a handling unit. If the allowed volume for packing is reached, a system message to this effect appears and further packing operations are carried out in a new handling unit, if necessary.

  • Stackability factor

The stackability factor indicates how many items of packaging material, such as pallets, can be stacked on top of one another. It is not a control and is therefore for information purposes only.

  • Filling level

The filling level is the percentage to which a handling unit should be filled. It is not a control and is therefore for information purposes only.

  • Excess weight tolerance

In this field, you can enter a percentage tolerance limit, up to which the allowed packing weight of a handling unit can be exceeded.

  • Excess volume tolerance

In this field, you can enter a percentage tolerance limit, up to which the allowed packing volume of a handling unit can be exceeded.

  • Closed

This field allows you to control whether the total volume will be changed or remain the same during packing.

Example Example

When packing an open pallet, the total volume changes.

When packing a closed box, the total volume does not change.

End of the example.

Integration

Packaging materials are special types of materials that can be used for packing or for transporting goods. During packing, you must always specify a packaging material so that handling units can be created.