5 Things You Must Know Before Shipping Equipment Internationally

If you’re shipping internationally, these are the five things you need to understand before your next shipment leaves your facility.

1. ISPM-15 Is Not About the Wood—It’s About the Process

A common mistake is assuming that using heat-treated lumber is enough.

It’s not.

ISPM-15 compliance requires:

• Certified treatment

• Proper documentation

• A valid IPPC stamp from a registered facility

If any part of that chain is missing, your shipment can be flagged, delayed, or rejected entirely.

We’ve seen companies learn this the hard way, after the crate is already built and loaded. 2. Not All Crates Are Built for Export

There’s a difference between a crate and an export crate.

An export crate needs to account for:

• Long transit times

• Multiple handling points

• Environmental exposure (humidity, temperature changes)

If it’s not designed for that reality, damage isn’t bad luck—it’s predictable.

3. Cheap Crating Usually Costs More

On paper, a cheaper crate looks like savings.

In reality, it often leads to:

• Product damage

• Insurance claims

• Project delays

• Strained client relationships

The cost of failure is always higher than the cost of doing it properly the first time.

4. In-House Builds Can Be Risky

Many companies try to build crates internally using available materials.

The risk:

• Non-compliant lumber

• No traceability

• No certified process

Even small oversights can lead to major problems at the border.

If you’re shipping internationally, the margin for error is low.

5. Speed and Reliability Matter More Than Price

When shipments are tied to timelines, installs, or client deliverables, delays cost more than the crate itself.

A reliable crating partner doesn’t just build boxes, they:

• Understand compliance

• Design for protection

• Deliver on time

That’s what keeps projects moving.