Packaging Guidelines:
1. Your equipment might be Heavy and may have one or several Point Loads. Anything more than 10,000kg of weight is considered Heavy
2. Your equipment may not have standard size but ODC(Over Dimensional Cargo). Cargo is ODC when the length, width or height is more than that of a standard container.
3. Standard ISO shipping containers are 8ft (2.43m) wide, 8.5ft (2.59m) high and come in two lengths; 20ft (6.06m) and 40ft (12.2m). Extra tall shipping containers called high-cube containers are available at 9.5ft (2.89m) high.
4. Your equipment may be Sensitive to dust and shocks and requires Weather Proofing. Equipment may also be prone to Rusting.
5. Your equipment may be shipped to a remote location where access to Material Handling Equipment isn’t available. The desired Material Handling Equipment may not be available at various transit points.
6. We utilise the Packaging Services of companies, who are specialised in Heavy Machinery Packaging, packaging Oversize (ODC), Over-weight and difficult to handle cargo. Export boxes of any size can be manufactured to ensure that your products reach the destination in clean, dry and perfect condition. Our routine orders are the boxes that are 40 feet x 12 feet x 12 feet and can take upto 40 tonnes of weight.
Checklist for Heavy Machinery Packaging:
Sensitivity:
Is the equipment sensitive to shocks or corrosion? Does the equipment have electronic panels which need more care and protection?
Load Distribution:
How are the loads distributed on the machine? All point loads and line loads are to be taken care of while constructing the base. MIL-SPEC and ASTM Standards are followed for box construction
Mode of shipment:
Mode of shipment – air, sea or road or a combination of these is one of the most important factors determining the design.
Handling:
For large and expensive machinery Handling becomes very critical. Use of proper signs and markings is imperative. Appropriate shipping instructions and markings can make a big difference to how a box is handled
Unloading:
How a box is unpacked is as important as how it is packed. The design has to be made keeping in mind the ease of unloading in terms of Material Handling Equipment (MHE) required at various touch-points.
Design of Boxes for Heavy Machinery Packaging
Box for Heavy Machinery Packaging
1. The first step in manufacturing a heavy-duty box is to create a drawing. The 3D design softwares such as ProEngineer and CratePro is used to create the models. The wooden box must be strong enough to protect its contents from the hazards of shipping and storage. It must be as light in weight as shipping hazards and the inherent strength properties of the materials permit and must require a minimum of shipping space. With design criteria based on these considerations, the effective engineering of crates for specific purposes becomes possible.
The advantages gained from good crate design are many. The shipper gains from better protection of his products and from lower shipping costs for lighter weight and lower space requirements. The carrier gains from lower liability costs. The consumer gains from the lower prices made possible for the goods shipped.
Designing a heavy duty skid
wooden pallet for heavy machine packing
2. Designing the correct skid base is the first right step. There are no standard designs. More often than not, designs are engineered for each machine depending on the machine base construction, load distribution. Skid type or Sill type bases are two broad categories. Choosing the appropriate fasteners (Bolts, Nails, Lag screws etc ) is important. An important function of the skid base is to transfer load to the side walls of a Crate.
Light duty, medium duty, heavy duty bases are designed as per MIL-Specs and ASTM standard guidelines. Computations for load bearing members are important while designing the base.
Sea Worthy Packaging
sea worthy packaging for heavy machinery packaging
3. During transit, your shipment may be exposed to variations in temperature, humidity levels and for Sea Shipments, saline environment which is highly corrosive. Even otherwise, large machine may lie at project sides for months and sometimes years without the box being opened.
Sea worthy solutions must be designed carefully keeping in mind the time frame required for protection. Techniques like VCI, Vacuum Barrier bags are used. For very high-end equipment, nitrogen flushing can also be done.
After putting the machine on the skid base, machine is packed appropriately using one of the above-mentioned techniques.
The process of flat racking is carried out to give support to any heavy handing parts in the machine. This protects the protruding heavy part from shocks and jerks during transit.
Handling of Large Boxes
handling of large boxes in heavy machinery packaging
4. How the box is handled during transit is one of the most important factors in determining if your equipment reaches the destination without damages. The most important ways of handling big boxes are through – end slinging, forklift handling and grab-hook lifting. Other stresses are placed on boxes during shipment. Crates may be moved by pushing or skidding. Humping of freight cars can place racking stresses on crates and cause failure.
The vibrations in trucks and trailers may cause failure of fastenings or loosening of blocking and bracing. Boxes are often not secured to the truck bed, and containers are subjected to vertical movements. End or side impacts and accidental dropping of one end of the crate are other hazards during handling that must be considered. The handling of crates in foreign ports usually depends largely on the mechanical equipment available for unloading.
Instruction Sheets
5. Clearly written handling instructions are of utmost importance for the safety along with detailed work instructions, shipping marks and symbols which show the best ways of handling big boxes.
6. Custom Norms
As this may be your first-time shipping internationally, you may not know who to call for help. To avoid delays, unexpected costs or roadblocks, get the answers you need before you bid and buy. Things you need to consider: shipping, import and export duties, local and international regulations and restrictions. Your country's customs, international trade, commerce or import/ export department may be a good place to start, but a professional, experienced customs broker is often your best source of information.
7. Check for import and export restrictions
Contact the customs authority in your country of import and check that your equipment is allowed under the authority of an import permit. Also ask for any special considerations when shipping heavy equipment -particularly cleaning and quarantine requirements. Many countries will refuse entry to equipment or vehicles that could host foreign pests in soil stuck to their tires, body etc; you may need to work with a certified equipment cleaner. Equipment may also need to meet local environmental, safety and other regulations. Again, find the answers to these questions before you buy.
8. Budget wisely
Study to spend on equipment buy, factor in the costs for importing your equipment from overseas. Some of the possible costs related to shipping overseas are:
• Customs broker/freight forwarder
• Cleaning
• Packaging
• Loading charges
• Delivery to port
• Export duty and taxes
• Origin terminal charges
• Loading on carriage
• Carriage charges
• Insurance
• Destination terminal charges
• Delivery to destination
• Import duty and taxes
Even with these costs, buying equipment overseas may make the most sense if it means getting what you need, when you need it.
