Why packing matters more than it looks
Garage equipment is heavy steel with machined surfaces, hydraulic components and painted finishes. A machine that arrives
with a bent column or a scored cylinder is not a shipping problem — it is a lost sale and a replacement to fund.
Sea freight means weeks of humidity, vibration and handling, so packing is a design decision, not an afterthought.
How our machines are packed
- Export-standard crates built for the weight and shape of each machine, with reinforced bases for
container loading. - Rust-preventive treatment on unpainted machined surfaces and hydraulic components.
- Moisture protection inside the crate, because container interiors reach high humidity on long
voyages. - Fixed internal bracing so nothing shifts if the container moves in heavy weather.
- Labelled crates with model, quantity and crate number for easy receiving.
What actually fits in a container
Exact figures depend on the model and the mix, but the shape of the answer is useful when you are planning:
- Two-post lifts ship as two long crates per machine, which stack efficiently.
- Four-post lifts are bulky per unit because of the runways — plan for a lower unit count.
- Scissor lifts pack as a single compact crate, so they load densely.
- Tyre changers and balancers are the most space-efficient items in the range and are usually used to
fill the gap above and around lift crates.
Because of this, the standard approach for a new workshop is to load the lifts first and then fill the remaining space
with changers and balancers. It almost always reduces the cost per machine compared with shipping product lines
separately.
approximate weight before you commit — so you know the shipping cost at quotation stage, not after production.
Documents to expect
For most destinations you should receive, before the vessel sails:
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin, where required
- CE certificate and, where applicable, test reports
- Installation and operation manual for each model
Confirm early which documents your customs authority requires. It is far easier to prepare a certificate during
production than to hold a container at the port waiting for paperwork.
Voltage and plug configuration
Machine voltages and plug types are specified at order. Tell us your market’s standard single-phase and
three-phase voltages and we will configure the machines accordingly, rather than shipping a machine your customer has to
modify on arrival.
Receiving the shipment
Check crate count and external condition against the packing list before signing the delivery note. Photograph any
damage immediately — it is the single most effective step in making a claim. Then inspect the machines within a few
days of arrival, not after they have been sitting in a warehouse for a month.
Planning a container load?
Send your machine list and destination port. We will return a loading plan, crate count and a quotation with freight.