Choosing the correct type of packaging is important to protect the equipment and prepare it for transport. Dimensions, weights, and future transport conditions should be assessed.
Road transport varies greatly from sea transport, with the latter having an average duration of 25 days under high salinity conditions which can harm the machinery if not correctly protected.
Experience and service quality is imperative. In the case of wooden packaging for example, it must comply with all international wood transportation regulations so that the machine is not blocked at the port of destination.
The packaging process can have the following steps:
- Smaller parts of the machines must be packed on pallets, fastening the pieces of equipment to a pallet using packing strap-tape and hardware (screws wood, bolts and nuts). Once it is properly strapped the equipment could be covered with vacuum film.
- Documentation should be properly packaged, protected, and clearly identifiable.
- Spare parts should be packed according to the nature of the pieces and transport and should be film-wrapped-protected on pallets, or isolated in wooden boxes, ensuring the safe arrival and further manipulation of the pieces upon arrival.
- For packaging large equipment or delicate parts, it is necessary to build wooden boxes. In the case of over-sized pieces special containers are needed. The machine will be fixed to the base of the wooden box and silica gel, anti-corrosive grease and VCI (vacuum packing) will be used before closing the box. If necessary, the box will have to be covered with additional adequate tarpaulin to avoid humidity.
- Metal structures might be built to stock equipment inside containers and minimize the number of trucks and containers needed. They prevent the upper stored equipment from damaging the equipment stored below.
- In the case of an OOG (Out Of Gauge) package that has to be manipulated at the port, it is necessary to make a lifting diagram of each piece with its respective center of gravity, to facilitate the handling of the container and the reloading at the port.
- All boxes, pallets or wooden pieces have to be treated following the ISPM15 rules to avoid penalties or detaining of the goods. The proof of treatment must be guaranteed with a certificate of fumigation.
Incorrect packaging can lead to a deterioration of the machine during the transport, for this reason the correct packaging is vital when purchasing a used machine.
“Many customers have later regretted not contracting our services. Even when initially our offer can be more expensive, it is not expensive if you compare the extra services needed to avoid risks. Choosing a reputable provider to manipulate heavy machinery is key because the risk of losing or severely damaging the equipment is high.”
