Why Packaging Is Part of the Specification
An anodised or powder-coated surface is a finished product — and it is exactly what gets scratched, chafed and salt-tested during a 30-day ocean voyage. Poor packing is the number one source of "the supplier sent damaged goods" claims that are actually transit damage. Good exporters treat packing as part of the specification, not an afterthought.
Standard Packing Methods, Explained
Light profiles are wrapped in kraft paper or PE film, bundled, and strapped to wooden pallets with corner protectors. Long or high-value profiles go into plywood crates with internal bracing. Surface-critical extrusions add a protective adhesive film (PE coating) that peels off at your end. Each bundle is labelled with alloy, temper, quantity and PO number — so customs and QC checks stay painless.
Container Loading and Freight Costs
Profile length drives everything. A 20-ft container has about 5.9 m of usable internal length; a 40-ft about 12 m. If your profiles are 6 m, a 20-ft fits them exactly — but a 40-ft needs two lengths stacked, wasting height. Weight also matters: aluminium is light, so most extrusion loads fill the container by volume (CBM) before hitting weight limits. Ask your supplier for a loading plan before you approve the proforma.
What to Specify on Your Purchase Order
Write it into the PO: packing grade (standard / export / crate), PE film or paper wrap, pallet type and maximum bundle weight, marking and labels, and shipping documents (packing list, commercial invoice, certificate of origin). A supplier who can quote you the CBM and loading diagram up front is a supplier who has shipped before.