Crating

What are the qualities of a Good Crate?

What are the qualities of a good crate? A good crate must offer maximum protection. It must be durable and appropriate to the needs of the client and the object it houses. Additionally, it must be easy to use and access.

Why are these qualities important?

If a crate travels for several years with an exhibition, its components must withstand repeated use. Conversely, single venue crates involve simpler methods and materials. On multiple-venue tours, repeated use leads to the problem of access and harm may come to the object if the interior packing of the crate is difficult or confusing to operate. Finally, proper cushioning control ensures that the object rides safely and securely during transport.

How can ELY provide the best crating service?

We developed the standard, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) crate specifications, which the museum community adopted as a reference for crate construction. At ELY, we maintain a full shop, dedicated solely to the design and fabrication of our crates. Also, we maintain certification under the ISPM15 regulation (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade), marking every crate with a certified stamp to demonstrate that we use proper materials under the regulation. Along with a wide array of linings and climate regulating materials like full environmental barriers, vapor barriers, scavengers and data loggers, we offer several types of packing methods such as cavities, travel frames, interior boxes, and trays. Packing an object or multiple objects into our crates, we use specifically developed equations that determine precisely how much cushioning material is appropriate for the size and weight of the piece. Too much cushioning is just as harmful as too little, and we take precautions to provide the maximum protection possible.

Download SITES Crate Specifications (PDF format)