Has anyone here ever packed a machine in a shipping container ? Anything to suggest ? I guess the demand for Jack cables it's NUTS in Eastern Europe right now and she maybe getting the forever ride. Friend of mines 360 is also 99% sure going, push both of them in a 40' box.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/34634/received_1310672092698123.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1643328537)
Issues arise when there is "earth" on the machine. And foreign seeds and such depending on the import country. Typically the way it goes down at the Savannah port is the machines are delivered to a business near the port that boxes them and are approved for export .
We sent lots of timber Jack's and treefarmers to South America. My cousin is shipping a bunch of older row crop tractors to Europe nowadays. Big demand for pulling tractors.
The skidders we shipped were simple, take off the wheels,exhaust, drain fluids strap down in the container and go. Had to be careful with documentation as we used letters of credit for payment.
The tractors take more work, take wheels off, hitch, and at times the cab.
All in all it was worth it. If you don't know the buyer a letter of credit is secure, but you gotta make sure your documentation is accurate.
Seen old used wheel loaders loaded in Baltimore years ago, some were shoehorned in pretty good (had to be fun unloading on the other end). ;D
X2 what Dom said, document everything, drain the fluids and get a printed scale weight. Some of the machines they built wood crating all the way around inside the container to prevent movement, tractors hauled had rubber skid mats under the wheels.
There will be shipping details written somewhere where they state exactly how they want the machine packed etc, before they load it. (Pest hygiene, fuels etc)
Tigercat sent a 635 to Africa with two 40ft containers with the spare and tires etc. Crane etc to remove the skidder from the container.
Tigercat Takes on Wood Energy in West Africa - Tigercat (https://www.tigercat.com/between-the-branches/btb-33-tigercat-takes-energy-wood-west-africa/)
Deutz use little steel wheels when they can use shipping containers for the up to 210hp tractors (roro ships for the 210plus) John Deere use roro for more of their tractors.
Quality control at Power Farming Group (https://www.tradefarmmachinery.com.au/features/1506/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-deutz-6160c)
Case windrower to Chile from Batavia, NY. Used a steel skid frame to put the windrower and bits onto; then slide into the container. (The professionals use a steel/ concrete loading platform so no dirt and stones go into the container.)
Case IH 8870 Windrower Fits in Shipping Container! - YouTube (https://youtu.be/yPkhLzh8AX0)
i havent done it, but ive seen excavators laid on their sides and slid in. pretty crazy.
When I purchased my Menzi Muck from Germany a few years back, I thought the seller could box it up same as "factory new" units arrive here in the USA. They could not legally do it and would have to use a separate company to pack it. None was easily available and the seller suggested "RORO" shipping. This refers to self mobilized equipment that can "roll on and roll off" the transport ship. RORO is a little more expensive than container movement but it also sped up my process.
I did end up using a worldwide company that had an affiliate office in Atlanta, GA. They handled everything for a set fee. They acted as my escrow agent, translators, yard to ship, ship to yard and all of my EPA & importation paperwork. I did not speak any German and the seller did not speak and English. Google translate got me most of the way but having an escrow agent was a big sigh of relief when making the final deal.