A new export consignment of pins for construction and earthmoving machinery is now on its way to South America. The shipment, consolidated at Qingdao port, covers sixty different pin types in total. Among them are part numbers 310708665, 310708671, 310708668, 310708674 and 310705667, with the remaining items spanning a wide range of diameters, lengths and mounting configurations. Transport is arranged via LCL (less than container load) service, which suits orders of this size and mix.
Pins are small in footprint but heavy in weight. A single crate can easily reach several hundred kilograms, and the load must stay secure through fork-lift handling, port stacking and weeks of vessel motion. Packaging is therefore built around strength first.
1. Packaging Built Around Weight
Every pin is first protected at surface level. Machined diameters and pin ends are wrapped in VCI (vapour corrosion inhibitor) paper to guard against rust during the long sea passage. Pins are then separated with wooden or cardboard dividers so that metal does not rub against metal in transit.
The pins are then loaded into plywood crates. Each crate is built with reinforced corners, thicker side panels and a solid bottom board sized to the load. Crates are fully compliant with ISPM-15 fumigation standards, so no extra treatment is needed at destination customs. Where a single pin is too long or too heavy for standard crating, it is fixed to a wooden skid with blocking and bracing.
2. Strapping and Load Securing
Once filled, each crate is closed and then bound with multiple bands of heavy-duty strapping. The straps run both lengthwise and crosswise, pulling the crate panels tight against the load and holding the whole unit together under vibration. Steel strapping is used for the heaviest crates, while high-tensile plastic strapping is used where weight allows, to avoid cutting into the wood.
The crates are then loaded into the container in a planned pattern. Heavier crates go to the floor and toward the centre of the container, with lighter crates stacked above. Timber dunnage and air bags fill any gaps so that nothing can slide during the voyage. This arrangement matters in LCL shipping, where the container is shared with other shippers' cargo and will be handled several times before arrival.
3. Why This Matters for the Customer
Pins are wear parts, and their fit is critical. A pin that arrives bent, scratched or corroded cannot be installed and must be replaced. That means extra cost, lost time and a machine standing idle.
Crating and strapping are not glamorous, but they are what keeps a sixty-item order arriving in usable condition. They also make unloading easier at the destination warehouse, since each crate is clearly marked with part number, quantity and weight.
4. The South American Market Context
South America's mining and construction sectors remain active, with large fleets of excavators, loaders and dozers working in Chile, Peru, Brazil and Colombia. Pin and bushing wear is a constant maintenance item on these machines. Local dealers and workshops keep steady stocks, and mixed orders of many part numbers are common.
This shipment supports that demand, bringing sixty pin types together in one consolidated load. With solid crating and reliable ocean routing, the cargo is scheduled to reach port in approximately 35 to 40 days.
