ShockWatch reduces damage when shipping to the US

ShockWatch damage deterrent labels help monitor impact shocks in the logistics chain for Trilogy, when shipping audio communications equipment to the States

Trilogy is an innovative company designing and building audio communications equipment for use around the world.

In 2005, its Mercury IP Audio Communications product was deployed by the United States Department of Defense in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and was crucial to the relief effort.

This fast growing company also provides solutions to other markets including emergency management, oil and gas and gaming and has some of the best known names in broadcast and defense among its customer base.

"We have built up a strong reputation for robust, high-quality and innovative communications products." says Doug Lyon, Production Engineer at the Trilogy Andover-based headquarters: "Our products are shipped throughout the world and we regularly send large consignments to our North American operation in Miami.

However, we were finding that a larger than acceptable percentage of products were arriving at their destination damaged.

This was totally unacceptable, so we looked at how we could monitor the logistics chain to find out where the damage was occurring and to reduce the degree of damage in transit".

After contacting damage deterrent specialists, Lamerholm, Doug started using the ShockWatch range of damage deterrent labels.

The ShockWatch are self-adhesive, highly visible labels, that when attached to goods indicate when a product has been exposed to impact.

The labels contain a tube filled with red liquid held in suspension.

When the device is subjected to an impact exceeding a specified G-level, the shock disrupts the surface tension of the liquid, releasing the highly visible red dye into the length of the tube.

This creates a permanent and immediate indication of mishandling.

Once activated, the device cannot be reset.

"I was very impressed with the results" says Doug: "On the first batch of 50 dispatched, only one package had activated the impact device.

Previously we had seen as many as 20 products damaged per batch.

Having the label on the product and the device visibly activated, we also received compensation from the courier.

A good result all round".

Trilogy continue to use ShockWatch to both ensure that its goods arrive undamaged at their destination to save them time and money in administration and production, repairing damaged goods.

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