Container Packing
For companies that want certainty the cargo will arrive undamaged - regardless of route length and mode of transport.
- FIATA
- PISiL founding member
- KIGM
- ISPM 15
- Trusted forwarding since 1991
Container Packing is a comprehensive service of packing, protecting and securing cargo before transport, most often by sea, but also by land and air. It covers packaging design, delivery of dunnage materials, physical packing of the cargo and securing it inside a container or vehicle.
Cartrag is the only forwarding company in the Tri-City offering Container Packing as a standalone, certified service - confirmed by the Maritime University of Szczecin, KIGM and PISiL. It serves manufacturers, forwarding and transport companies as well as individual clients, regardless of cargo scale. Every shipment is run by a dedicated forwarding contact.
When to secure cargo before transport
Container Packing works well when:
- The cargo is sensitive to shocks, moisture or corrosion - machinery, equipment, electronics, industrial parts.
- The transport takes a long time - sea freight exposes goods to 30-50 days of vibration, temperature changes and moisture.
- Export requires compliance with international standards - wooden packaging must meet the ISPM 15 standard.
- The cargo is non-standard - dimensions, weight or shape require an individual packaging design.
Professional cargo protection before transport is necessary when standard packaging is not enough - due to the specifics of the cargo, the length of the route or export requirements.
Scope of the Container Packing service
Cartrag runs Container Packing as a full A-Z service, from the first consultation to the physical loading of the container.
- Consulting - transport risk analysis, packaging selection, stowage planning.
- Packaging design - individual solutions for the dimensions, weight and specifics of the cargo.
- Packaging and materials supply - crates, pallets, dunnage wood, securing, anti-corrosion and vibration-isolation materials.
- Packing - at the client's site or at a partner warehouse, anywhere in Poland.
- Container loading - physical placement of the cargo in the container according to the stowage plan.
- Cargo securing - straps, wedges, dunnage bags, IPPC wood, anti-slip mats.
- Service support - technical support at every stage, compliance documentation.
All elements can be ordered separately or as a package. Cartrag matches the scope to the specific cargo and the client's needs.
Packaging types and dunnage materials
The choice of packaging depends on the cargo type, transport duration, end-customer requirements and standards in the destination country.
Packaging types
| Packaging type | Use |
|---|---|
| Wooden crates | Machinery, equipment, heavy and valuable cargo |
| Plywood crates | Lighter cargo, export, smaller lots |
| Standard pallets (EUR, industrial) | Unit goods, cartons |
| Custom pallets | Oversized cargo, non-standard dimensions |
| Vacuum packing / barrier films (VCI) | Protection against corrosion and moisture |
| Shrink wrapping | Large dimensions, extra protection against weather |
Securing and protection materials
- IPPC dunnage wood - compliant with ISPM 15, approved for export.
- Transport straps and chains - securing cargo to the container.
- Dunnage bags (lashing bags) - filling gaps between loads.
- Anti-slip mats - cargo stabilisation.
- Shock, tilt and moisture indicators - monitoring cargo condition in transit.
- Corrosion inhibitors, moisture absorbers - protection against weather conditions.
Standards and certifications - ISPM 15, IPPC, KIGM
Exporting cargo packed in wood requires compliance with international phytosanitary standards. Non-compliance means the goods are stopped at the destination port and the cost of repacking.
Key Container Packing standards
- ISPM 15 - international phytosanitary standard for coniferous wood packaging. Requires heat treatment (HT) or fumigation and IPPC marking.
- IPPC - International Plant Protection Convention, the body issuing the ISPM 15 standard.
- KIGM - Polish Chamber of Maritime Commerce, the Polish certifier of container stowage compliance.
Cartrag performs packing and stowage in line with ISPM 15 and KIGM recommendations.
How to order Container Packing
- Enquiry - description of the cargo (dimensions, weight, type), transport destination, completion deadline.
- Quote - risk analysis, proposed scope of service, cost estimate.
- Packaging design - preparation of an individual solution for the cargo (crate, pallet, securing method).
- Execution - packing at the client's site or at Cartrag, cargo securing, container loading.
- Documentation - compliance certificates (ISPM 15 where required), packing list, photos of the secured cargo.
The whole process is run by one person responsible for execution. All Cartrag forwarding services are provided under the Polish General Forwarding Conditions 2022 (OPWS 2022).
Industries using Container Packing
Cartrag's Container Packing is used mainly in industries requiring special cargo protection in international transport.
- Industrial machinery and equipment
- Project Cargo and out-of-gauge loads (OOG)
- Industrial electronics and specialist equipment
- Automotive - parts, components, JIT
- Warehouse equipment and racking
- Steel and metal structures
- Wood and furniture products (export)
Frequently asked questions about Container Packing
Cartrag offers both options. Packing at the client's site eliminates the need to transport unpacked cargo - the standard for machinery and oversized loads. Packing at a Cartrag partner warehouse works well for smaller lots and repeat shipments.
Yes. The dunnage wood and wooden packaging used by Cartrag meet the ISPM 15 standard required for export. The client receives a compliance certificate for the export documentation.
The price depends on the cargo type, packaging kind, packing location and the scope of additional services. The quote is individual and free - Cartrag analyses transport risks and proposes the optimal package.
Yes. Cartrag handles both one-off shipments and ongoing cooperation - no minimum volume and no long-term contract required to start.
No. The service covers all modes of transport - sea, land, air and intermodal. Packaging requirements vary by mode of transport - Cartrag selects the solution for the specific route.
Standard: VCI barrier films (anti-corrosion), moisture absorbers (silica), corrosion inhibitors and packaging temperature control. For particularly sensitive cargo Cartrag uses humidity and temperature indicators that allow monitoring cargo condition in transit.
Yes. Shock, tilt, humidity and temperature indicators are available as part of the Container Packing package. They make it possible to document possible transport damage and support insurance claims.
Packing ADR-class cargo requires individual arrangement. Cartrag handles a limited range of dangerous goods with appropriate packaging selection and certification.
Yes. Container Packing is an independent service. The client can order packing alone, without transport organised by Cartrag. Most often, however, Container Packing is part of a comprehensive transport service (LCL, FCL, OOG).
YOUR CONTAINER PACKING CONTACT
Piotr | forwarding at Cartrag
"The client does not need to know forwarding. That is what a forwarder is for."