Large machinery is extremely valuable and heavy. Transporting it cannot be accomplished through normal shipping methods. Instead, you will need to carefully pack and crate each machine, then choose a freight shipping provider to get your machinery to its destination. To ensure full operational quality upon arrival, it's important to plan your crating very carefully. Key considerations include stability, padding, support, rigid protection, and portability when crating large machinery.
How to Pack, Crate, and Ship Large Machinery
Shipping large machinery requires more than standard packing. Equipment may need custom supports, blocking and bracing, protective cushioning, export-ready wood crating, and freight coordination. Navis Pack & Ship helps businesses prepare large machinery for domestic and international transport with custom packing and crating solutions designed around each machine.
Choosing the Right Crating Materials for Large Machinery
Navis starts by selecting the correct materials for packing and crating your large machinery. In this case, packing refers to padding and support inside the crate, while crating refers to the construction of a custom box in which the machinery will be shipped.
Types of Materials Used for Machinery Crating
When it comes to crating and packing machines, choosing the right materials is essential for ensuring a safe and secure shipment. At Navis Pack & Ship, we use high-quality wood, including ISPM 15 heat-treated wood required for international shipments, to build durable and supportive crates. To further protect your equipment, we incorporate specialized crating supports and packing materials designed to secure the machine inside the crate, minimizing movement during transit. Depending on the type of machine being shipped, our team will discuss additional packing options to ensure maximum protection for your valuable items.
Custom Crating Solutions for Heavy Equipment and Machinery
Custom crating solutions ensure that your large machinery is optimally supported and protected for transport. Custom crating involves building a crate around your machine or piece of equipment. It also includes custom-designed padding and support structures inside the crate and, in some cases, built into the crate itself.
Examples of Machinery and Equipment We Commonly Crate
- CNC machines and machine shop equipment
- Lathes, mills, presses, and fabrication equipment
- Industrial controls, panels, and electrical components
- Manufacturing equipment and production machinery
- Medical, laboratory, and diagnostic equipment
- Commercial printers and large-format printing equipment
- Restaurant, bakery, and commercial kitchen equipment
- Robotics, automation systems, and precision machinery
- Trade show equipment, fixtures, and commercial assets
Packing Techniques for Large Machinery Shipping
Packing involves preparing the machinery to be enclosed into a custom crate, including securing the pieces to minimize movement and avoid damage during transit.
Preparing the Machinery for Shipment
Before your machinery can be packed, it must first be prepared for transport. Depending on the type of machine you’re crating, you may be able to disassemble certain parts so the equipment can fit safely into a crate. Navis’s crating experts will discuss your specific machine or piece of equipment to determine what can be removed and devise a packing plan to keep it safe in the crate.
Securing Equipment Inside the Crate
When the packing begins, the key element is to both pad and secure the machinery inside the crate. This may involve using braces, straps, and padding materials to support and lock in each loose component and moving part.
Custom Machinery Crating Services
Crating is the process of enclosing the packed machinery into a custom crate, so it is protected and secure.
Designing and Building the Crate
When designing and building a crate for large machinery, Navis considers the necessary crate dimensions, the size and fragility of the machine, structural integrity, and the shipment's final destination. Navis chooses the correct wood and fastening methods to lock the crate together.
Freight Shipping for Large Machinery
Not all carriers can handle large machinery shipping. You will need a freight carrier that can transport custom crates. Navis partners with multiple national, regional, and international shipping carriers and will walk you through your freight shipping options to find the best option for you.
Shipping Costs and Coverage
Don't forget to plan to protect your shipment with shipping coverage. Discuss your various coverage options with a Navis shipping expert.
Customer Tips for Shipping Large Machinery
- Work with Navis’s professional packing and custom crating team, which has 30+ years of crating expertise.
- Navis will give you shipping options for multiple carriers that specialize in large machinery transport.
- Discuss coverage to protect against damage or loss.
- Create a checklist to prepare and properly support all machinery components for packing. Navis can help determine the best methods for protecting each component or part.
- Track shipments and keep in touch with your carriers.
Ship Your Machinery with Navis
When you are planning to ship large machinery, plan ahead for custom packing and crating to ensure the most reliable delivery plans and undamaged components. Let our crating experts build a custom shipping crate for your machinery, so you can focus on your business. Ready to start planning your machinery shipment? Contact Navis Pack & Ship for assistance with your machinery packing and crating needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping Large Machinery
How do you ship large machinery safely?
Large machinery should be professionally packed, secured, and custom crated before being shipped by freight. The crate should be designed around the machine’s size, weight, shape, fragility, and destination.
Does large machinery need to be crated?
In many cases, yes. Large, heavy, fragile, or high-value machinery often requires custom crating to protect it from movement, impact, vibration, and handling during transit.
What types of machinery can Navis Pack & Ship crate and ship?
Navis can assist with many types of machinery and equipment, including CNC machines, lathes, manufacturing equipment, medical equipment, lab instruments, commercial printers, restaurant equipment, robotics, and other large or valuable assets.
Can large machinery be shipped internationally?
Yes. Large machinery can be shipped internationally, but it may require ISPM 15 heat-treated wood crating, export documentation, freight coordination, and careful planning based on the destination country.
How much does it cost to crate and ship large machinery?
The cost depends on the machinery’s size, weight, destination, crate requirements, pickup needs, and shipping method. A custom quote is usually required because each machinery shipment has different packing, crating, and freight needs.
