Capabilities
Crating and Freight
A sculpture that arrives damaged is a sculpture that was crated badly. We design the crate for the piece rather than the piece for a standard crate, and we handle export documentation, freight booking and customs coordination so the client is dealing with one party rather than four.
In the workshop
What we do
Crates are built from sealed plywood on heat-treated timber bases, designed around the specific piece with foam-lined cradles, corner protection and internal bracing calculated for the sea state on the intended route rather than assumed. Desiccant is specified by volume for long routes and humidity indicators are fitted so the client can see on opening whether the seal held. Anything above road width ships in match-marked sections with the joint faces protected separately. Every crate is labelled with gross weight, dimensions, centre of gravity and designated lifting points, and the packing list, commercial invoice, certificate of origin and, where required, the fumigation certificate travel with the shipment and are emailed ahead. We book freight directly with carriers rather than through a broker, which keeps the cost visible: freight is quoted as a separate line so a client can compare it or arrange it themselves. Incoterms offered are EXW, FOB, CIF and DAP. For high-value or high-risk consignments we arrange all-risks marine insurance at declared value. Customs classification is prepared with the client’s broker in advance, because sculpture, statuary and metalwork attract materially different duty rates and getting the code wrong at the border is expensive and slow.
Stage by stage
How it runs
Typical durations for this stage. They are what we programme against, not best cases.
Crate design
Cradles, bracing and protection designed for the specific piece and route.
Typical duration: 1 week
Packing and sealing
Foam-lined cradle, desiccant by volume, humidity indicator, sealed and labelled with CoG and lifting points.
Typical duration: 3–5 days
Documentation
Packing list, commercial invoice, certificate of origin and fumigation paperwork issued ahead of sailing.
Typical duration: 2 days
Freight and tracking
Booked direct with the carrier, tracked to arrival, customs classification agreed with your broker in advance.
Typical duration: 2–9 weeks in transit
Plant and codes
Equipment and standards
Named machinery, the codes we work to, and the certifications behind them.
The plant list and workshop headcounts are not published yet. Ask us and we will send the current equipment register.
In the meantime
- How this discipline runsThe stages above, with the durations we programme against.
- All capabilitiesThe other seven disciplines a commission passes through.
- Inside the factoryWhat we can say about the plant today, and what is still being confirmed.
At handover
What you receive
Drawings, calculations, files and certificates issued as part of the commission — not on request.
Sealed export crate with cradle and protection, packing list with weights, dimensions and centre of gravity, full export documentation set, and carrier tracking to arrival.
Need crating and freight on a live project?
Send the drawing, the model or the photograph you have. We will tell you what is achievable at that scale, what it will take, and what it will cost.
We respond to every quote request within one working day