Packing and sea freight: where clad material gets damaged
Damage to clad material rarely happens on the water. It happens in the yard, at the transshipment and at the receiving dock, and the packing specification decides which.
At a glance
Specification at a glance
| Item | Specification to agree | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Disc packing | Count per stack, interleaving, strap position | Band marks on the cooking face are a rejection |
| Sheet packing | Bundle weight, interleaving, edge protection | Edge damage and moisture between sheets |
| Pallet | Timber treated to ISPM 15, weight limit per pallet | Customs rejection and handling limits |
| Moisture | Wrapping, desiccant for long transit | Edge corrosion that appears months later |
| Marking | Label with batch reference, size, quantity | Traceability at goods-in |
| Container fill | Weight and volume, load plan | Damage in transit and wasted freight |
| Documents | Invoice, packing list, B/L, certificate of origin, mill certificate | Entry clearance and the buyer's quality file |
Band marks are the classic claim
Steel strapping holds a stack together and, under load, presses into the top and bottom discs. On a cooking face that is a permanent mark, and on a polished pan it is a rejection. Interleaving plus a strap position that avoids the face solves it, and it has to be specified before packing rather than negotiated after the claim.
Moisture is the slow failure
Clad sheet stored damp develops edge corrosion between the layers, which appears as staining weeks after arrival and is often blamed on the material rather than the storage. Wrapping with desiccant and a dry container is cheap; the alternative is a claim that cannot be proven either way.
Container fill and weight
Clad is heavy, so most consignments hit the weight limit before the volume limit. That makes the load plan a weight exercise: pallet positions, stack heights and the distribution that keeps the container stable. A supplier who quotes per tonne but packs per volume is quietly charging you for air.
Documents that travel with the cargo
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, mill certificate and inspection record. The invoice description must match what the broker declares at destination; agree the wording at order confirmation, because it cannot be changed after the vessel sails without cost.
What to write into the order
Count per stack or bundle weight, interleaving, strap position, pallet treatment, moisture protection, marking and the document set. Then ask for photographs of the packed pallet before despatch. It costs the supplier minutes and catches the packing that was done in a hurry.
Questions
Common questions
How are discs packed?
Stacked to a count, interleaved, strapped, on treated timber pallets, labelled with the batch reference. The count per stack and the strap position are agreed with the order.
Can you use my pallet specification?
Yes. Send the pallet size, weight limit and marking format, and the packing is built to it.
Who arranges the shipping?
Either side, depending on the Incoterm. FOB, CIF and door delivery are all quoted; the port and the Incoterm are stated in the quotation.
Do you provide photos before despatch?
Yes, on request. Packing photographs are the cheapest quality control step in the whole chain.
What documents come with the container?
Invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, mill certificate and inspection record. Additional certificates are agreed per destination.