Machinery ships inside a crate, so the outer carton problem disappears and a different one appears: the machine is lashed or bolted to a timber base, and every contact point between machine and timber is a place where paint, a machined face or a cable can be damaged. Paper edge protection is used at those contact points, not around the outside of the crate.
Profile data for machinery packs
| Contact point | Board | Note |
|---|
| Machine foot on skid | L 60 x 60, 5 mm | Under the bolt, paint protection |
| Lashing over housing | L 60 x 60, 4 mm, doubled | Board must extend past the strap |
| Guard panel | L 40 x 40, 3 mm notched | Notch, do not force |
| Cable tray | L 40 x 40, 2.5 mm | Keep pressure off cables |
| Control cabinet edge | L 50 x 50, 3 mm | Prevents door distortion |
Contact points that matter on a machine
The base. A machine bolted to a timber skid sits metal on wood, and the timber wins. A board under the foot spreads the load and keeps the paint intact, and it also gives the bolt a slight cushion so the paint does not craze around the hole.
The lashing. Straps over a painted housing leave a line that is visible after unpacking, and on a machine tool that line is often the first thing a buyer points at. Boards under every lashing point, doubled where the strap crosses an edge.
Cable and guarding. A board pressed against a cable tray or a guard panel will crack a plastic guard. Cut a notch rather than force the board over the obstruction.
Why paper and not rubber or foam
Rubber and foam compress and hold moisture against steel, which is a rust risk on a long sea leg inside a crate. Paper breathes, and it is consumed with the crate at destination rather than becoming a disposal problem in the buyer plant.
The limit is real: paper does not absorb shock. Where the crate will be dropped or the machine is sensitive to vibration, the crate design has to do that work with isolators, and a paper board is only the interface layer.
Crate specification and ISPM 15
The crate itself is wood and needs ISPM 15 treatment. The paper protection inside does not, and it does not change the crate declaration. Keep the two separate on the packing list so a customs inspector is not asked to make a judgement about a paper board.
Where the buyer requires a fumigation-free pack, paper contact protection lets you reduce the amount of internal timber blocking, which reduces both weight and the treated wood content of the crate.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Do I need board on the outside of the crate too?
Only where the crate itself is handled roughly or banded. The main use is inside, at contact points.
Will paper hold up in a humid crate?
It breathes better than foam, but keep the boards wrapped until fitting and avoid direct contact with wet timber.
Can boards be supplied with a rust inhibitor?
We do not supply treated boards. Where rust protection is required, use a VCI film as a separate layer.
What about very heavy machine bases?
Use a 5 mm wall doubled, or a timber block with a board facing. Paper alone is not a structural support.
Can you cut notches for guards and cables?
Yes, die-cut notches are a custom profile with a one-off die and a slightly higher minimum order.
Samples and prices are issued from mona@hengnicepacking.com once cut length, wall thickness and quantity are known.
