Export crating and ISPM 15 fumigation certificates
In short
We build custom wooden crates for machinery, artwork, glass and sensitive equipment, and supply ISPM 15 treated timber with the stamp and certificate importing countries require. Untreated solid wood packaging is refused at most borders, so the treatment mark is what keeps a shipment moving rather than sitting at a port.
ISPM 15 is the international standard that governs solid wood packaging in trade. It exists to stop timber pests crossing borders inside pallets and crates, and it is enforced at the port of arrival, not the port of departure. A crate without the mark is a crate the destination can order treated, destroyed or returned at your cost.
What exactly is ISPM 15?
It is the phytosanitary measure that requires solid wood packaging — crates, pallets, dunnage and bracing over six millimetres thick — to be heat treated or fumigated and stamped with a registered mark showing the country, the treatment facility and the method used. Processed materials such as plywood, OSB and particle board are exempt because manufacturing already destroys any pests. If your shipment contains a single untreated wooden pallet, that pallet can hold up the whole consignment.
What should be crated rather than boxed?
Anything rigid, heavy or irreplaceable: machinery and industrial equipment, marble and stone tops, large framed artwork and mirrors, glass table tops, server racks and laboratory instruments. The test is not value alone but whether the item can survive being stacked under other freight, because in a shared container it will be. A carton relies on what is around it; a crate carries its own load path.
Our process
Measure
Item dimensions, weight and fragile points recorded on site.
Build
Crate built from treated timber to suit the load and route.
Pack and brace
Item cushioned, blocked and secured against movement.
Certify
Stamp applied and the certificate issued with the paperwork.
What affects the price
| Crate dimensions | Timber volume and build hours scale with size. |
|---|---|
| Weight and bracing | Heavy machinery needs a skidded base and steel fixings. |
| On-site vs workshop build | Building at your premises costs more than in our workshop. |
| Internal protection | Custom foam and vapour barriers add material cost. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need fumigation or heat treatment?
Heat treatment is the common method and is accepted everywhere ISPM 15 applies. Chemical fumigation is an alternative that some destinations still accept but others now restrict on environmental grounds. We use heat-treated timber by default and confirm the destination’s position before shipping.
Can you crate at my premises?
Yes. For machinery that cannot be moved before it is protected, the crate is measured and built around the item on site. It costs more than a workshop build because the team and materials travel to you, but for a fixed or delicate installation it is often the only safe sequence.
Does the certificate come with the shipment?
Yes. The treatment certificate is issued with the shipping documents and the stamp is visible on the crate itself. Customs at the destination check the physical mark against the paperwork, so both must be present and must match.
Do crates need ISPM 15 for air freight too?
The standard formally applies to all wood packaging in international trade, and many authorities enforce it on air consignments as well as sea. Treated timber costs little more than untreated, so we use it as standard rather than deciding case by case and risking a hold at arrival.
Get a free quote
A free survey and a fixed written price before you commit to anything.