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Export Crates, Pallets and Skids Built for Your Load

Stringer and block pallets, skids, machinery crates and export cases, treated to ISPM 15. Send load weight, footprint, handling method and destination.

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Wooden pallets stacked high in a yard

Pallets and crates are the wood used to carry and protect other goods: standard and custom pallets, skids, crates for machinery and export cases for long sea freight. Buyers are manufacturers, exporters and logistics companies that need packaging built for a known load and a known route.

The spec starts from the load, not the wood. Weight, footprint, how the load sits, how it will be lifted and whether it will be stacked or racked decide board thickness, spacing and fasteners. Wood packaging that crosses a border must also meet ISPM 15, so the destination is part of the spec from the first message.

What this covers

  • Stringer pallets, two-way and partial four-way entry
  • Block pallets with four-way entry
  • Skids and runners
  • Closed machinery crates sheathed in plywood or boards
  • Open frame and slatted crates
  • Export cases with barrier lining and desiccant
  • Custom pallets for drums, coils and odd loads
Pallets and cratesAt a glance
Species
Radiata pine, Poplar, Rubberwood, Acacia, Plywood
Processes
Kiln drying, Rough milling, Joinery and assembly, Inspection and packing
Order size
Standard pallets are ordered in volume on a repeat schedule. Machinery crates and export cases are usually designed per item, in small numbers, from the machine weight, footprint and lifting points.
Rules
  • ISPM 15 for wood packaging in international shipping: the wood must be debarked and either heat treated (core held at 56 °C for 30 minutes) or fumigated, then marked with the IPPC mark on two opposite sides. Methyl bromide is restricted in many countries, so most exporters use heat treatment.
  • Plywood, OSB and other processed wood are exempt from ISPM 15, but check destination rules with your freight forwarder
  • Load ratings: ask what static, dynamic and racking load the pallet is designed for. ISO 8611 and ANSI MH1 describe pallet test methods.
  • EUDR applies when pallets or crates are sold as products on the EU market, not when they only carry other goods. Confirm with your compliance team.

How it is built

  • Stringer palletDeck boards nailed to two or three stringers. Notched stringers allow partial four-way fork entry.
  • Block palletDeck boards on blocks with stringer boards. True four-way entry and better for racking and pallet jacks.
  • Machinery crateA skid base sized to the machine, with framed sides and a top, sheathed in plywood or boards and bolted to the base.
  • Open frame crateA slatted frame that protects edges and allows inspection. Lighter and lower cost than a closed crate.

What to send for a quote

  1. Load weight and how it sits: spread evenly or on feet or points
  2. Footprint, height and any overhang allowed
  3. Handling (forklift, pallet jack or crane) and two-way or four-way entry
  4. Stacking and racking needs
  5. Destination and whether ISPM 15 treatment and marking are needed
  6. For crates: machine drawing, center of gravity, lifting points and tie-down positions
  7. Quantity, markings and any moisture barrier or desiccant

Where orders go wrong

  • Heat treated is not kiln driedISPM 15 heat treatment kills pests but does not dry the wood to a set moisture content. Wet pallets grow mold in a closed container. Ask for kiln-dried wood if mold is a risk.
  • Missing or unclear IPPC markA missing or unreadable mark can hold a shipment at the port. Ask for photos of the mark on two opposite sides before loading.
  • Deck boards too thin for rackingA pallet that carries a load on the floor can sag in a rack. State whether pallets will be racked and how they are supported.
  • Center of gravity not markedA crate lifted off center can tip. Mark the center of gravity and lifting points, and align skids with fork entry.
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Questions about pallets and crates

Related guides:

  • Custom Wooden Crates: The Order Details That Prevent Re-Work
  • Compliance Rules That Apply to Manufactured Wood Products
  • How Container Loading Changes the Price of Wood Products
What does the ISPM 15 mark show?

The mark carries the IPPC symbol, a two letter country code, a number issued to the producer or treatment provider and a treatment code such as HT for heat treatment. It must be legible and applied on at least two opposite sides. Ask for a photo of the mark on a finished unit.

Who designs the crate for a machine?

Send the machine drawing, weight, center of gravity and lifting points. The factory then proposes a design. Ask for a drawing with board sizes, skid layout and fasteners for your approval before production. For very heavy or tall machines, have your own engineer check the design.

What drives the price of export crates?

Wood volume and sheathing come first, so a closed crate in plywood costs more than an open frame. Heat treatment, bolts and hardware, moisture barrier lining and custom markings add cost. A design reused across several machines costs less per crate than a new design each time.

Can I order only a few crates for single machines?

Yes. Many crate builders work per item, since each machine needs its own size. Give the ship date and where the crates are needed, because crates are bulky and are usually built close to where the machine is packed.

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