Freight is one of the few line items a buyer can still influence after the machine is built. Whether a line ships in one 40HQ or needs two containers is decided long before loading day — at the drawing stage, by how the machine is broken down and crated.
Start with the internal dimensions, not the nominal size
| Container | Internal length | Internal width | Internal height | Typical payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20GP | 5.90 m | 2.35 m | 2.39 m | ~28 t |
| 40GP | 12.03 m | 2.35 m | 2.39 m | ~26 t |
| 40HQ | 12.03 m | 2.35 m | 2.69 m | ~26 t |
The height difference between GP and HQ is what decides many shipments. A machine 2.5 m tall fits a high cube with the crate on the floor; in a standard container it has to be tilted or partially dismantled.
What decides the packing plan
- Packed dimensions versus running dimensions. A bag machine may lose 300 mm of height once the unwind stand and the control cabinet are removed.
- Whether the machine can be split. Most converting lines separate into a main body, an unwind, a sealing station and a control cabinet. Each split point adds assembly work at destination but removes metres of air.
- Crate thickness. Allow 100–150 mm per side for a seaworthy crate. It is easy to forget when the drawing says 2.30 m.
- Loading sequence. Heavy items go over the axle line; the last item loaded should be the first one out if the container is unpacked at the destination.
Typical configurations
A single paper bag machine with unwind and cabinet usually ships in one 20GP. A two-machine line — bag machine plus printing or handle unit — generally needs a 40HQ, not because of weight but because of length. Ancillary items such as die sets, spare rollers and tooling are often packed into the dead space above the main body rather than into a separate crate.
Securing the load
Machines move inside containers. Three measures matter:
- Lashing to the floor rings, not to the crate walls. Cross-bracing prevents longitudinal shift during braking.
- Desiccant and VCI film for anything with bare machined surfaces. A 30-day sea voyage crosses several dew points; condensation inside a sealed crate is normal.
- Shock and tilt indicators on the crate. They cost little and settle arguments about who dropped what.
What to ask before booking freight
- Packed length, width, height and gross weight, per unit.
- Which parts are dismantled, and what assembly is required on site.
- Lifting points and centre of gravity — needed for the crane or forklift at both ends.
- Whether the machine can be loaded with the crate horizontal only, or can be tilted.
Get these as a packing list with drawings, not as a sentence in an email. The freight forwarder will ask for exactly this, and a missing dimension at that stage usually costs a second booking.