How to Pack Machinery for Ocean Export: Wooden Crates, Rust Protection, and Moisture Protection

The Biggest Test Ocean Freight Puts on a Machine

An encrusting machine leaving Taiwan for Southeast Asia may only spend a few days at sea; to Europe or the Americas, with transshipment and waiting at ports, more than a month inside a container is common. The container heats up in the daytime sun and cools at night, and moisture in the air inside condenses on the container ceiling and the surface of the cargo, a phenomenon the industry calls "container rain." Add the salt at sea, and unprotected carbon steel parts, bearings, chains, and electrical contacts on the machine may well show rust spots on arrival.

So export packing has to deal with three things: securing (no shifting, no impacts), rust protection, and moisture protection, and only then the wooden crate on the outside.

Step 1: Cleaning and Securing

Before crating, clean the machine thoroughly and dry it completely. Leftover flour, oil, and moisture in sealed packaging are the starting point for mold and rust.

Next, secure moving parts: hold conveyor belts, swing arms, and height-adjustable parts in place with straps or wooden blocks so they don't knock back and forth during transport. Pack removable nozzles, molds, cutters, and accessories separately in boxes with a list attached. Add a layer of cushioning over touch panels and button panels. Bolting the machine base to the crate's skid is more secure than relying on packing material alone.

Step 2: Rust Protection

The food-contact parts of food machinery are mostly stainless steel, but the inside of the frame, drive parts, shafts, and screws aren't necessarily. Common rust protection methods include:

• Rust preventive oil or rust inhibitors: Applied to exposed machined carbon steel surfaces and shafts. Don't apply ordinary industrial rust preventive oil to food-contact areas, and clean everything off thoroughly after arrival before production.
• Vapor corrosion inhibitor (VCI) materials: VCI paper, bags, or film release rust-inhibiting compounds in an enclosed space to protect metal surfaces.

It's best to note which areas were treated and which materials were used on the packing list or in the manual, so the customer knows which areas to clean first on arrival.

Step 3: Moisture Protection

Choose the moisture protection method according to the length of the voyage and the destination's climate:

• General wrapping: Wrap the whole machine in PE film with desiccant; suitable for short voyages.
• Aluminum foil barrier bag + desiccant: Seal the whole machine in an aluminum foil laminate with plenty of desiccant inside, vacuum-sealed if necessary. It blocks moisture far better than PE film and is commonly used for long voyages or tropical destinations.
• Humidity indicator card: Placed inside the packaging, it shows on unpacking whether humidity exceeded the limit during transport.

The electrical control box is a priority for moisture protection; put extra desiccant inside the box and reinforce the seal around the door.

Step 4: Wooden Crates and the Phytosanitary Mark

The outer packaging is usually a wooden crate or wooden frame with a skid, making it easy to move by forklift. Here's a rule people often ask about: wooden crates, pallets, and dunnage made of solid wood must undergo internationally specified phytosanitary treatment and be marked before export, which is ISPM 15. Treatment methods include heat treatment (HT) and methyl bromide fumigation (MB), and the wood must bear the IPPC mark, country code, producer number, and treatment code.

If the entire crate is made of processed wood such as plywood or particleboard, it falls within ISPM 15's exemptions and needs no treatment. For details, see ISPM 15 Wood Packaging Rules.

The outside of the crate should be marked with: shipping marks (consignee code, destination port, case number), gross and net weight, outer dimensions, center of gravity, lifting points, and "This way up" and "Keep dry" symbols.

What to Check When Unpacking on Arrival

• Whether the outer crate is damaged, wet, or shows obvious signs of impact; if so, take photos before opening
• The color of the humidity indicator card
• Check the main unit, accessories, and parts item by item against the packing list
• Whether there are rust spots or water marks on the machine surface and inside the electrical box
• Remove rust preventive oil and film, and thoroughly wash food-contact areas before connecting power for a test run

If damage is found, notify within the deadline set by the insurance or contract of carriage; deadlines vary with terms and policies, so have photographic records ready when receiving the goods.

For Dong-Yih Machinery's export packing methods, please call 06-257-4644 or reach us through our contact information page.

FAQ

Q: Must machines be exported in wooden crates?
A: Not necessarily, but complete machines are usually protected and made easy to handle with a wooden crate or wooden frame on a skid. If the crate is made of solid wood, it must comply with ISPM 15 treatment and marking rules.

Q: Does the wooden crate need fumigation?
A: Solid wood packaging must undergo an internationally approved treatment such as heat treatment or fumigation and bear the IPPC mark; crates made entirely of processed wood such as plywood or particleboard are exempt.

Q: How is rust protection done?
A: Apply rust inhibitor to exposed carbon steel areas, combined with VCI paper or bags; then seal the whole machine in an aluminum foil barrier bag with desiccant, which works best for long voyages.

Q: Could rust preventive oil contaminate food?
A: Don't use ordinary industrial rust preventive oil on food-contact areas, and remove all rust protection completely after arrival, washing thoroughly before production.