Shipping and export packaging
A press brake spends weeks on a ship and a day on your dock. What condition it arrives in is decided by how it was packed and what protection it was given — this page is the honest version of that process.
What the machine needs protection from
- Salt air and condensation: weeks at sea with temperature cycling. Rust preventative on machined surfaces and sealed openings are the baseline, not extras.
- Movement: a heavy machine that is not blocked and braced becomes a shifting load. Lashing points and transit blocking are part of the packing spec.
- Impact: the bed, guideways and tooling clamping surfaces are precision surfaces; they get physical protection, not just coating.
- Moisture in the hydraulics: reservoirs and ports are capped and handled to keep water out, because water in oil is a failure that shows up months later.
The documents that travel with the machine
- Commercial invoice with the agreed classification and value.
- Packing list matched item-by-item to the crate contents.
- Certificate of origin.
- Inspection and test record for the serial number.
- Manual, electrical drawings and hydraulic schematic.
- CE declaration of conformity and technical file for CE-marked machines — see certifications.
The HS code guide covers what your broker needs to clear the shipment, and the import cost guide covers the freight and landed cost side.
What we ask buyers to check on arrival
- Crate condition before signing — photograph any damage and note it on the delivery receipt.
- Packing list against physical contents, item by item.
- Documentation pack present and matching the serial number.
- Machine condition after uncrating, before it is moved into position.
Photographs at each step settle any freight claim quickly. The delivery and installation guide covers what to prepare before the crate arrives.
Frequently asked questions
How is a press brake packed for sea freight?
Machined and painted surfaces are coated with rust preventative, vulnerable openings are sealed, and the machine is crated or skid-mounted with blocking and bracing for sea lashing. Hydraulic ports are capped and the reservoir is handled to minimise moisture ingress. The packing is designed for weeks of salt air, not for a local delivery.
What arrives in the crate?
The machine, the ordered tooling, the documentation pack — manual, electrical drawings, inspection and test record, packing list, certificates, CE file where applicable — and any spare parts ordered with the machine. The packing list is matched to the crate contents item by item.
Can I see the machine before it is crated?
Yes. A photo or video report of your specific serial number is part of the documentation pack, and buyers are welcome to inspect in person or through a third-party inspector before packing.
How do you handle container loading?
Machines are loaded with lifting points rated for the machine weight, blocked and braced against transit movement, and lashed for sea conditions. Loading photos are taken for the file. For machines too tall or wide for a standard container we will discuss open-top or flat-rack options with your freight forwarder.
What about spares and tooling?
Order them with the machine. Tooling and spares travelling in the same crate avoid a second shipment and a second customs entry — and if the machine is waiting on a die, the whole installation is waiting.
Who arranges freight?
Either side can, depending on the Incoterm agreed on the order. We work with buyers' own forwarders routinely and will coordinate crating and loading to their requirements. Our <a href='/guides/import-press-brake-from-china/'>import cost guide</a> works through the freight options and the landed cost.
Ask about shipping for your machine
Tell us the machine and the destination port and we will advise on crating, container options and the documentation pack.