Volumetric gas- and liquid-side mass transfer coefficients measured by standard absorption systems (0.02 vol% SO2-air-1m NaOH and O-2-air-water, respectively) and height equivalent to theoretical plate calculated from the mass transfer coefficents (for atmospheric distillation of isooctane-toluene, methanol-ethanol and ethanol-water) are presented for new types of Intalox metal saddles 25, 40 and 50. The data are compared with those for the original Norton Intalox metal saddles, which differ from the new ones in the number of free tips (spikes) created by cutting the middle strips in the packing elements. The free tips increase the number of jumping droplets in the packing and thus may improve the mass transfer efficiency. It is shown that this effect is significant only in the case of 25 mm packing where the highest number of free tips in the packing volume occurs (approximately 250 000 tips m(-3)). The results provide information on how packing geometrical details can influence transport properties in absorption or distillation packed columns.