SOLUT! is a sustainable packaging company based in Ohio, US, that produces high-strength, paper-based food trays for retailers, caterers and takeaways.
With demand for eco-friendly packaging on the rise, their team needed to expand production capacity quickly. But the usual route of ordering new equipment would have meant a two-year wait.
So, when three pre-owned thermoforming presses became available at WestRock’s UK site, SOLUT! wanted to move fast. But they needed a partner to get them safely across the Atlantic.
We were contracted to:
- Collect the thermoforming press equipment from the existing site in the UK
- Package the equipment for transport
- Arrange delivery by sea (including customs clearance) and delivery to the client's site in Ohio
The equipment was heavy, the timeframe was tight, and the stakes were high.
Everything needed to arrive in perfect condition and be ready for immediate installation at their food technology facility.
Here’s how we did it.
Taking on 12.5 tonnes, and the clock
Following a thorough site survey, we agreed our plan with our client and eagerly started work.
But when our team arrived on site to begin packing the equipment, we discovered that each unit was over four tonnes heavier than we expected.
That meant we had to completely reassess our original packing and lifting strategy on the spot so we could adhere to our plan.
We re-engineered our approach, adjusting the load calculations, securing upgraded lifting equipment, and modifying the crate designs and lashings to safely bear the true weight of the load.
Time was tight, but every detail had to be right.
No Anchor Points? No Problem.
A key challenge was that the presses had virtually no accessible points for securing them in transit.
Using heat-treated ISPM15-compliant timber, we designed and fabricated bespoke wooden crates that offered full internal support.
This included:
- Internal bracing to immobilise lateral movement
- Through-bolted runners to anchor the base
- 150x75mm lateral bearers to spread the weight evenly
- Timber spreaders to absorb and distribute lashing pressure
The equipment was also vacuum-wrapped for moisture protection.
Every detail was designed to safeguard the integrity of the equipment and ensure it arrived installation-ready.
In total, the shipment consisted of 13 crates, packed with the three identical presses, each comprising of a main press, one unwind and one stacker, and additional accessories.
Overseeing the entire journey
We oversaw every leg of the journey, from WestRock’s site in Bristol to the customer’s facility in Ohio.
That included:
- On-site collection
- Sea freight and flat rack container loading
- Customs clearance
- Coordination of delivery to SOLUT!
Throughout the process, IES Business Development Manager Christian Malpas served as the single point of contact, keeping WestRock and SOLUT! fully informed every step of the way.
Christian also worked closely with SOLUT!’s receiving team in Ohio to confirm that they had the right kit ready for offload and positioning, avoiding any risk of installation delays.
A job done well
Here’s what the President at SOLUT! had to say about working with us:
“IES were incredibly responsive, the crating was impressive and the team did a spectacular job. The team I worked with at our end have been in the business thirty years, and they felt the crating IES built was the most comprehensive they’ve ever seen. Just as we wanted, the machines arrived on time and in perfect condition, ready for us to install at SOLUT!"
Export capital equipment with confidence
Whether you’re moving high-value assets across the UK or around the world, our tailored crate manufacture and export packing services help you avoid risk and delays. No matter how large, heavy or complex the load.
Speak to our team about your next equipment move.
