Crate spec ticket
| Outer crate | Cleated plywood or sheathed crate on a skid |
|---|---|
| Inner packaging | ESD-safe materials specified and supplied by the buyer |
| Cushioning | Foam or isolators fitted per the equipment maker |
| Moisture | Barrier bag, desiccant, humidity indicator card |
| Indicators | Shock and tilt, mounted on the crate exterior |
| Lumber | HT-stamped for export; plywood exempt |
| Quote needs | Inside dimensions, gross weight, destination, inner packaging plan |
What electronics shippers crate
In electronics, the cost of the load is out of proportion to its size or weight. A cabinet of servers, a tester with its handler, a wafer inspection tool, an oscilloscope bench or a rack-mounted power system might be moderate in weight but worth far more than the crate and the truck combined.
Semiconductor equipment is the extreme case. A process tool is typically assembled in modules that are shipped separately, each with its own cleanliness and shock requirements, and then reassembled in a fab. Data centre racks are the high-volume case, arriving in rows that must roll off the truck without damage.
Server rack and control panel pages describe the main construction patterns for these loads.
ESD-safe inner packaging is the buyer's specification
Static discharge can destroy a component without leaving a visible mark. ESD-safe packaging, such as shielding bags or conductive foam, belongs to the electronics buyer's specification and comes from a supplier they name. We do not claim to certify or test it.
What we do is build the outer crate so that the inner packaging fits and stays put. Tell us the dimensions of the inner pack, who supplies it, and whether you want us to fit it. Our crate then supports the pack at the points the equipment maker prescribes.
A wood crate also sheds fibres and dust. For a clean-room load, plan an inner dust-tight wrap, and tell us if surfaces must stay free of wood contact.
Shock, vibration and the last lift
Racks are tall and narrow, with a high centre of gravity. The crate needs a wide skid, bracing at the top, and a strongback or corner posts to stop the cabinet pivoting. Casters are locked or removed, and the rack is bolted to the skid through its leveling feet.
Delicate tools are carried on isolators or in foam cut to the equipment maker's drawing. A shock indicator and a tilt indicator go on the outside of the crate so the receiver sees a problem before the crate is opened.
The final lift matters as much as the road. Fork pockets in the skid and clear lift marks stop a well-built crate being damaged by the person unloading it.
Humidity, condensation and corrosion
Moisture corrodes contacts and connectors, and condensation forms when a cold crate meets warm, damp air. A barrier bag around the equipment, desiccant sized for the bag volume, and a humidity indicator card give the receiver a record of what the interior experienced.
Air freight crosses climates quickly, which makes condensation a real risk when the crate is opened on a warm dock straight from a cold hold. The usual advice is to let the crate reach ambient temperature before opening the bag.
See our desiccant sizing guide for how the quantity is worked out, and our VCI guide for bare metal parts.
Lanes, modes and wood rules
Electronics move by air when speed matters and by ocean for large tools and bulk freight. Air cargo is priced on dimensional weight, so the crate should be only as large as the cushioning needs. Our air freight crate page covers the packing details.
California is the second-ranked exporting state in the Bureau of Labor Statistics profile, and electronics manufacturers there ship through the Port of Los Angeles and airports in the state. We make no claim about any particular customer.
Solid wood in export crates needs heat treatment and the ISPM 15 mark where the destination requires it. Plywood is exempt, which makes cleated plywood the usual choice for electronics crates.
Programs: installs, refreshes and returns
A fab tool install is a project with a date. Each module has its own crate, its own gross weight and its own receiving instructions. A data centre refresh is a high-count shipment of near-identical crates on a schedule. We handle both by writing the spec once and keeping it with the model number.
Returns are common. A tester goes back for repair, a rack is redeployed or a tool is relocated. If the original crate is sound, we inspect it for reuse. Replaced boards need their own HT mark for export.
Give us your forecast of units per month and the lead time between a purchase order and the ship date.
Questions buyers ask
Do you supply ESD-safe packaging?
ESD-safe inner packaging is the buyer's specification. We build the outer crate to take it and can fit it if you supply it.
How do you stop a rack tipping in transit?
A wide skid, bolts through the rack's feet, bracing at the top and a strongback or corner posts. The centre-of-gravity mark shows the crew where it balances.
Why do crates opened off a plane sometimes show condensation?
A cold crate meets warm, humid air at the dock and water forms on cold surfaces. Let the sealed bag reach room temperature before you open it.
Is plywood acceptable for export electronics crates?
Plywood is exempt from ISPM 15 treatment, and solid wood parts such as skids still need the HT mark where required.