Most machinery damage does not happen in the middle of the ocean. It happens during handling: loading at the factory, lifting at the port, trucking, and unloading at your site, plus rust from moisture trapped in the container. A properly specified crate, a container loading plan and a documented arrival inspection cost a small fraction of the machine price, and they are the difference between a quick insurance payout and an argument nobody can win.
Which packing method suits which machine?
| Packing method | Suits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plywood export crate on a timber base | CNC machines, packaging machines, precision equipment | Machine bolted to the base, braced internally, with a moisture barrier inside |
| Pallet with stretch wrap and corner protection | Small benchtop units | Not sufficient for heavy or tall machines |
| Steel-frame skid, machine bolted down | Injection molding machines, presses, heavy machine tools | Check lifting points and fork pockets are marked |
| Bare on a flat rack with lashing | Out-of-gauge machinery that does not fit a standard container | Needs sea-lashing calculations and weather protection |
For any wooden packing, ask for ISPM 15 compliance. Solid-wood crates, pallets and bracing must be heat-treated or otherwise treated and carry the ISPM 15 stamp, otherwise customs in many countries can order fumigation, re-export or destruction. Plywood is generally exempt, but the timber runners, bracing and pallets under it usually are not. Ask for a photo of the stamp before shipment.
How do you protect a machine from rust and moisture?
Sea containers experience large temperature swings, and moisture condenses on the ceiling and drips onto cargo. Bare steel surfaces such as guideways, spindle tapers and tables can show rust after a few weeks at sea. Ask the factory to do the following:
| Measure | What it protects |
|---|---|
| Rust-preventive oil or grease on all bare metal | Guideways, ball screws, spindle taper, tables |
| VCI film or bags around the machine | Overall corrosion protection |
| Desiccant sized to the crate volume | Humidity inside the wrap |
| Sealed foil moisture-barrier wrap for high-value machines | Electronics and precision surfaces |
| Humidity indicator card inside the wrap | Evidence of moisture exposure |
| Delicate items packed separately: teach pendant, glass scales, laser optics, spare sensors | Impact damage to fragile components |
Which container and loading plan fit your machine?
| Container | Approx. internal size | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 20 ft general purpose | 5.9 m × 2.35 m × 2.39 m; payload about 28 t | Single heavy machine, dense cargo |
| 40 ft general purpose | 12.0 m × 2.35 m × 2.39 m; payload about 26–28 t | Long machines, several units |
| 40 ft high cube | As 40 ft, internal height about 2.69 m | Tall crates |
| Open top | Same footprint, open roof | Tall machines loaded by crane from above |
| Flat rack | No side walls | Over-width or over-height machinery |
These dimensions are approximate and vary by container maker, so confirm them, including the door opening, with your forwarder. Door openings are smaller than the interior: a 20 ft container has roughly 2.34 m width and 2.28 m height at the door. Ask the factory for crated dimensions and weight before quoting freight, because over-gauge cargo that needs a flat rack or open top can cost several times more than a standard container.
A good loading plan keeps the heaviest items low and centered, spreads weight evenly so the floor load limit is respected, blocks and braces crates against movement in every direction, and uses the container's lashing points. Ask the factory to photograph the container empty, during loading, and after the doors are sealed with the seal number visible.
What should the factory send before the container leaves?
| Document or evidence | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Packing list with crated dimensions, gross and net weights | Lets you plan unloading equipment, and supports customs and insurance |
| Photos or video of crating, ISPM 15 stamp and loading | Baseline evidence of condition at shipment |
| Container number and seal number | Lets you check the seal on arrival |
| Lifting diagram and center-of-gravity marks on the crate | Prevents unsafe lifting at the port and your site |
| Shock and tilt indicators fitted to the crate | Show whether the crate was dropped or tipped |
| Recorded test run before crating | Proves the machine worked when it left; see video factory acceptance tests |
What should you check when the machine arrives?
| Stage | What to check | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Before the doors open | Seal number matches the documents; container exterior for dents, holes or water marks | Photos of the seal and container |
| On opening | Cargo shifted, crates tilted, water on the floor or ceiling | Photos and video before anything is moved |
| Before unloading | Crate damage, tripped shock or tilt indicators, wet or broken timber | Close-up photos of each damaged area and indicator |
| After unpacking | Bent or dented frame, cracked castings, loose parts, rust, missing items against the packing list | Photos with a tape measure for scale; a written list of damage |
| Before power-up | Oil levels, electrical cabinet moisture, transport locks removed | Notes and photos of each check |
Do not sign for the delivery as clean if you see damage. Write the exceptions on the delivery receipt, and keep the packaging and the damaged parts until the insurer or surveyor has seen them. Notify the carrier, the insurer and the supplier in writing straight away. Time limits are short: under the Hague-Visby Rules, notice of apparent damage is due when the goods are removed, or within three days if the damage is not apparent, and the carrier is released from liability unless legal action is started within one year. The rules that govern your bill of lading may differ, so check them or ask your forwarder. This is general information, not legal advice.
How do you unload and install the machine safely?
Use a crane or forklift rated for the crate weight and lift only at the marked lifting points, never by the spindle, guarding or the machine's covers. Keep the machine upright and watch for a high center of gravity. Check in advance that doors, ceiling height and floor load will accept the crate and the machine, and that the foundation and leveling pads are ready. Before power-up, remove every shipping brace, transport bolt and travel lock, which is the most frequently missed step; remove the rust-preventive coating with the recommended solvent; check oil and coolant levels; and have the factory walk you through the first start by video.
Who pays when something goes wrong?
That depends on where the risk passed. Under FOB, CIF and FCA the risk is yours from the port or the carrier handover, so a claim usually goes to your insurer and, where the carrier is at fault, the carrier. Damage caused by weak packing or by loading before the handover point is the seller's responsibility. The terms in your contract matter more than anything else; read which Incoterms rule to put on your purchase order, and check whether your insurance is all-risk. Keep your claim file complete: the bill of lading, packing list, invoice, photos from shipment and arrival, the delivery receipt with notes, and the survey report.
What should you put in the purchase order about packing?
| Clause | Example wording |
|---|---|
| Packing standard | Export plywood crate with timber base, machine bolted down, ISPM 15 stamped |
| Rust protection | Rust-preventive oil on bare metal, VCI film, desiccant and humidity indicator |
| Handling marks | Lifting points, center of gravity and orientation marked; shock and tilt indicators fitted |
| Evidence | Photos or video of crating, loading and sealed container; packing list with dimensions and weights |
| Responsibility | Supplier liable for damage resulting from packing or loading defects |
Warranty questions are the other half of this: see what to negotiate on warranty and spare parts. To compare machines across categories, browse our machinery range or send your destination through the quote form.