Export crates for industrial equipment must use wood packaging that meets ISPM-15, the international phytosanitary standard: solid wood must be treated (commonly heat-treated) and stamped with the IPPC mark, or the shipment can be refused, treated, or destroyed at destination. Beyond compliance, export packing should protect against long transit times and humidity with barrier wrap, VCI, and desiccant, carry clear weight, center-of-gravity, and handling marks, and be built strong enough for multiple handoffs.
A crate that survives a truck ride across the country can still fail an export shipment. International freight goes through more handoffs, longer transit, big humidity swings, and customs and agricultural inspections. The two things that matter most are compliance (so the crate is accepted) and protection (so the machine arrives working).
What is ISPM-15?
ISPM-15 is an international standard for wood packaging material used in cross-border trade. It exists to stop pests from traveling in pallets, crates, and dunnage. Under it, solid wood packaging must be treated by an approved method, most commonly heat treatment, and marked with the official IPPC stamp showing the country code, treatment provider, and treatment type.
ISPM-15 essentials
- Applies to solid wood packaging: crates, skids, pallets, blocking, and dunnage
- Wood must be treated by an approved method (heat treatment is common)
- Each piece or assembly must carry the legible IPPC mark
- Processed wood products like plywood and OSB are generally exempt, but solid wood skids and blocking attached to them are not
- Non-compliant packaging can be refused, treated, or destroyed at destination, at the shipper's cost and delay
Requirements can vary by destination country and are updated over time, so confirm the current rules for your destination with your forwarder before building crates.
What else does an export crate need?
Protection for long transit
Ocean freight can mean weeks inside a steel container that heats and cools every day. Moisture condenses on machined surfaces and electronics. Export packing typically uses a sealed moisture barrier, VCI (vapor corrosion inhibitor) wrap for metal surfaces, and desiccant sized for the crate volume and transit time.
Structure for handling
Export crates get forklifted, craned, stacked, and blocked more times than domestic freight. Skids should be bolted to the equipment's real mounting points, fork entries placed where the weight is, and lifting points reinforced if the crate will be craned.
Marking
- Gross weight and dimensions
- Center of gravity marked on the outside
- Lifting and fork points, and "do not stack" or "this way up" where needed
- Consignee, piece count, and reference numbers matching the paperwork
- Tilt and shock indicators for sensitive equipment
How should machinery be prepared before export crating?
- Drain coolant, hydraulic oil, lubricants, and water, or secure them per the manufacturer.
- Lock axes, spindles, tables, and moving assemblies with shipping brackets or blocking.
- Remove, tag, and pack loose components and accessories.
- Clean and protect exposed machined surfaces.
- Photograph the equipment and its condition before closing the crate.
Our guide to preparing a machine for shipping covers these steps in more detail.
Crate, skid, or container-ready packing?
Not every export shipment needs a fully closed crate. Rugged equipment in a closed container sometimes ships on a proper skid with barrier wrap and solid blocking and bracing. Sensitive or high-value equipment, open-top or flat-rack shipments, and anything stored outdoors usually needs a closed crate. The right answer comes from the equipment, the container type, and the route.
Bottom line
- ISPM-15 treated and marked wood is non-negotiable for export crates.
- Protect for weeks of humidity swings: barrier wrap, VCI, and desiccant.
- Build for many handoffs, and mark weight, center of gravity, and handling points.
Packing machinery for export or a long project move? See industrial crating and export packing and blocking, bracing, and dunnage.