Built to Protect,
Designed to Deliver

Glossary for Crating and Industrial Packaging

​

• Crate

  • A large, typically rectangular shipping container made of wood, metal, or plastic, used to transport or store heavy or fragile items. Crates are commonly reinforced to protect the contents from damage during handling, transport, and storage.

​

• Industrial Packaging

  • Packaging solutions designed for large-scale manufacturing, warehousing, and transport of goods, particularly in the industrial and commercial sectors. This type of packaging is built to withstand harsh conditions, ensuring product safety from the production line to the final destination.

​

​

• Export Crating

  • Custom-built crating solutions for products intended for international shipping. Export crates must adhere to various international standards (like ISPM 15) to prevent the spread of pests and protect goods from the rigors of overseas transportation, including handling, moisture, and rough seas.

​

• Custom Crating

  • The creation of crates tailored specifically to the dimensions, weight, and fragility of the item being shipped. Custom crating maximizes protection, often incorporating cushioning materials, internal supports, and specialized designs to prevent movement or damage.

​

• Pallet

  • A portable platform made of wood, plastic, or metal, used to support and stabilize goods during transport and storage. Pallets are essential in logistics as they allow for easy handling by forklifts or pallet jacks and ensure efficient loading and stacking of goods.

​

• ISPM 15

  • The International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 is a regulation designed to prevent the spread of invasive pests through wooden packaging materials in international trade. Wooden crates, pallets, and dunnage must be heat-treated or fumigated to comply with this standard, and marked with the ISPM 15 stamp to signify compliance.

​

• Heat Treatment (HT)

  • A process applied to wooden crates and packaging to eliminate pests and meet ISPM 15 requirements. The wood is heated to a specific temperature for a set period, killing insects, larvae, and fungi. This is a necessary step for wood packaging materials used in international trade.

​

• Vapor Barrier

  • A layer of material (such as plastic or aluminum foil) used in packaging to prevent moisture from penetrating the package and damaging sensitive goods. Vapor barriers are commonly used in export packaging, especially when shipping electronics or items susceptible to rust or corrosion.

​

• Foam Lining

  • Soft, shock-absorbing materials, such as polyurethane or polyethylene foam, placed inside crates to cushion items from impact during transportation. Foam linings are crucial for fragile, delicate, or sensitive goods, reducing the risk of breakage.

​

• Blocking and Bracing

  • A method used inside a crate to secure and stabilize items, preventing them from shifting during transit. Wooden beams, foam inserts, or metal bars are commonly used as braces, ensuring the contents stay fixed in place throughout the journey.

​

• Void Fill

  • Materials used to fill empty spaces in packaging to prevent items from moving inside the container. Common void fill materials include foam peanuts, bubble wrap, or airbags. These materials help protect items from impact and damage during transit by preventing excess movement.

​

• Shock Absorption

  • A packaging design feature that reduces the force of impact during handling or transportation. Materials such as foam, rubber, or specially designed structures inside crates provide shock absorption to protect fragile or sensitive goods from damage caused by drops or vibrations.

​

• Skid

  • Similar to a pallet but without the bottom deck boards, a skid is a flat, portable platform used for transporting heavy or bulky goods. Skids provide a solid base for goods and allow for easier movement by forklifts or cranes in industrial settings.

​

• Shrink Wrap

  • A thin plastic film applied around items or entire pallets, which is then heated to shrink tightly around the goods. Shrink wrap helps secure items together, protecting them from dust, dirt, moisture, and minor damage during handling and transportation.

​

• Corrugated Fiberboard

  • A material made of fluted paper sandwiched between two liner boards, used in making boxes and packaging. Corrugated fiberboard is strong, lightweight, and provides cushioning, making it a popular choice for protecting items in transit.

​

• Compression Strength

  • The ability of a packaging material, such as a crate or box, to withstand forces that would cause it to collapse. Crates and pallets must be designed with sufficient compression strength to support the weight of stacked items during storage or transportation.

​

• Stretch Film

  • A highly elastic plastic film that is wrapped around goods to secure them on a pallet or within a crate. Stretch film provides load stability and prevents items from shifting during transit, while also offering protection from dust, dirt, and moisture.

​

• Seaworthy Packaging

  • Packaging that is designed to withstand the challenges of ocean transport, including saltwater exposure, humidity, and rough handling. Seaworthy packaging often includes vapor barriers, moisture-absorbing desiccants, and reinforced crates to protect goods during long sea voyages.

​

• Desiccants

  • Small packets or containers filled with materials like silica gel or clay that absorb moisture from the air inside packaging. Desiccants help prevent condensation and humidity damage, which can lead to corrosion, mold, or spoilage, especially during long shipments or storage in humid environments.

​

• Flat Rack Crating

  • A type of open-frame crate used for large, heavy, or awkwardly shaped items that cannot fit into a traditional enclosed crate or shipping container. The flat rack offers stability and support for oversized items while allowing for easy loading and unloading.

​

• Collapsible Crate

  • A crate that can be easily disassembled and reassembled, allowing for efficient space-saving during storage or return shipment. Collapsible crates are particularly useful for reducing logistics costs when crates need to be sent back to the origin for reuse.

​

• Strapping

  • The process of using steel, plastic, or fabric bands to secure goods to a pallet or inside a crate. Strapping ensures that items do not move during transport and provides additional stability to the overall packaging.

​

• Dunnage

  • Padding or bracing materials placed inside packaging to protect goods from damage during transit. Dunnage can include materials such as foam, airbags, or wooden blocks, which are used to fill empty spaces, prevent movement, and cushion items from impact.

​

• Load Securing

  • The practice of properly stabilizing and securing goods within a crate, on a pallet, or in a truck to prevent shifting, tipping, or damage during transport. Techniques like strapping, blocking, bracing, and using void fills are common load securing methods.

​

• Packaging Design

  • The process of engineering packaging solutions that not only protect goods during handling and transport but also optimize space, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with regulations. Effective packaging design considers the product’s weight, dimensions, fragility, and transportation method.

​

• Non-corrosive Packaging

  • Packaging that is specially treated or designed to prevent corrosion, typically used for metal components or items sensitive to environmental conditions. This type of packaging may include rust inhibitors, desiccants, and protective coatings.