Packaging and crating companies have their own facilities to handle this service, those are very well equipped for manufacturing industrial crates and corrugated boxes as well as for packaging valuable machinery, parts, and products. But is it better to do this service in-house or on-site (on the site where the machinery is being housed)? In this post, we are going to show you some points to consider.
On-site packaging and crating
On-site means to the jobs where the provider travels to your location with all the pre-assembled or kitted crating materials needed to secure, wrap, protect, preserve and skid or fully crate your equipment.
There are many reasons why freight would have to be crated on-site. Sometimes it is too fragile to be moved from its current location without protection, or too large or too uniquely-shaped to load directly onto a truck, etc.
But on-site crating has some challenges as:
1. Crating Sight Unseen
Sometimes if the provider didn’t see, measure, and evaluate the product by themselves, it is common that the product is different than what was described. So the provider may foresee those situations bringing extra supplies in order to protect against surprises.
2. Crating Away From Home
If the site it’s not within two hours of their own facilities, the workers should stay in a hotel to cut down on drive time and gas costs. This can pose a challenge for estimating the total job cost. The more accurately the provider can determine how long a job will take, the more accurately the quote will be and within the budget. When requesting quotes for an on-site job, be aware of how the estimates of job time vary!
3. Special Issues with Export Crating
Reid Packaging is ISPM-15 export certified. This means that the provider can apply what’s called a “bug stamp” to the crates that allow them to be shipped overseas. The problem is that a bug stamp applies to their specific building, not the company itself. This means that the provider has to bring all of our own solid wood lumber and cannot source other “bug stamped” lumber once they are on the job.
4. Hire a professional packaging and crating company
Sometimes you may think you need a very expensive crate to protect your machinery when really all they need is a properly designed forkliftable skid, some blocking and bracing, appropriate tie-downs, a flatbed truck, and a tarp. Or vice versa it is sometimes thought that you only need a cardboard box when they actually need extra protection from the hazards of transportation.
In CARGO CARE SERVICES we’re experts advising you on the most economical and appropriate options. We’re always happy when we can save you money by avoiding the need for a crate when it is applicable.
To summarize, the answer is it depends on your merchandise if you really need it. On- site packaging and crating can be more expensive than doing the same job in the provider’s facilities, where they have all the elements and equipment to handle your merchandise.
CARGO CARE SERVICES can handle both services on-site and in-house packaging and crating services, we can advise you about the most economical, efficient, and safest way to transport your product, just CONTACT US for a rate!!